Page 58 of When Ben Loved Jace

“Look who stopped by,” Jace says evenly.

“I hope you brought something to the potluck,” Tim adds with a grin.

“How about drinks?” I suggest, moving to the refrigerator. “We’ve got…” Nothing strong enough to dispel the tension. Allison has cleared us out. I shut the door and spin around. “Who wants tap water?”

“I brought a bottle of wine for us to share,” Jace says somewhat pointedly.

“I brought a six-pack,” Tim says with a toothy grin. “What’ll it be?”

“Uhh…” They’re both staring at me, awaiting my decision. “I’m going to make some coffee.”

“Suit yourself,” Tim says with a shrug before turning to Jace. “Want me to open that bottle of wine for you?”

“I’d rather save it for a romantic occasion,” he grumbles. “But I will have one of those beers.”

“Now we’re talking.” Tim cracks open a can and hands it to him. After doing the same for himself, he proposes a toast. “Here’s to what we have in common.”

Does he mean me? Or what they’ve bothdoneto me?

I meet Jace’s eye, worried about his reaction, but all I see in his gaze is confidence.

“To those who are most worth loving,” he adds, ensuring a purer meaning.

I smile at him when he raises the drink to me. He clinks cans with Tim and they both take a swig. I decide to drink the leftover coffee from this morning so I can focus on them. After pouring it into a mug, I take plates out of the cabinet.

“This’ll be fun,” I say when carrying them to the table. Takeout containers and a pizza box are already waiting there.

“Yeah,” Tim says. “I was just telling Jace about the time I painted you on Valentine’s Day.”

“Oh really?” I ask, my cheeks burning due to the double meaning. Tim worked on a painting of me, sure, but afterward heliterallypainted me. As in directly, covering my face and the bare skin of my torso. Which was beautiful. Especially later in the shower when he washed it all off of me so tenderly. Judging from Jace’s expression, he’d been treated to that part of the story as well.

“Uh huh,” Tim replies. “I’ve still got it. The canvas I mean. When’s your birthday, big guy? Maybe I’ll give it to you as a present.”

Jace considers him. “Wouldn’t it make more sense for you to paint us? You know, as a couple.”

Tim breathes in, like it’s a tall order. “That sort of thing can be pricey. How much does a flight attendant earn?”

“Enough to meet our needs,” Jace says with the sort of practiced patience he must reserve for difficult passengers. “Have you sold much of your art?”

“Naw,” Tim says, tensing noticeably. “It’s a moot point anyway, since it would be a gift.”

“Then we’ll make sure to invite you to the wedding,” Jace says. “That would be the most appropriate time to give us such an expensive andconsideratepresent.”

Tim begins to glower.

I start to panic. “Dinner is served! Who wants what?”

“I’ll stick with the Thai,” Jace says.

“You’ve gotta try the pizza,” Tim insists, grabbing a slice for himself. “It’s wood-fired.”

I diplomatically take a little of each, hoping they won’t read anything into it.

“S’good!” I soon mumble, despite the conflicting tastes in my mouth. The silence at the table is deafening. I force myselfto swallow. “I’m surprised nobody has thought to put peanut sauce on pizza before.”

Jace laughs at the same time that Tim does, disarming the bomb with a mere second left on the timer.

“I’m sure you’ve come up with stranger dishes,” Tim says before turning his attention to Jace. “Has he cooked much for you?”