Outside, the sunlight feels brighter, the air fresher.
Ben
"Hey, Ben!" Jason calls out, his voice bright and clear over the gentle clatter of dishes as I empty the dishwasher.
“In here,” I call out from the kitchen before closing the dishwasher. I turn to face him. "Where were you? I’m gonna be late for work."
I go up on my toes and give him a quick peck on the lips. He grabs my waist, pulling me closer for a deeper kiss. Kissing this man could easily be the best thing ever—my favorite thing, besides being marked.
“Just running a quick errand.” He straightens up, his eyes sparkling. "Tell you about it at lunch, if you’re interested in joining me, that is."
"Lunch sounds great," I tell him, already feeling my day brighten.
We settle into our usual corner booth at Steamed. The aroma of coffee and sizzling bacon fills the air. I’m so glad Noah added sandwiches to the menu. It’s a different place than it was when I worked here with him all those years ago.
"So," I begin, taking a bite of my grilled cheese with bacon sandwich. "What's got you vibrating out of your skin? Did you win the lottery? I have my heart set on some new coloring books if you did. And I want the big box of crayons to go with it,” I tease.
Jason chuckles, a warm, rumbling sound. "I didn’t win the lottery, but I think we can get you some new coloring books. You know spring break is just around the corner, right?"
"Of course," I reply, nodding. "Got any grand adventures planned?" My stomach drops with the thought of him being gone for a week. We haven’t been apart for more than a day in the past six weeks.
"Actually," he leans in, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. Somehow, he still manages to sound joyous. “I’m thinking of taking a road trip—and I was hoping you might be interested in joining me.”
My sandwich hovers midair. A road trip with Jason? It sounds perfect, but worry flickers—can I even get time off? I just started. Disappointment edges in.
Jason waves a dismissive hand, his smile unwavering. "Ah, that's where the magic happens.”
“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow at him, but he just laughs at the awkward gesture. I’ve never been able to raise one as he does.
“I already cleared it with Barrett." Oh…that’s where he was this morning. That sneaky snake.
My eyebrows shoot up. "You did? You actually got Barrett to approve me taking off for a road trip?" This is not how I saw the day going.
"Yep,” he says, popping the p.
"Okay, now I'm officially excited," I say, walking over to his side of the booth to be next to him. "Where exactly did you have in mind?” The anticipation is building, and I don’t know how much more I can handle.
Jason’s grin broadens. A knowing glint in his eyes. He takes a sip of his water glass, letting the suspense hang in the air for a beat.
Then he looks directly at me, his voice filled with a hopeful excitement that is utterly contagious.
"To your old house."
Chapter Twenty-Two
__________
Jason
The late afternoon sun spills onto the faded painted blue porch. The familiarity warms something deep in me. My eyes sting at the memories of sitting on the creaking porch swing on a nice afternoon while reading with Ms. Tibball.
There is a slight chill in the air, but the snow has melted from the last drop a couple of weeks ago.
I step up to the glass door, catching my reflection in the window. A shadow of the boy who used to come here for reading lessons stares back at me. It’s a familiar shadow, yet…different. Taller, broader, the silhouette of a man, not the little boy who used to ride his bike down the street or play tag with the neighborhood kids.
When the door opens before I can knock, my breath hitches in surprise. I lower my raised fist that’s about to knock. A smile already forming on my face.
“Well, I’ll be,” Ms. Tibball says, opening the door wider. “Benny? Is that you?” Her eyes are already glassing over. Like mine.
