Page 50 of When Ben Loved Jace (He Loved Him #2)

Twin spotlights follow the actors across the stage, the beams of light combining as the leads near each other.

Music swells when they kiss. The audience bursts into applause.

I join them with a grin, because dinner theater is way cooler than I expected.

I imagined a low-budget production and an audience of senior citizens.

And while both of those expectations are mostly on target, there’s no denying the talent on display.

I'm truly impressed. I glance over at Allison and nod my approval.

She beams back at me, because this was her idea.

Allison has been going to her group meetings regularly, proving to be her father’s daughter both in weakness and in strength.

Yes, she was getting a little carried away with the drinking, but like him, when she decided to quit, nothing could stop her.

In fact, she claims everything is easier now.

Allison has more energy during the day and is better at dealing with stress at night.

I actually steered her in the right direction for once. In more than one way, as it turns out.

Allison grabs my arm in excitement. “That’s him!” she hisses, nodding at the stage.

I eagerly turn my head in that direction, because Brian has already reached legendary status.

They became acquainted through her meetings.

She’s been talking about him nonstop. I’ve been dying to meet the guy but haven’t had the chance, since they’re taking it slow.

Brian didn’t feel it was right to start dating while she was still in recovery.

That finally changed around the six-month mark.

They’re officially an item now, which feels weird when I haven’t even seen a photo of him.

I scan the stage as the actors take a bow but nobody leaps out at me.

I look to her for guidance and shake my head.

“At the very end,” she says, nodding at the stage again.

I reexamine the line of actors, dismissing the elderly woman at the far left.

On the far right is a man with thinning auburn hair and a doughy face.

I don’t remember seeing him on stage, unlike the dashing fellow he’s standing beside.

Brian isn’t an actor. He owns the theater.

I watch him search the audience, notice Allison, and smile affectionately. No doubt about it! That’s her man.

I glance at Allison while hiding my surprise. She’s not looking at me anyway. Her eyes are shining. From the way she described him, I expected Brian to be another in a very long line of enviously hot guys that she’s dated. I was picturing muscles, not love handles.

“What do you think?” Allison asks as the audience begins to clear out around us.

“That was awesome!” I say, hastily finishing the last bite of my dessert. “I didn’t expect the food to be so good.”

“No, dummy,” Allison says. “What do you think about Brian.”

“The guy I saw from a distance for about two seconds?” I nod in approval. “Marry him.”

She laughs in embarrassment. “Maybe I will.”

He must be something special. Allison doesn’t fall easily.

That’s usually my thing. Of course, if a guy keeps you waiting half a year out of a sense of integrity, that’s gotta be a big turn on.

I already respect him for that, because my best friend is a beautiful woman, inside and out.

Brian must have incredible self-control.

Soon we’re the last two people sitting at the rows of small tables. Allison hops up.

“Okay, let’s go. I can’t wait for you to meet him!”

She practically drags me toward the stage. We climb up a short set of stairs on the side, and like magic, suddenly we’re on a seaside dock. Allison is heading toward the wings, but I can’t resist. I rush over to a crate, hop up on it, and begin to sing.

“Forget what I want. What about what I need?”

Allison spins around, recognizing the line from one of our favorite musicals. She clasps her hands together and takes hesitant steps toward me, singing her response.

“Forget what I need. What about what I want?”

I turn my face away, as if torn. “This can’t be love because I still want more!”

She rushes toward me while reaching out. “This must be love because I still want more!”

I leap off the crate, dancing toward the stage as I continue to sing, ending up on my knees as I belt out the final line.

“Heart like a hotel. Room for one more? Hunger in harmony. She’s the one that I adoooooore!”

Applause breaks the spell, or more accurately, a single person clapping. I assume that it’s Allison, until I glance over. Brian is standing next to her, his expression stunned. I quickly get to my feet.

“You’re hired!” he says, walking over to me with a hand extended. “You must be Ben.”

I laugh awkwardly while shaking it. “Nice to meet you.”

“That was from Pauper’s Bliss , right?” he says, not letting go. “The stage version. That song didn’t make the movie because they dropped the love triangle aspect. And ruined the entire spirit of the story.”

“Okay,” I say, leaning to the side so I can see Allison. “I like him already. It’s just too bad that he’s gay.”

Brian laughs. “Straight men do exist in the world of theater,” he says. “Even though we’re exceptionally rare.”

“Are you sure about that?” I ask, nodding to our hands, which are still clasped.

He lets go of me with an embarrassed titter, his pale cheeks flushing. “Sorry, I just—”

“Have terrible taste!” Allison says when joining us. “Where’s my job offer?”

“You know I love your voice,” Brain says, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her close for a snuggle. He has a teddy bear sort of vibe. “I just have too much respect for your career to try and lure you away.”

“Aww!” she says, before smooching him. “Great answer.”

“So what did you think?” Brian asks, looking back and forth between us.

“It was fantastic!” I rave. “I really wanted the main characters to get together. That carrot was dangling until the very end.”

Allison nods her agreement. “We were going to have words if you didn’t give them a happy ending.”

Brian lights up. “Really? That’s great! I actually wrote an entirely different third act that was about their life together. They originally got married at the end of the second act, but I felt like the production lost steam once they did.”

“Wait, you wrote the script?” I ask in surprise.

Brian nods, his expression sheepish. “I’m an amateur playwright."

“Ain’t nothin’ amateur about it,” Allison says, swatting his rump. “Did you hear that applause?”

“It’s only my second production,” he says dismissively .

“Could have fooled me,” I chime in.

“Really? That’s so kind of you both. I still feel like such a fraud. If I didn’t own the theater, the play would probably never have seen the light of day. Or um… the light of a weekday evening.”

“You’ve gotta make your own opportunities,” Allison says encouragingly.

I’m fascinated by their dynamic. Not only does Brian’s appearance not match what I was imagining, but his demeanor is totally different too. I thought he’d be confident and cool, guiding Allison through her recovery with a detached air while avoiding her advances. Instead he’s lovably vulnerable.

“Fake it ‘til you make it,” I tell him. “I felt like a con artist when showing up at the hospital for my first shift. I didn’t have any medical training. Speech pathology wasn’t part of my education, but I seem to have a knack for it anyway.

When I’m actually doing the work, all my doubt fades into the background. ”

“That’s how it feels when I write,” Brian says, nodding eagerly, “like I’m in the zone. Speaking of which, you sure took to the stage with ease.”

I point at myself. “Who me?”

“Yes, you, Mr. False Humility,” Allison says. “We didn’t win second place at a high school talent show by chance!”

“My days of fame are behind me,” I say jokingly.

Brian’s expression remains earnest. “I’m working on a musical right now. You’d be perfect as the lead.”

I snort. “No way. I couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not an actor.”

“But you emote so well. I just saw it.”

Allison nods. “He’s the kind of guy who will cry when singing a sad song. It’s really sweet.”

“Yeah,” I splutter, “but I’m not going to do that in public!”

“But you could,” she replies. “If you chose to. You don’t get stage fright.”

“Well, no, but…”

“The play is a sung-through,” Brian says. “Think of it more as a musical performance than an acting gig.”

“Do it, Ben!” Allison insists. “It would be so fun! I’d say yes in a heartbeat if I had the time. Especially if I was offered the lead.”

“It’s yours,” Brian says. “There are two leads. ”

She shakes her head. “My schedule wouldn’t allow it. But I know someone who doesn’t have that problem.”

She’s right. I have a little too much free time on my hands. Especially with Jace being out of town so much. Regardless… Me, the lead in a play? I never imagined that sort of thing, even for fun.

“At the very least,” Brian says, seeming to sense my hesitation, “would you be willing to help me workshop the production? I can compose on the piano, but I can’t sing well. I could really use your help.”

Allison’s eyes are pleading with me. Because she likes him, or wants this for me, or some combination of the two. Either way, I consider the stage again, unable to deny how enchanting it feels to be up here, and find myself nodding.

— — —

I really like Brian. His humility is one of his greatest assets.

Without the pressure to impress or compete, I find it easy to be myself around him.

Right from the beginning. While working with him on the new play, I’ve noticed he has that effect on other people as well.

Even when he provides critical feedback, it doesn’t feel judgmental, because he’s right there with you, trying to figure out the best way to do things.

Which is really saying something. The man is knowledgeable and talented.

I’m incredibly impressed by the concept he came up with for a musical.