Page 2 of When Ben Loved Jace

“No,” I confirm.

“You should! He’s crazy about them.”

Jason groans, as if embarrassed.

“You’re gonna love it,” his boyfriend insists, crushing the fortune cookie in a meaty fist with a light popping sound. Then he pulls the wrapper open over Jason’s cup of yoghurt, shards of cookie raining down, the paper fortune landing on top like a cherry. “Oh shit!” He hastily rescues the fortune and hands it to his boyfriend. “Here ya go.” A shit-eating grin is turned on me. “He collects them.”

“Greg!”

“What? It’s true. He’s got a whole album full at home. I’m sure he’d be willing to show you. If you’re interested.”

Wait, are they inviting me to a threesome? Because my heart isn’t the only thing that’s hungry!

“Thank you,” Jason says to me with finality. He grabs both of their cups and turns around, seeming eager to leave.

Greg lingers a moment longer, waving a tenner in the air before putting it in the tip jar. He’s grinning so hard that dimples show in his cheeks. “We’ll be back,” he whispers with a wink.

I have no idea what to think as he walks away. That tip was way above average. Was it a promise of more money? For doing what? The thrill I feel is short-lived, because this isn’t what I’d dreamt of. Casual hookups aren’t hard to come by in a college town. That’s not something I indulge in often, because without love, it just isn’t the same. Not for me anyway. And maybe I’m being judgmental, but this tarnishes my image of Jason. I always imagined him being an old-fashioned romantic, not an open relationship kind-of-guy.

I can see him through the window. He’s standing in front of the car while talking to his boyfriend. Judging from their body language, the exchange is getting heated. Jason finally looks skyward in exasperation. Then he hands the yoghurt cups to Greg and returns unwillingly to the store, his face flushed. I can’t help but assume that I’m the source of their conflict. Maybe only one of them is eager to invite me to their bed.

I flash a sympathetic smile as he enters. I’ll shoot him down, they can go home and argue about it some more, and he can come back to me if they ever break up because I’ve already decided that I like him again. There’s something in those eyes. They aren’t mysterious and impenetrable, like a certain someone I used to know. Jason’s gaze is full of feeling, emotion dancing openly across those emerald irises.

“Someone forgot their keys,” he says when approaching the counter.

“Oh!” I notice a key chain in front of the tip jar and point before his voice demands my attention again.

“Listen. I’m really sorry about uh… He means well. I can’t imagine what you must think of me. If anything at all, but um…”

I’m not sure what he’s trying to say, and it’s hard to pay attention, because Greg has cupped his hands and pressed them to the store window so he can see inside, his nose squished up against the glass. “Is your boyfriend all right?” I ask.

Jason follows my stare and groans. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

“He’s not?”

Jason rolls his eyes. “No. He’s my best friend. And a terrible wingman.”

It takes a second before the implications hit home.

“I think you’re really cute,” Jason says, already grimacing in anticipation of my response. “If you’re not into guys, that’s totally cool. I don’t mean any offense. But if you are…”

“I’m super gay!” I blurt out.

He stares a second before laughing, the tension draining from him. “Thank goodness! I kept trying to find a way of telling you that I am, without coming right out and saying it. I don’t even like rainbow sprinkles!”

I chuckle, thinking of all the times he’s ordered them. “I just assumed you were,” I admit. “Mostly because I wanted it to be true.”

Jason beams at me. His smile makes me feel beautiful. I can’t believe those pearly whites are for me!

“That’s great! Are you…”

“Hopelessly single,” I assure him.

“Perfect! Should we try our luck?”

I gesture around me. “They don’t call it Lucky Licks for nothing!” I say before wincing. It’s such a lame line, but by some miracle he laughs.

“Then it’s a good thing I have my loyalty card,” he says, taking out his wallet. “Do you have a pen?”