Page 36 of When Ben Loved Jace

My back is to the rest of the kitchen when I take my seat, but I’m warmed by the sunlight pouring in. The table has already been set with two bowls full of some sort of granola and anivory pitcher. A grapefruit has been sliced in half for us to share. A number of shining utensils have been dedicated to the task we’re about to engage in. I’m already nervous about choosing the correct spoon.

“Coffee or tea?” Adrien trills.

“Coffee, please.”

He pours some into a delicate cup. He doesn’t offer sugar or cream, and I don’t dare ask.

“Do we need to bother with introductions?” he asks when sitting. “I assume Jace has at least mentioned me before. I’ve certainly heard enough about you.”

“I know who you are,” I confirm. “Thank you for letting him move his trailer here.”

“I didn’t do it for you,” Adrien says with a sniff. He gestures at the pitcher. “Don’t worry, it’s almond milk.”

I cover my granola with it and try a smile. “This looks great!”

He nods as if satisfied.

I’m already desperate to get out of here.

“So whathashe told you about me?” Adrien asks.

“That you were college roommates. And that you used to date.”

I hope this pop quiz doesn’t have many more questions, because I’ve already exhausted my knowledge.

A smile plays about Adrien’s lips. “Humble beginnings. I had requested a dorm room transfer, unable to tolerate my roommate anymore, who did little more than pick at his own acne between bouts of flatulence. Imagine my delight when I met my new roommate. I knew the moment Jace walked in the door that I had to have him. And I most certainly did. Repeatedly. Does that bother you?”

“No,” I say, wanting to be polite. “It gives us something in common.”

He considers this. “I suppose it does. We even lived together, for a short time, after I graduated and got an apartment. Do you love him?”

The question is sudden and direct, but after last night, my response is especially raw. “Yeah. He’s the first guy I’ve loved in a very long time. And maybe the first one to ever love me back.”

Adrien’s steely expression wavers momentarily. “I loved him too.”

“So what happened?”

He perks up at this, as if pleased by the line of inquiry. “He didn’t tell you?”

I take a bite of the granola and shake my head.

“Everything was going swimmingly. We couldn’t have been happier. I honestly thought I’d found the man I would someday marry. Is that relatable?”

He’s either reading me like a book or playing me like a fiddle. Maybe both, but I’m hanging on his every word. I nod again.

“I’ve been there too. Until one day, out of the blue, Victor comes strolling into our lives.” He’s studying me intently. “I can see that you’ve heard of him already. Quite a bit, I would imagine. He’s one of Jace’s favorite subjects.”

I swallow, but not because of the food. “What did you think of him?”

“Not much,” Adrien says venomously. “Jace had built him up as some sort of legend. The reality was quite different. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw for myself. Victor was malnourished, grubby, and had the fashion sense of a hobo. Although I will admit he had a certain appeal that came from being on the streets, like a male hustler does, but personally, I wouldn’t have touched him without making him soak in a tub for a few hours first. Even then he’d need to get a rabies shot, because the boy was absolutely feral.”

“How so?”

“Where do I begin? He ate out of garbage cans. Did you know that? He was rather proud of the fact. He even invited me to go dumpster diving with him. The audacity!” Adrien nods at the food in front of me. “Try the organic grapefruit. It’s from the farmer’s market. Anyway, in addition to his unkept appearance and atrocious eating habits, Victor was always smoking. Funny how poor people are so fond of the habit. The homeless too. You’d think they would have more important things to spend their money on. Then again, they didn’t end up that way by making good decisions.”

I can’t imagine Jace dating this man. Or even being his friend. But I intend to set aside our differences in the name of keeping things civilized, because Jace can’t park his trailer at the apartment complex where I live. My car has already been broken into twice. Which is especially desperate, considering the condition it’s in.

“So what was Victor doing down here?” I ask, my mouthpuckering, because there’s no sugar on the grapefruit and I’m too intimidated to ask for some.