When he started to withdraw, I caught his hand. I kissed his palm, then tugged him forward and kissed his lips.
My chest warmed as Benji relaxed, kissing me back. Then my stomach swooped as the car swerved.
I jerked back, glancing at the road, but nothing was there. Jeremy’s hands were clenched tight around the steering wheel. “Trying to drive here,” he gritted out.
“So, drive,” I said, before grinning at Benji and turning back to the front. “Tell us more about this mystery woman of yours.”
Jeremy grumbled. “Not much to tell. I don’t think it’s going to work out.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
I shifted in my seat, toward Benji. “Well, Benji and I could just make out some more…”
“She’s my supervisor,” Jeremy blurted hurriedly, and I had to bite down on a grin. Clearly, PDA was still a bit much for him, but at least Benji knew that my heart was with him. I wasn’t going to avoid him to put Jeremy at ease, no matter how much I wanted us all to make peace.
“You sure that’s a good idea?” I asked. “Messing around at work?”
Jeremy barked a laugh. “No, in fact. I’m pretty sure it’s an awful idea.”
“Too late?”
“Too fucking late.”
We carried on talking. I let Jeremy change the subject because it was obvious he wasn’t entirely happy talking about his workplace fling on the verge of ending. And while we talked, I reached back with my left hand, intertwining my fingers with Benji’s.
When I looked back, Benji was more relaxed, smiling even though he couldn’t hear most of what we said. Yeah. That was better. Jeremy needed to get used to his new reality anyway. Shielding him from any shows of affection wouldn’t help any of us adjust to the changes in our dynamics.
Somehow, I had to figure out how to be Jeremy’s friend and Benji’s boyfriend, without losing the special something I had with each of them.
19
Benji
When we arrived, Mom came out the front door to meet us, a huge smile breaking out when she saw Ace. She walked right past me and Jeremy, drawing Ace into a hug. “About time you came back here,” she said, gently scolding him.
“Sorry, Stacy,” he said. “I’ve been busy.”
She stepped back, chuckling. “I bet you have. Look at you.” She tsked. “So handsome. I hope you’re being kind to the hearts that fall for you.”
Ever since I’d come out as gay, Mom had done her best to stop making assumptions about people’s sexual orientation or gender. It was a sweet gesture, and it helped avoid some awkwardness in this situation. Because she most likely thought Ace was dating a string of beautiful girls, instead of coupling up with her own son.
Ace slung an arm around my shoulders, drawing me in close. “I sure hope so.” He looked at me, eyes sparkling. “What do you think, Benji? Am I treating you right?”
I grinned up at him. “You should probably worry about your own heart.”
It was all bravado. I couldn’t get over my insecurity overnight. Ace was gorgeous, and like Mom implied, he could have beautiful women lining up for him. But he’d chosen me, and he’d faced down my brother, and he was visiting my family, not just as Ace, family friend, but as Ace, Benji’s boyfriend. He wouldn’t do all these things — awkward, difficult things — if he didn’t really care. So, I was getting there. Really starting to believe I had the real thing with Ace, that even if I wasn’t sure why I was worth all the trouble, Ace thought I was, and for now, that was more than enough for me.
“Are you two…?” Mom trailed off.
“We’re dating,” I confirmed.
“Can I get some help with the bags here?” Jeremy grumbled from beside the open trunk.
Ace gave me a quick squeeze and went to grab bags, leaving me with Mom. “What do you think?” I asked hesitantly.
She glanced at Ace again. “Hmm. I suppose if you like that kind of thing.”
“What?”
She smirked. “Smart, handsome, great body.” She shrugged. “You know me. I prefer my men balding and handy with a calculator,” she said as my dad walked up.
“Hey, I resemble that remark.”
I snorted. “You guys are ridiculous.” Then, I added, “Ace is very good at math.”
“Well, then, he’s a keeper!” Mom said emphatically.
“Ace?” Dad said, a little late to the conversation.
“Benji and Ace,” Mom said. “How about that? We didn’t need to worry, after all.”
“You were worried?”
“Oh, honey, we knew you loved that boy,” she said fondly. “He was always so sweet to you, I worried you’d get the wrong idea. Guess I was the one who was wrong.”
Ace smiled at me as he carried our bags past, following Jeremy into the house. We turned to follow.
“It’s still pretty new,” I said. “Jeremy wasn’t thrilled.”
Dad laughed loudly. “Oh, I bet not.”
Mom shook her head, smiling. “He’ll get over it. Just remember, this relationship is between you and Ace, no one else. Not even us.”
“So, if you didn’t approve…”
“You don’t need our approval.”
Dad snorted. “She’s just remembering how much my mother hated her when we first got together.”
“Nearly ruined us before we began.”
Dad kissed her cheek. “Never.”
She glanced up at him, beaming, and I was hit by their love. I’d grown up around it, took it for granted, but in that moment I saw how real it was, how lasting, and I could only hope Ace and I were so lucky.
Ace
I helped Jeremy carry the bags toward the bedrooms in the back of the house. The McKenzies were comfortably middle class, with a cute bungalow that was deceptively large. We passed through a living room spacious enough for the family of six — Benji and Jeremy had two sisters, one older and one younger — and passed Cath’s bedroom, a hall bathroom, and a linen closet before reaching the door to Benji’s room. Jeremy’s bedroom was just a few steps farther down the hall; Benji’s parents and the youngest girl, Steph, slept on the other side of the house.
Benji had lagged behind, talking with his parents, but he caught up as we reached his room. “Cath’s not getting here till three, so we’re eating a little late,” he informed us as he reached for his duffel bag. “Steph is pouting in her room. Mom said she wanted to go on some sort of trip with her friend Stasia, and she’s not happy to be stuck with us.”
“Can’t say I blame her,” Jeremy grumbled.
Benji opened his bedroom door, walking inside with his duffel, and that’s when the awkward reality seemed to hit all of us.
Where was I sleeping?
Benji had a twin bed but plenty of floor space. Jeremy had a spare bed — an old holdover from when they’d lived in a smaller house and he’d shared rooms with Benji. By the time they’d moved, Jeremy and I had been best friends and they’d kept an extra bed in his room just for me. I’d always, always slept in that bed.