Page 147 of When Ben Loved Tim

He smiles. “That’s the reaction I was hoping to get. From you.”

“Well you managed,” I tell him. “This is really great.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah.” I glance around. “What was the actual prom like?”

“Crowded,” Tim says immediately. He doesn’t offer any more information than that. But I have to know. I wish I didn’t, but I do.

“Did you kiss her?”

Tim swallows. “Did you kiss Danny? Because it’s okay if you did.”

That he’s giving me permission, even in retrospect, is more of an answer than he probably intended. I decide to let it go. We were messing around back when Krista really was his girlfriend, so if anything, it’s my just desserts. Now that I know how it feels, I promise myself it’ll be the last time I do that to anyone.

“Have you responded to your acceptance letter yet?” I ask.

“No. Still working on it.” Tim looks stressed, like I’m going to grill him all night, but that’s not what either of us want.

“No rush,” I say easily. “If worse comes to worst, we can always run away together.”

He grins at this. “Yeah?”

I shrug. “Why not? You’ll sell your paintings. I’ll sing for our supper.”

“I’m up for that.” Tim leans forward, his expression intense. “When we’re together, especially when it’s just you and me, I feel like I’ve got everything I’ll ever need.”

“Then we’ll find a way. No matter what we have to do.”

We sit there talking, leaving serious topics behind so we can goof off and make each other laugh. I sing to him when a song comes on that I like, and afterwards, he stands to announce the king and queen of prom, crowning us each with a cocktail napkin that blows off as we walk into an invisible audience to greet our loyal subjects.

“How about that slow dance?” I ask demurely.

“All right.” Tim goes to the stereo.

A soulful ballad begins to play. He turns to me and extends a hand. I’m all too happy to be pulled into his arms. I nestle up against his chest. The boy sure can fill out a suit! Tim wraps his arms around me as we pivot in a slow circle. He steps on my foot, murmuring an apology, while I think back to when I first saw those blue shoes of his. We’ve come so far since that fateful summer night. Throughout all the highs and lows, I’ve never stopped loving him. I don’t think I ever could.

When I look up, he’s wearing a subtle smile, like my thoughts are laid bare for him to see. I only wish his were so easy to read. There’s something dancing in his silver eyes, especially after he presses his lips to mine and pulls back.

“Hey, Benjamin?”

“Yeah?”

Knock! Knock! Knock!

We both look at the door just in time to see it open. A portly man with a bald dome and ring of gray hair is standing there. He’s wearing a uniform. I’m still staring at him when Tim lets go and pushes me away.

“What’s going on here?” the security guard asks, eyeing us with unease.

I look at Tim, who puts on a fake smile and walks over to the man with his hand extended, like a car salesman desperate to earn commission.

“Hey!” he says. “I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here since Vince is out of town.”

“Who?” the security guard asks, ignoring the offered hand.

Tim drops it to his side. “They guy who is usually here at night. He didn’t mention me?”

“The agency sent me over,” the man replies. “That’s all I know. What are you boys up to? What’s going on here?”