Page 58 of When Ben Loved Jace (He Loved Him #2)
“This early in the morning?”
“Have no fear. Champagne was made for breakfast. And lunch and dinner and everything in between. Don’t make me drink alone. People might accuse me of having a problem. The sun is shining! A shadow no longer hangs over the kingdom. Let the festivities begin!”
I laugh and nod my agreement.
“Excellent!” He returns to the refrigerator, singing under his breath again as he digs around to produce a bottle of champagne. “Tim won’t have to go to such lengths to hide it anymore,” he says while expertly peeling off foil and popping the cork. “Not with the little brat having been exiled.”
“How did you find out already?”
“News travels quickly, and I always have my ear to the ground. I’ve already heard Tim’s version of what transpired last night. I’m eager to get yours. But first…” He hands me a fizzing flute. “Here’s to vanquished villains and newfound friends.”
I clink glasses with him and take a sip. Then, at his coaxing, I tell him everything. Even the part where we kissed, because I figure this is a good trial run for the conversation I’ll have with Jace tonight.
“Delightful!” Marcello says from where he leans against one of the counters. “Behold the power of love!”
“That’ll be put to the test when I tell my husband what I’ve done.”
“All you need is a little hair of the dog. Fight fire with fire. Practice makes perfect.”
“You’re saying that I should kiss him in the same way?”
“Oh, I would do much more than that,” Marcello says with a playful smirk, “but I leave the issue in your capable hands. I still remember Jace. So charming and debonaire. Quite the catch! Tim is something of a unicorn himself. Whatever attributes you possess that lured these fine specimens to your meadow will still be in play when your husband learns the full truth. Why, he doesn’t stand a chance! ”
“Thanks,” I say, buzzing from the champagne.
“Think nothing of it, for I find myself in your debt. You don’t know how much it grieved me each time I visited here, only to see Eric’s legacy tarnished by that bully of a brat.
I take solace that he didn’t live long enough to witness such atrocities, although I doubt he would have tolerated Ryan’s presence.
Then again, Eric was a gentle soul. Which is why I often felt so protective of him, including when Tim first came along.
Did he ever mention my uncharitable attitude? ”
“I’m not sure,” I reply diplomatically.
“My suspicions were unfounded. When he first arrived on the scene, I suspected he was merely interested in Eric’s money.
There is nothing wrong with mutually beneficial arrangements between consenting adults.
But such things require transparency, and Tim struck me as someone long-practiced in the art of deception. ”
“He does have a history,” I admit.
“Don’t we all? Yes, indeed. So I had my concerns, and when Eric received his dreadful diagnosis, I pleaded with him to keep it secret from Tim.
What I didn’t count on was my dearest friend capitulating to cancer.
He had no intention of pursuing any of the treatments available to him.
Eric had seen his own mother wage that battle and lose.
Not wanting to suffer the same fate, he resigned himself to wasting away.
And what did Tim do when he finally learned the truth?
He convinced Eric to fight. The money was in his grasp, much sooner than he ever could have anticipated, and yet all he wanted was for Eric to continue living. ”
Marcello presses a hand over his padded chest. “ That is the day we became allies. Eric responded well to the treatments, at first anyway. By my estimation we gained an extra year, each of those days a precious gift. And while the disease eventually rallied to claim him, Tim was there at his side during every ghastly moment. Cancer robs its victims of dignity, but Tim made sure that Eric never lost sight of how beautiful he was. An army of nurses could have been hired to deal with every unpleasant complication, but not one was needed. Tim took care of everything. Until the very end. Eric didn’t die alone.
He went peacefully, secure in the knowledge that he was loved. What greater gift could there be? ”
Marcello takes a deep breath, a cloud passing over his features.
“And then that damn fool told the lawyer that he didn’t want a penny of Eric’s money and refused to take her calls.
I had to intervene on Tim’s behalf. I’ve questioned if that was the right thing to do, since the inheritance hasn’t contributed to his happiness. But perhaps now…”
We both hear footsteps approaching.
“Ah! That’s the problem with champagne.” Marcello tips the bottle upside-down over the sink, only a drop or two coming out. “It evaporates much too quickly.”
Tim enters the kitchen, panting and sweating, followed by Chinchilla, who is in a similar state.
“Hey!” he says, grinning at us. “That felt so freakin’ good!”
“You went for a run?” I ask.
“Yup. What’s for breakfast?”
“I’ve already had mine,” Marcello says. “Speaking of which, you’re out of champagne.”
“That keeps happening,” Tim says, feigning confusion.
“I’ll be on my way.” The older man ambles over to him. “There’s much to attend to.”
“You don’t want to hug me,” Tim murmurs, backing away. “I’m a mess.”
“Precisely!”
Marcello traps him in a bear hug. Then he spares me a wink. “If ever you should need anything… Give him my number, won’t you, darling?”
Tim’s response gets caught in his throat when his ass is slapped.
Marcello waves on his way out.
“He’s a real trip, huh?” Tim says to me.
“Yeah. To say the least.”
I watch him go to the sink to fill a dog bowl with water and think about what Marcello told me—all the things that Tim went through and the sacrifices he made in the name of love. He notices my stare, which I don’t try to hide.
“What?”
“You’re awesome,” I say. “That’s all.”
Tim laughs. “Don’t tell me you want a sweaty hug too.” He sets down the bowl. Chinchilla begins lapping up the water. “Who am I kidding? Of course you do! Come get some. ”
I laugh and shake my head. “I wouldn’t be able to resist the power of your pheromones. But I will make you breakfast. Any requests?”
“Burnt toast and undercooked eggs.”
“My specialty! Coming right up!”
He joins me at the stove, not trusting my culinary skills, but I don’t mind. I like his closeness, and the way our bodies touch by accident. I adore him. I’m so glad Tim is free. Even though it all but guarantees that our time will soon come to an end.