Page 122 of When Ben Loved Jace

I crack a smile to reassure him that no harm was done. Which isn’t completely true, because I’m deeply disturbed. My mind whirls on the drive home. What sort of person has Tim become? Is he abusive? Or being abused? He seemed so defeated. Beaten down. What the hell happened to him?

I’m relieved, when parking in front of my house, to see the windows glowing warmly. Jace just got back into town a few hours ago. I’m glad he’s home. I need him.

“Hey!” he says, meeting me in the entryway. Which is really just one corner of the living room. “How was tonight’s show?”

“The public went crazy,” I reply when hugging him. “They’re so desperate to get at me that I might need to hire some muscle.”

He pulls back with an inquisitive expression. I sigh and tell him everything. We’re on the couch by the time I finish, my head in his lap as I gaze up at him.

“That’s really sad,” Jace murmurs. “Are you okay?”

“Me? I’m fine. Tim is the one with a messed-up life.”

“Sure, but I still remember how hard it was to see Victor hit rock bottom. That wasn’t easy. I would rather have found out that he was better off without me.”

“I would definitely prefer that.” Like if Tim kept showing up at my plays with an unbearably hot husband, drinking champagne with him at a table right in the front row where I had to look at them for the entire performance. Give me that version of reality! I reach up to stroke my husband’s cheek. “Especially since I’m so happy.”

Jace nuzzles his face against my hand. “He might find that for himself still, you never know. Hey, did you eat at the theater?”

“No. I just snacked. My costume is kinda tight. I feel like every bite shows.”

“Then you probably don’t want to hear about the cheesecake I brought back for you.”

I sit up in excitement. “Direct from New York?”

“Mm-hm. We could share it.”

“How about you watch me eat and I’ll give you the leftovers when I’m done.”

He laughs. “That works too.”

We’re almost to the kitchen when I feel my pocket vibrate. I pull out my phone and see a text.

Hey! I hope this is still your number. Sorry about tonight. I’d like the chance to explain. I don’t want that to be the last time we ever see each other. Please.

“What’s up?” Jace asks when he notices me staring at the screen.

“Tim texted me,” I reply before handing him my phone.

Jace exhales when giving it back. “That’s a tough one.”

“I know. What would you do?”

Jace takes a small cardboard box out of the fridge. “The same thing I did for Victor—I’d try to help him.”

“Yeah, but you weren’t married to the sexiest flight attendant in the world back then. I am, and that makes it more complicated.”

Jace chuckles. “Somehow I don’t think the flight attendant will mind.”

“Are you sure? If the thought of me seeing him again bothers you, even in the slightest, then I won’t. Your feelings are more important to me. Or we could meet with him together.”

Jace sets the box on the counter, places his hands on my shoulders, and looks me right in the eye. “I trust you, Ben. Do what you have to do.”

I wrap myself around his torso, squeezing him tight. “You really are the best, you know that?”

“I don’t mind being reminded on occasion,” he says, his arms tightening around me. “Now grab a fork. I’m looking forward to dessert, and I don’t mean the cheesecake.”

ChapterThirty