Page 127 of When Ben Loved Jace

“About what?”

“The car!”

I glance around and shrug. “I didn’t really notice anything. Do you want me to get out and look?”

He laughs while shifting into drive. “You haven’t changed one bit.” His eyes move over me before returning to the road. “I mean that in a good way.”

I sigh theatrically. Which I can now do at a professional level. “This is exactly why Ryan thinks you’re involved with me.”

“You aren’t completely wrong.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“He knows that I love you.”

“Tim! Why would you tell him that?”

“I never thought I’d see you again! And besides, he found out way at the beginning, when we were just getting to know each other. You’re part of my history. And um… I might have said your name in my sleep. A few times. Including recently.”

I slide down in the seat, as if wanting to hide myself from view. With my luck, Ryan is probably tailing us right now. “Did he mention the little appearance he made during my play?”

Tim squirms uncomfortably. “Uh… Yeah. I couldn’t ask him, because that would give away that you told me, but he brought it up himself that night.”

“And?”

“He said some stupid shit that isn’t worth repeating.”

“About what?”

Tim shakes his head.

“What?” I press.

“Insults about your performance, that I know aren’t true, because I’veseenyou, Benjamin. You’re amazing.”

“Well thanks. And you’re right, I don’t need to hear any of that.”

“He also said that Jace propositioned him. Which you shouldn’t take seriously because—”

“Tim.”

“Yeah?”

“I trust my husband. You don’t need to defend him.”

“Cool.”

“Did he tell you the rest? How he heckled me on stage?”

Tim looks over at me in shock. “You said he made a scene but… What happened?”

I fill him in on the details. Tim groans during the story, and again when I reach the end.

“Dude! I am so sorry. I figured he just confronted you after the show. I never thought he’d do something that crazy!”

“Me neither, which is why this has to stop. Have you given more thought to breaking up with him?”

“Yeah. I want to. I even tried broaching the subject.”