Page 54 of When Ben Loved Jace

“I love that man!”

Tim nods. “So do I. He got me to the hospital. Turns out I’d inhaled some nasty shit into my lungs when picking a fight with that tree. Aspiration pneumonia, they call it. That’s what really messed me up. This,” he says, eyeing the scar again, “was only collateral damage.”

“I think it looks cool,” I admit.

“Really? Huh. I guess it is the sort of thing a warrior would have. I’ve got battle scars!”

He flexes.

I stare. But even my hormones take a back seat to my heart. “So was that the end for you and Travis?”

“Just about,” Tim says. “When I got back into town, I found out that one of my modeling photos had been used on the cover of a gay magazine. The kind that businesses have by the front door for free. So of course someone at the fraternity noticed. The assholes must have taken a whole stack, because they covered my car with them, which is why the clear coat is so messed up now. They used some sort of glue. That was my welcome home gift. When I went inside—” His face is drawn. “They all turned on me. My worst fear finally came true. And it stung especially bad, because a lot of those guys were my friends. Travis just stood there. He’d already moved his stuff out of our room. Stupid me, even after seeing that, I still asked him to—” Tim’s voice strangles to a halt. He looks embarrassed before trying again. “I thought if we both left the fraternity, then maybe we could…”

He shakes his head and turns his face away.

I take his hand in mine and rest my cheek on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

“Eh,” Tim grunts dismissively. “I had it coming. A taste of my own medicine. It’s what I deserved.”

“No, it isn’t,” I say. “You deserve to be loved. You’ll get another chance.”

“Will I?” he asks, his face close to mine now, especially when I look up into silver eyes wet with emotion.

I push myself away, squeeze his hand, and let go. “Yeah. You’re an incredible guy. Someone will notice that. Once you’ve healed enough to try again—”

“Did it ever stop hurting for you?” he asks suddenly. “Because it didn’t for me. And I don’t mean Travis. Yeah, that sucked, but when it comes to us… I still feel like something is missing.” He taps his chest. “In here. Ever since you left.”

I swallow, knowing exactly what he means. “You’ll find it again. I did.”

Tim looks wounded. I wish I could tell him what he wants to hear, but it wouldn’t be right.

“So anyway,” he says dismissively, "that’s my big sob story. The rest has been awesome. Eric invited me to move in with him and surprised me with Chinchilla. There’s no better cure for a broken heart than a dog.”

I smile at this. “I’m really happy for you, Tim. And proud. You came out!”

“I was outed,” he grumbles before shrugging. “But yeah. I got there eventually. Just a little late. Speaking of which, I have a class to catch.”

“What are you majoring in?” I ask as we stand and collect our things.

“Architecture,” he answers. “Only because that’s what my dad wants me to do, but I’ve managed to shift it away from a B.S.—appropriately enough—to a Bachelor of Arts, so I get to indulge in the creative side more.”

“Good!”

“What about you?”

“I’ll be working in the fast-food industry for the next thirty years to pay off my student loans. Do you happen to know of anyactualsugar daddies?”

He laughs. I tell him more about my intentions until we both realize we’re walking in the same direction without needing to.

“What are you doing tonight?” Tim asks. “Have any exciting plans with Jace?”

I shake my head. “He’s out of town.”

“Still? That must be rough.”

It is, but I don’t want to admit that to him.

“We could hang out,” Tim suggests. “Catch a movie. Something like that.”