Page 26 of When Ben Loved Jace

“Thanks for the pep talk, Dad.”

“You’re welcome, Son,” he says without missing a beat.

I don’t let him go without a few more kisses to tide me over. Even when he drives away, I stand there watching until his car disappears around the corner. Then I return inside. Allison is waiting for me in the kitchen, sipping coffee.

“Well?” she says knowingly.

“What?” I respond, but she doesn’t buy my innocent expression.

“I want details! You’ve been glowing since I got home last night.”

I giggle and fill a mug of my own before joining her at the table. “You know how the first time you have sex with someone, it’s exciting because everything is new, but it’s also kind of awkward? It wasn’t like that with Jace.”

“It wasn’t exciting?”

“No! I mean, yes. What I’m trying to say is that it was more like long-term relationship sex, when you’re comfortable with the other person and you don’t have any inhibitions. We have so much chemistry in bed that it’s ridiculous.” I don’t mention that it was actually the couch where the chemical reaction took place. I’m sure there are some details she’d rather not know.

“How far did things go?” Allison asks.

“Notallthe way. I’m pretty sure he’s a top though.”

“I would’ve been so disappointed for you if he wasn’t.” She eyes me for a moment. “If you plan on taking things that far, get tested first.Withhim. Just to be sure. I’ve always known that someday I’d lose my roommate to a beautiful man, but I don’t want that to be the reason.”

“We’ll get tested,” I promise her. “It’s a good idea, because I think he’s worthy of entering Aladdin’s cave.”

“You’ll get no argument from me. Jace sure is fine!”

“He really is!” I say gleefully.

“So…” Allison says leading. “Is it too soon to talk about feelings?”

“To him? Yes. With my best friend? Of course not. I’m totally falling in love. Or wait, do I love him already? There really needs to be a test for this sort of thing. It’s only been a few weeks. Am I being ridiculous?”

“No more than usual,” she says fondly. “And by the way, if a boy pees on a pregnancy test and the result is positive, it means he's in love."

“Really?”

“No!” she says, tossing a napkin at me.

I laugh, taking just as much joy in messing with her. “I don’t need a test. I know where I’m headed. Although I wouldn’t mind askinghimto pee on one, if that actually worked.”

Allison shakes her head. “The man is crazy about you. Have no doubt.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because he barely even looked at Ken. And he’s—"

“—the hottest guy in the world,” I say with a nod of agreement. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Jace only has eyes for you.”

“Huh. Maybe he just has bad taste.”

Allison raises an eyebrow at this. “Do I need to build you up? Because I will.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head while wearing a goofy grin. “That’s okay.”

I can’t say for sure how Jace feels about me, or what word he would use to describe it, but at the moment, I definitely feel loved.