Page 121 of When Ben Loved Jace

“RYAN!”

A dark blur moves across my path. The next thing I know, Tim is standing with his back to me. He traps one of Ryan’s arms in each of his fists and begins throttling him while shouting.

“What are you doing here? Huh? What the fuck are you doing?”

Ryan begins to whimper and blubber.

“Why do you always have to be so damn crazy?” Tim insists, still shaking him. “You’re driving me nuts!”

“That’s enough,” I say while cautiously approaching.

Ryan is weeping openly now.

“Tim!” I shout. “That’s enough!”

He finally looks at me—his anger shifting to shame—and lets go.

“Is this what he did to you?” Ryan snivels, lifting the sleeves of his T-shirt to reveal red bands where Tim grabbed him. A darker pair is just beneath them, rendered in black and blue. “Is that why you left him? You know what? I’m sick of this. You can have each other!” He marches toward the doors.

I turn to Tim for an explanation.

His attention isn’t on me. “Where are you going?”

Ryan spins around and wipes the snot off his nose. “Home! I’m going to run myself a nice hot bath and slit my wrists!” And with that, he bursts through the exit and disappears into the night.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Tim murmurs, sounding exhausted.

He looks it too. Dark bags accompany the weary eyes he trains on me. His face is covered in scruff. The strong build I once adored ends in paunch when nearing his waist.

“I’m really sorry,” Tim says, voice raw. “I didn’t intend for any of this to happen.”

I cross my arms. “Shouldn’t you get after him?” I ask, nodding at the doors. “Or was that an empty threat?”

Tim swallows. “I don’t know anymore. But um… Yeah. I guess I’d better. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he never comes back here.”

His gaze lingers on me, full of longing, but instead of lust or barely concealed love, it’s more like a prisoner who sees a chance for escape.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

Tim manages a half-hearted smile. “It was worth it,” he says before turning and trudging away.

As soon as the door closes, Brian rushes over to lock it and the others. “Should I call the police?” he asks while working.

“No. I’m all right.”

But is Tim? What about Ryan? Those bruises on his arms…

“Whowasthat?” Brian asks.

“An ex of mine. And his new boyfriend.”

“Oh.Ooh.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry that I came and got you. Had I known—”

“It’s fine,” I assure him. “But in the future, if I get any surprise visitors, just take a message.”