Page 41 of When Ben Loved Jace (He Loved Him #2)

I’m not at all surprised to discover that Jace’s parents are wonderfully kind people.

His father is mostly bald except for a ring of white hair.

His spectacles are so thick that his eyes appear as if they’re trapped in fishbowls.

I’m guessing Jace gets his looks from his mother, who is thin and elegant, her silver hair woven into a single braid that she wears over one shoulder.

They live on the edge of town in a tri-level house that overlooks a narrow wooded valley.

His parents waste no time in making me feel welcome.

“I was beginning to think that Jace would never bring anyone home,” his mother informs me over coffee in a sun-drenched kitchen. “Is it too soon to talk about grandchildren? We aren’t getting any younger.”

That’s certainly true. Jace’s parents look notably older than my own, but that might explain why he turned out so well. Not many people have their shit together in their twenties. I certainly don’t. I can’t imagine raising kids. I can barely take care of myself.

“I do want a family,” I reply. “Just not yet.”

“Would a sizable bribe change your mind?” his father asks.

“Yes! Yes it would. Wait, is that why Bernie gave us so much candy?”

I do my best to charm them. Jace is clearly pleased by my performance. Whenever I look at him, his eyes are sparkling with affection. Michelle joins us in the afternoon. What I didn’t expect—and neither did my boyfriend, judging from his reaction—is for Greg to show up not long after.

“Surprise!” he says when entering the living room.

“Hey!” Jace rises to give him a hug. “I didn’t realize you were in town.”

“Yeah, well, business is slow at this time of year, and I haven’t seen my folks for a while. Or my best friend, so I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone.”

“Isn’t this the busiest time of year for the real estate industry?” Jace’s father asks while adjusting his glasses.

“Well actually my business is running slow,” Greg amends, “I decided to pop up here for the weekend, so we could get the whole gang back together and um… here I am! ”

“Your mother said you got into town earlier this week,” Jace’s mom replies, seeming puzzled.

“I’m making it a long weekend. Uh…” Greg is looking everywhere except at Michelle. “Who’s up for some board games?”

“Sounds good!” I say, mostly to take the heat off him. We haven’t seen each other since I messed up, and I’m worried he’ll hold it against me. “Do you guys have Clue? It’s my favorite.”

“How about Trivial Pursuit?” Jace’s father suggests.

Michelle groans. “Don’t take him up on that. All the man does is read. Dad is a living encyclopedia.”

Her cheeks are a little flushed. I have a mystery to solve!

Okay, so I already know whodunnit. I just want the details.

I don’t get a chance to snoop—I mean sleuth—until later that night.

The evening with Jace’s family is fantastic.

Drinks are served, games are played, and much fun is had.

If these are my future in-laws, I’ve hit the jackpot.

“Time for us to turn in,” Jace’s father says with a yawn. Then he grins at us both. “I’ll get your room ready first.”

“I’ll unpack the car,” Jace says, rising to follow him. He pauses on his way out. “Are you celebrating with us tomorrow?”

“Yeah!” Greg says. “What time should I be here?”

Michelle leaves the room as they exchange details, her cheeks rosy. She doesn’t even acknowledge Greg. Me? I follow him outside to the back porch. His parents live just across the valley.

“So…” I say, barely able to contain my smile. “How long have you and Michelle been together?”

Greg cranes his neck to look past me, but we’re alone. “Have you told Jace?”

“No. Why haven’t you?”

“It’s his sister!”

“I know, but he’s going to figure it out eventually. Like at the wedding. That’ll be a dead giveaway.”

Greg laughs. “You kid, but we’ve talked about waiting until then. Not that I’ve popped the question. It’s early days. So why upset him if this turns out to be a fling?”

“Is it?”

Greg inhales, his chest straining against his shirt before he exhales again. “No. I’m so in love with her!”

“From what I can tell, the feeling is mutual. ”

Greg nods. “Michelle says she loves me, yeah. I guess it is getting serious. I’ve been up here more than Jace realizes. And she’s been down to see me a bunch. I feel bad about that too, because I should be visiting him more often.”

“It has been a long time since we’ve seen each other,” I say, gnawing my lip. “Did uh… Jace tell you about… Um.”

“I’m still his best friend,” Greg grumbles. “So yeah.”

“Sorry. I thought of that talk we had, how you never wanted to hurt him again after messing up, and I just want to say that I get it now. I feel the same way.”

“We’re good,” Greg assures me. “He loves you, so I do too. But if I ever meet this Tim guy face to face, it’s gonna get ugly.”

“You won’t. He’s history.”

“You know,” Greg says leadingly, “maybe there’s a way you could make it up to me.”

“If you’re trying to test me with your sexy bod again, it won’t work. Probably.”

Greg laughs. “Nah. But maybe Jace wouldn’t take it so hard if you broke the news to him. A spoonful of sugar, that sort of thing.”

I think about it and shake my head. “You’re his best friend. He should hear it from you. But I can help soften the blow tonight, if you want to tell him tomorrow.”

Greg peers at me. “You’re offering to blow him so he’s not as tense?”

“No. Actually, why not? I’ll throw that in for free. My intention is to simply mention what I observed this evening—the obvious chemistry between you and Michelle. That way he won’t be blindsided when you tell him.”

“Perfect!” Greg bumps fists with me. Then he treats me to a hug. “Good talking to ya, Ben. See you tomorrow.”

I return inside and go upstairs to find Jace’s old room. Which is not what I expect. Most of it is dominated by a model train set that’s currently running. Jace’s father is still in there, wearing a conductor’s cap. He grins at me and places it on my head on his way out.

“Sleep well, boys!”

“Is this a secret hobby of yours?” I ask when we’re alone.

“No,” Jace says with an amused chuckle. “I’m just as surprised as you are. My parents retired last year. I guess my dad needed something to occupy his time. You missed the tour. It was… extensive.”

“Oh! Sorry. I was talking to Greg.”

Jace peels off his shirt. “About what?”

“Just catching up. Although he sure does mention Michelle a lot.”

Jace studies me a moment. “What are you saying?”

“Nothing. But wouldn’t it be sweet if they ended up together? I mean, Greg is a really great guy. And yeah, it would be kind of weird because he’s your best friend, but you love your sister, and if she’s going to settle down with someone, you can’t really do better than him.”

“Gosh,” Jace says. “I’ve never thought about it that way. If it turns out that they’ve been having a secret relationship for the past few months, your pep talk has ensured that I won’t be upset at all.”

I stare. Then I roll my eyes. “You already know.”

Jace smirks. “Michelle told me ages ago.”

“Then how come Greg is still keeping it a secret?”

“Because my sister thinks it’ll be proof of his commitment to her if he decides to tell me on his own. If she coerces him into doing so, the gesture will be hollow.”

I laugh. “Make sure to act surprised when he tells you tomorrow."

I'm almost disappointed that I don’t have an important role to play in the story. Although I can at least uphold one part of the bargain.

“Let me help you out of those jeans,” I say to Jace before dropping to my knees.

— — —

I’m lounging on the back porch two days later with Jace’s mother and a gaggle of cats.

I can’t figure out exactly how many his family has.

At the moment, three of them are warming themselves on the wooden deck where the morning sun breaks through the trees.

A fourth is on his mother’s lap, purring contentedly as she strokes its head.

“I wish you didn’t have to leave,” she says. “This was too short a visit.”

“I’ll make sure we come back soon,” I assure her, already comfortable around his whole crew. I wouldn’t mind staying longer .

“For the holidays,” she suggests before reconsidering. “Although I’m sure your family would like to see you then too.”

“Maybe we can manage both somehow. Either that, or we’ll start alternating from year to year.”

This seems to amuse her. “You’re already planning that far ahead?”

“Oh yeah! I’m in it for the long haul. Or as long as your son will have me. I’m madly in love with him.”

His mother smiles at this news. “I was so happy when Jace told me about you. There were times that I worried he would never bounce back.”

I shake my head in confusion. “From what?”

“Victor.”

“Oh. He dated other guys after him though. I’m not the first.”

Her face becomes drawn. “True, but it broke his heart when—”

“That’s enough,” Jace says, stepping outside to join us. The sliding glass door is open so the cats can come and go. He pets the one sitting on his mother’s lap before looking at me, his expression guarded. “Let’s go for a walk.”

I stare a second before nodding. “Okay.”

His mother seems concerned. She reaches up to pat Jace’s cheek.

He kisses the top of her head and whispers something in her ear.

When he turns to me, he seems more like his usual self, but there’s an air of gravitas as we descend the deck steps and walk to the lowest part of the valley.

The slope leads to a small lake. Jace stops there to stare at a rickety old dock.

“I guess you made a lot of memories out here, huh?” I prompt.

“Yes,” he says with a swallow. Then he forces a smile. “I went skinny-dipping in that lake. You can guess whose idea that was.”

“Victor?”