“Just remember that if it’s too much, I’ll get you out as soon as I can.You don’t even have to go inside the house if you don’t feel ready for that.”
“I don’t know what I’m ready for.”And he meant that in more ways than just Jimmy.He didn’t know what he was ready for with Taylor, either.Part of him wanted to forge ahead and do everything before Taylor realized how much work he was, but another part knew that Taylor didn’t care.Taylor wasn’t going anywhere, no matter what happened.
“That’s okay,” Taylor said gently.“Just let me know, and I’ll take care of you.”
“You’re here to find out what Jimmy’s up to and if he’s going to start trouble for pride.”
“No.That’s what Jacob, Tony, and Peter are there for.I’m there for you.You’re my priority, Ben.”
Hearing Taylor say that flustered Ben.It was hard to wrap his mind around the fact that they’d gone from Taylor running away from him to this in such a short time.It had only been a week or so—Ben still wasn’t sure what day it was after spending so much time alone in the forest, and he didn’t really care—but he felt like Taylor had been in his life forever.HewantedTaylor to be there forever.He just needed to get over this little hurdle, and then, he could focus on their future.
Ben had remembered Jimmy’s address, so they knew where to go.Tony’s car was in front, and Ben watched it as he and Taylor fell silent.He wanted to talk to his mate, but at the same time, his brain was too busy thinking about Jimmy.He really hoped that this was the last time he had anything to do with the man.He didn’t want Jimmy to ruin what he was building with Taylor.
Ben closed his eyes.He wasn’t sure how long it would take them to reach Jimmy’s house, but he was already dreading it.
“You ran a long way,” Taylor eventually said, his voice soft and gentle.
Ben blinked his eyes open.“I just wanted to get away from that place.I don’t know how long I was on the run, but I’m glad I found Green Hill.”
“So am I.Still, it’s two hours by car.”
“I didn’t run those miles all at once, though.I moved a lot, but I stopped in several places.”Green Hill had been his final stop, and he’d always be grateful for that.In a way, he wouldn’t have met Taylor if Jimmy hadn’t done what he’d done.Ben would always hate his ex-boyfriend for that, but something good had come out of the mess Jimmy had created.While Ben wished he and Taylor had met under different circumstances, he wouldn’t change anything even if he could.This wastheirstory, not Jimmy’s.
And it was only just beginning.
Ben grew more agitated the closer they got to Jimmy’s house.By the time Tony and Taylor stopped their cars in front of the gate, Ben felt ready to jump out of his skin or scream—or maybe both.He stared at the gate, remembering the times he’d driven through it.Was his car still there?He hadn’t stopped to check when he’d left.He’d been overwhelmed and hadn’t been thinking right.He’d just ran, expecting Jimmy to pop up from behind every tree and bush he passed.
“You wouldn’t happen to know the code of the gate, would you?”Taylor asked as he turned to Ben.
“No, he never gave it to me.”
Taylor nodded and put the car back into gear.He parked it on the side of the road.It wasn’t like anyone would drive past it since the only place this road went was Jimmy’s house, but Taylor turned it around as if expecting them to have to make a quick retreat.If they did, the cars would be ready to go.
Tony followed Taylor’s lead, and they gathered in front of the gate.Tony looked like he’d rather be anywhere but here, but Jacob slapped his hands together and grinned.“All right.Who’s climbing the gate first?”
Ben blinked.He hadn’t expected that was how they’d get in, but maybe he should have.There was another way, but he didn’t have the time to tell Jacob because the man was already climbing up.Ben grabbed onto Taylor’s hand, pulling him to the side.
“Where are we going?”Taylor asked.
“We don’t have to climb the gate.There’s a hole in the fence where I escaped.”
Taylor chuckled.“And you don’t want Jacob to know that?”
“I would’ve told him if he’d waited more than a few seconds to start climbing.We’ll see him on the other side.”
By the time they got back to the gate, Peter and Tony had followed Jacob up and over the gate.Jacob glared a little when he saw them arriving, maybe because there was a tear in his t-shirt that hadn’t been there before, but Ben smiled at him.
That smile didn’t stay on his lips long.He was back at Jimmy’s house, a place he’d promised himself he would never return to.
“You’re okay,” Taylor told him.
Ben nodded.“I will be.”
“Is there an alarm?”Tony asked, focused on their next step.
Ben was glad that someone knew what to do because he had no idea.He was resisting the urge to run, and it wasn’t getting any easier.No matter how many times he told himself that he deserved to face Jimmy and tell him what he thought of him and what he’d done, his stomach churned, and he felt he was about to throw up.
He swallowed.“I don’t think so.I never noticed an alarm when I visited, and nothing happened when I ran.”
