Page 140 of Something Like Winter

“I should probably go,” Ben said.

“Don’t. I mean, not forever. We could hang out sometime. After all these years, we should be able to be friends, right?”

Ben studied him. “Do you mean that?”

Of course not. “Yeah. It’ll be a test of just how nice Jace really is.” He chuckled nervously. “Maybe I can have you guys over sometime. Uh, but not like Splashtown. No ulterior motive. I just want you in my life.”

That was true. After all this time, Ben should be more than just a painful memory. Being friends was better than nothing.

“No promises,” Ben said, “but I’ll talk to Jace.” He hesitated as if he had something more to say, but then he shook his head and headed for his car.

“Thanks, Benjamin!” Tim called after him, and despite it all, he couldn’t help grinning. Then he went inside, ready at last to clean up his mess. And maybe look up a good maid service to help get him started.

Chapter Thirty-two

Tim threw a party that weekend. Not a Ryan-style puking-on-thecarpet, overdosing-in-the-bathroom party, but a much more respectable Sunday barbeque in the backyard. Of course he waited until Ben and Jace agreed to come before making arrangements, inviting Marcello and some of his more pleasant friends. As a show of goodwill, he even invited Allison and her husband.

And now they were all here, gathered together in a comfortable scene worthy of Norman Rockwell—if he had ever painted gay guys and interracial couples grilling steaks beside a private pool. Marcello’s date was a younger Asian guy who seemed bookish, and Brian, Allison’s husband, was just as plain as she was pretty. Brian, it turned out, was the owner of Twilight Theater and the very same person who had let Tim in the other night. Then there were a handful of older gay guys and a pair of lesbians who were eyeing the pool like they wanted to strip down and dive in.

Tim manned the grill, letting his guests enjoy themselves while he made every effort not to stare at Ben and Jace. They sat across from each other, deep in conversation at one of the picnic benches Tim had bought for the occasion. What did couples talk about after so many years together? One thing was certain: They looked happy.

When Ben came up to him alone, grabbing two paper plates, Tim played it cool and said, “What can I get you and your dashing boyfriend?”

“I don’t know where to begin,” Ben said, eyeing the food. “Did you make all this yourself?”

“Of course,” Tim said. “How hard is it to marinate meat?”

Ben nodded at one of the tables. “Even the dates stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon?”

“Is that what those are?”

Ben chuckled. “You either talked some lovesick guy into making all this or you hired a caterer.”

“Caterers,” Tim admitted. “I may have to fire them. These hot dogs look a little gray.”

“They’re bratwursts, and they’re supposed to look that way.”

“Oh!” Tim replied innocently.

Ben took two, and after loading his plate with other goodies, headed back to the bench where Jace waited. Tim shouted that lunch was ready, and soon his guests were plundering the spread. He watched them with satisfaction, serving brats and feeling a little embarrassed when Allison and her husband approached. Hopefully the guy hadn’t overheard his argument with Ryan in the theater.

“Thanks for having us,” Brian said.

“My pleasure,” Tim replied. “Have a wiener. You too, Allison.” He eyed the gold band on her finger as she took the plate. “How’s married life treating you?”

“Good!” Allison beamed. If Jace and Ben were going for world’s happiest couple, they had some competition.

“How did you two meet, anyway?”

Allison glanced over at Brian, who gestured that she should tell the story. “I was volunteering at a hospital. Brian was in one of the programs I was leading, and we just sort of hit it off.”

Tim cocked an eyebrow. “Putting the moves on a patient? Isn’t that immoral?”

“Absolutely,” Allison said shamelessly. “Besides, that was just my apprenticeship. I’m a counselor now.”

“Which means no more flirting with patients,” Brian chimed in.

Tim laughed. “Wow, a counselor. Go Allison! Maybe you should leave me your card. With all my problems, I’ll keep you in business for years.”