Page 26 of When Ben Loved Jace (He Loved Him #2)

The words on the page seem to blur. I rub my eyes and check my notes, which are just as difficult to read as the textbook.

The haste in which I was scribbling is to blame for that.

I recently decided my thesis dragged in the middle while getting repetitive, so I scrapped that part and am scrambling to replace the entire section.

I really need to interview Eric, since he’s living history.

I’m not certain when I’ll have time for that.

Nor am I sure about the changes I’ve committed to.

Maybe this was a bad idea. I try in vain to reread what I’ve written, too fried to tell good from bad.

My phone vibrates, the distraction more than welcome. Especially when I see that it’s a message from Jace.

Where’s my boyfriend? It’s getting late. Time to come home. I ordered Thai food.

My heart swells. My stomach is happy too, because he’s right.

I’ve been cooped up in the university library for longer than I realized.

We exchange a few texts. He’s waiting at my place, which I find exceedingly romantic.

I gave him a key. He already trusted me with his.

I like the implied commitment, akin to exchanging rings.

I’d be up for that as well, because Jace being in town has changed everything for the better.

I get to drink my fill of him each night, knowing that he’ll still be there in the morning and the following days.

It also helps that, between going to work, struggling to finish my thesis, and having plans with my boyfriend, I haven’t seen Tim.

The break has done wonders for me. No more divided heart. I’m back on track.

After gathering my things, I hurry across the campus, eager to get home to my man. I’ve just reached my car when another notification comes through. After tossing my bookbag in the back, I pull out my phone, expecting a flirtatious text. The smile falters on my face.

I hope you still like pineapple on your pizza.

The message is from Tim!

What do you mean? I shoot back. When this doesn’t elicit a reply, I try again. I already have plans for dinner.

Still no response. He’s not really on his way to my apartment with a pizza, is he? Wait… What if he’s there already? Shit!

I dive into my car and almost rear-end someone when pulling out.

They honk and yell. I wait for them to get over it and out of my way.

I’m tempted to abandon my car completely and run, because I can't imagine what will happen if… Allison! She can play referee until I get there. I check her location on my phone. She’s on the other side of town. Great!

A pothole pulls my attention back to the road.

I toss my phone aside and focus on getting home as quickly as possible.

I can’t imagine Jace and Tim alone together.

Now if I was there sandwiched between them, that would be a different story, one I’ve fantasized about a few times already.

My heart might not be divided, but another part of me has all sorts of ideas.

I run a red light and ignore some stop signs.

When reaching my apartment building, I park askew and bolt from the car.

After bursting through the front door, I see the two greatest loves of my life facing each other in front of the kitchen table, like a couple exchanging vows.

Jace’s arms are crossed. Tim is standing up straighter than usual, trying to make himself taller.

They both look to me as I skid to a halt.

“Look who stopped by,” Jace says evenly.

“I hope you brought something to the potluck,” Tim adds with a grin.

“How about drinks?” I suggest, moving to the refrigerator. “We’ve got…” Nothing strong enough to dispel the tension. Allison has cleared us out. I shut the door and spin around. “Who wants tap water?”

“I brought a bottle of wine for us to share,” Jace says somewhat pointedly.

“I brought a six-pack,” Tim says with a toothy grin. “What’ll it be?”

“Uhh…” They’re both staring at me, awaiting my decision. “I’m going to make some coffee.”

“Suit yourself,” Tim says with a shrug before turning to Jace. “Want me to open that bottle of wine for you?”

“I’d rather save it for a romantic occasion,” he grumbles. “But I will have one of those beers.”

“Now we’re talking.” Tim cracks open a can and hands it to him. After doing the same for himself, he proposes a toast. “Here’s to what we have in common.”

Does he mean me? Or what they’ve both done to me?

I meet Jace’s eye, worried about his reaction, but all I see in his gaze is confidence .

“To those who are most worth loving,” he adds, ensuring a purer meaning.

I smile at him when he raises the drink to me. He clinks cans with Tim and they both take a swig. I decide to drink the leftover coffee from this morning so I can focus on them. After pouring it into a mug, I take plates out of the cabinet.

“This’ll be fun,” I say when carrying them to the table. Takeout containers and a pizza box are already waiting there.

“Yeah,” Tim says. “I was just telling Jace about the time I painted you on Valentine’s Day.”

“Oh really?” I ask, my cheeks burning due to the double meaning.

Tim worked on a painting of me, sure, but afterward he literally painted me.

As in directly, covering my face and the bare skin of my torso.

Which was beautiful. Especially later in the shower when he washed it all off of me so tenderly.

Judging from Jace’s expression, he’d been treated to that part of the story as well.

“Uh huh,” Tim replies. “I’ve still got it. The canvas I mean. When’s your birthday, big guy? Maybe I’ll give it to you as a present.”

Jace considers him. “Wouldn’t it make more sense for you to paint us? You know, as a couple.”

Tim breathes in, like it’s a tall order. “That sort of thing can be pricey. How much does a flight attendant earn?”

“Enough to meet our needs,” Jace says with the sort of practiced patience he must reserve for difficult passengers. “Have you sold much of your art?”

“Naw,” Tim says, tensing noticeably. “It’s a moot point anyway, since it would be a gift.”

“Then we’ll make sure to invite you to the wedding,” Jace says. “That would be the most appropriate time to give us such an expensive and considerate present.”

Tim begins to glower.

I start to panic. “Dinner is served! Who wants what?”

“I’ll stick with the Thai,” Jace says.

“You’ve gotta try the pizza,” Tim insists, grabbing a slice for himself. “It’s wood-fired.”

I diplomatically take a little of each, hoping they won’t read anything into it.

“S’good!” I soon mumble, despite the conflicting tastes in my mouth. The silence at the table is deafening. I force myself to swallow. “I’m surprised nobody has thought to put peanut sauce on pizza before.”

Jace laughs at the same time that Tim does, disarming the bomb with a mere second left on the timer.

“I’m sure you’ve come up with stranger dishes,” Tim says before turning his attention to Jace. “Has he cooked much for you?”

Jace shakes his head. “He’s um… baked for me. Homemade fortune cookies, in fact.”

“Wow,” Tim says, sounding impressed. “Were the fortunes inside handwritten?”

Jace struggles to answer before looking to me for help.

“They were,” I say, “but I didn’t realize you were supposed to put them in after baking the cookies, so they got charred. So did the cookies.”

Tim snorts.

I roll my eyes.

“It was a very sweet gesture,” Jace assures me.

“Benjamin is an old romantic,” Tim says with a smile. “So how did you two meet?”

Jace tells him, completely comfortable in admitting that it took him months to finally ask me out.

He doesn’t shy away from the fact, or feel the need to weaponize our relationship just to torture Tim.

He simply professes his love for me by sharing our story.

Tim interjects on occasion with praise of his own, which is great for my self-esteem.

By the time dinner is over, they really do seem to have found common ground.

“You’re so lucky,” Tim says enviously.

“That I am,” Jace says, shooting me a smile.

Tim eyes him before sighing. “Ben has said a lot of good things about you. Now I see that they’re all true. To be honest, I was hoping you were a jerk so I could come to his rescue.”

Jace shrugs. “Everybody has a bad side.”

“Oh yeah? I’d like to see yours, because you sure seem like a saint.” Tim tosses his napkin on the table and stands, as if intending to leave. “I can tell I’m intruding. You guys do your thing. Enjoy the pizza. It’s even better in the morning.”

“Thanks for stopping by,” I say, mentally adding, Next time, give me more of a head’s up!

Tim nods at Jace. “Take good care of him. ”

“I will.” Jace smiles at me again. “We take care of each other.”

“Dude!” Tim spins around when reaching the door.

“I almost forgot. A friend of mine—well, he’s more of a friend of friend really—he’s having a birthday party.

And believe me, this guy doesn’t know the meaning of subtle.

This year he’s rented that big water slide place outside of town.

The worst part of theme parks are the long lines, right?

Even if he invites a hundred people, there won’t be any waiting.

Not with everyone spread out, so it’s going to be really cool.

And we deserve a reward for getting our final dissertations done. ”

“You’re finished with yours?” I cry in dismay.

“Yeah. Aren’t you? There’s only a few weeks left until—”

“I know!”

“Oh.” Tim looks surprised. “Well, maybe it’ll help you recharge before the final stretch. I’ll text you the info. Okay?”

I nod and rise to see him off, although I don’t follow him outside. As soon as the door is shut, I press my back against it while grimacing. “Sorry,” I say after waiting a moment to make sure Tim won’t overhear me. “I had no idea that he planned on coming by tonight.”

“I figured,” Jace says with a hint of amusement. “I don’t think he expected me to be here. You should have seen his face when I answered the door.”

I laugh and rejoin him at the table. “So what do you think?”

“About Tim?” Jace tilts his head to the side. “I’d only seen the modeling photos you showed me. I figured they were airbrushed or treated in some way.”

“Isn’t it irritating? I don’t think he should go out in public without wearing a paper bag over his head, so the rest of us don’t have to cope.”

“I didn’t find it so difficult,” Jace says with bedroom eyes. “He’s not my type.”

The notion of anyone finding me more attractive than Tim is absolutely ridiculous. “God, I love you,” I say dreamily.

“I love you too,” Jace says. “Now pass me a slice of that pizza. I was dying to try it, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.”

I laugh and push the box closer. “What should we do about the invite?”

Jace shrugs. “Could be fun. And you seem like you need the break.”

“I really do. I can’t wait until graduation is finally behind me.”

Jace chews thoughtfully before swallowing. “How do you envision this reunion playing out? Do you intend to be Tim’s friend?”

I take a deep breath. I’ve been so overwhelmed with trying to navigate the situation in the present that I haven’t given much thought to the future. “I’ll always be curious to know how he’s doing. At the very least, it would be nice to stay in touch. So yeah, I could imagine being his friend.”

“In that case, maybe it’s good for him to see us together as a couple more often. And I do love a wave pool."

I laugh, but my amusement doesn’t last long when I imagine my two favorite guys in swimsuits. At the same time. That will be a challenge. I’ll have to wear one of those barrels with shoulder straps. Otherwise it’ll be Boner City, population me.