Something Like Rain (Something Like... Book 8) (53 page)

William looked over, trying to imagine Jason as a dog. The eyes would be alert, the hair rumpled and messy. God that would be cute! If William found him in a shelter cage, he’d instantly fall in love and bring him home. Just the idea made his heart swell.

“Here,” Jason said, handing him a plastic bag. “Pick that up for me, would you?”

Obviously he was the only one feeling the romance. He realized then what he was witnessing. This was Jason having moved on. Past William leaving him and the emotional turmoil that must have caused, Jason had picked himself up, sought a worthy cause to fill his days, and even found a new boyfriend. Job, family, friends, and lover. He had everything he needed. No wonder Jason had been so upset when William showed up out of the blue and threatened to ruin it all again.

“I’m proud of you,” William said. For everything, but he didn’t want to make things awkward so he focused on the current situation. “It’s really cool what you’re doing here.”

“Thanks,” Jason said. “I just wish there was an end in sight. You find a home for one animal and feel good for about two seconds, then you turn around and three more are on your doorstep.”

“I can relate,” William said. “Although we never had to keep our survivors in cages. A few of them I would have liked to.”

Jason laughed. “Really?”

“The drinkers, definitely. Or this one guy, who threatened to sue because I forced him off his sinking boat. I get that it was his home, but me letting him stay wouldn’t have saved it.”

“Wow. That’s messed up.”

“Yeah.”

Jason looked amused. “Maybe we could team up somehow. Your original idea wasn’t bad, but instead of training animals to run the place, we’ll enlist them in the Coast Guard and have them play fetch with people instead of balls.”

“You’re joking, but we’ve had a few.”

“No!”

William nodded emphatically. “Mostly on cutters. The boats. Sinbad was the most famous. They enlisted him and everything. He even saw combat!”

“Was he hurt?”

As William continued telling the story, Jason listened with rapt attention. Once they were back at the shelter, William pulled up photos of Sinbad on his phone, like the one of him sleeping in a hammock, two coasties watching over him affectionately.

They walked another pair of dogs together, the mood remaining light, but clearly Jason had plenty more work to do, so William made an excuse to leave.

“You’ll be at the party, right?” Jason asked before he went.

William nodded. “I’ll be there.” He was pretty sure he’d go anywhere Jason asked him to, even though he wasn’t truly needed anymore. William took a deep breath, forcing himself to accept the truth. If they did have a future together, it would only be as friends.

* * * * *

Jason didn’t seem to sleep much. Between managing the pet store, helping at the animal shelter, and enjoying his love life, he still somehow managed to make his new apartment look finished. The furniture had been moved from where William had last seen it, finding ideal spots among more possessions that must belong to Emma. Nary a cardboard box remained. The walls were decorated with pictures and an impressive flat-screen television. Currently it was playing music videos, not that many of the guests were paying attention. The little apartment was currently full, mostly with women, quite a few of whom were checking out his date.

“Are you sure you’re not gay?” William said. “Because you’d have your pick.”

“Shut up,” Lily said. “Although I do see at least one exception to the rule.”

He laughed at this, then shot a nervous glance to where Jason stood. William had made sure to arrive an hour after the party began, hoping the place would be crowded. And it was. A total stranger had opened the door when he knocked, and so far, his presence hadn’t been detected by Jason. William watched him from a distance and sized up the guy hovering around him. The new boyfriend. His replacement. The guy had dark hair and was good looking. He was sort of familiar too. William kept going through a list of celebrities, trying to find one who matched. At first he was thinking actors, but now he was considering rock stars, because Jason’s boyfriend had that kind of vibe.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” Lily said. “Or are we going to be wall flowers all night?”

“You’ve met him before,” William said.

“Years ago. Come on. This is awkward.”

She didn’t wait for a reply. She walked straight toward Jason, thrusting out a hand when close. “Hi! Remember me?”

Jason’s expression was blank, but when he saw who she was with, it clicked. Sort of. “Holly?”

Lily pulled back her hand before he could take it. “Oh, so close! But no. Holly was the blond. I’m Lily.”

“Of course!” Jason said. “Sorry!”

“It’s fine.” Lily extended her hand again. “I can’t blame you for not remembering. At the time, you only had eyes for William.”

Her drawing attention to that was humiliating. Or a stroke of genius, because Jason looked him over as if those days weren’t so far behind. “I’m glad you came.”

Before William could respond, a figure stepped between them. The boyfriend. He was smiling and offering his hand, and for a split second, William found himself back at a bar in Boston, already buzzing from drinking beer on an empty stomach. That’s when a guy had sat next to him and flashed the same smile.

“Hi! Nice to meet you. I’m—”
Steve.
“—Caesar.”

William took his hand numbly, doubly confused now, because that name was loaded. Jason’s first boyfriend, the foster brother who had broken his heart, also shared that name. But this couldn’t be him. This was Steve! His mind took three separate people and merged them into one. The new boyfriend was also the fabled guy from Jason’s past and
also
the guy from his own past. The smile on Caesar’s face faded, either because William had failed to respond or—

“Don’t I…” Caesar’s eyes widened. He let go of William’s hand as if scalded. He recovered quickly enough, focusing on Lily and introducing himself. “Nice to meet you. Great smile! If I had a genie lamp, my first wish would be to make it my own, although it probably looks better on you than it would me.”

Charming. And infuriating. William was trying to figure out how he could be both when a familiar voice said hello. Ben was there with Tim, offering him a hug, William grateful for the comfort.

“Nice to see you here,” Ben murmured.

“You too,” William said, nodding at Tim over Ben’s shoulder.

As glad as he was to see them both, he needed to get away to make sense of the situation.

“Let’s grab a drink,” he said to Lily, but she was still happily chatting to Caesar. “Lily! I’m thirsty.”

“Okay,” she said, putting on an exasperated expression. “It’s hard being so loved. He wears me out!”

Ben grinned. “I know the feeling.”

“Yeah, well, get used to it.” Tim draped a possessive arm around him.

Even this couldn’t make William smile. “Excuse me,” he said, eyes meeting Caesar’s once more before he retreated to the open kitchen.

“You okay?” Lily said, hurrying to catch up with him.

“No!” he hissed once they were at a safe distance. “I slept with that guy!”

“I hope so! You used to date!”

“Not Jason. The guy he’s with.”

She snuck a glance over his shoulder. “Are you sure?”

“Believe me, that night is impossible to forget.”

“Wow, that good? He’s really handsome!”

“Thanks,” William said bitterly.

“Sorry. You’re handsomer. Way
way
handsomer.”

William exhaled. “Maybe we should go.”

“Why?” Lily’s eyes darted around the room. “Don’t tell me you’ve slept with everyone here.”

“No!”

“Seriously, I think I’m on to something. You’ve slept with Jason, Caesar, me… You’re a player, William! Admit it.”

He clenched his eyes shut. Then he started laughing. He couldn’t help it. The situation was too absurd! “I’m not a player, I swear. This is so awkward!”

“So how? And when?”

“That’s the craziest part! This was years ago in Boston. Nowhere near here!”

“And you’re absolutely positive?”

“Yes.”

Lily exhaled. “Where’s that drink you promised, because if I need one, I can only imagine how you’re feeling right now.”

They each filled a disposable plastic cup with white wine and retreated to the other side of the apartment where they had privacy. From there they observed Jason and his crew.

“Do you think Caesar has said anything?” Lily asked. “Or will say anything?”

William frowned. “I don’t know. Jason looks calm. Maybe he won’t care. We weren’t together at the time, so it’s not like I cheated. It just feels
weird
.”

“I bet.”

“Maybe I should tell him.”

Lily was quiet as she weighed the pros and cons. “Are you trying to break them up? Because that might backfire.”

William shook his head. “No. At this point, I just want Jason to be happy.”

“Ignorance is bliss. I hate to say it, but if Jason wasn’t with either of you at the time, then I don’t see why he needs to know. Are you going to tell him about me?”

William looked over at her. “Do you think I should?”

Lily took a sip of wine. “Imagine that you and Jason were together and things were moving along nicely. Then I show up and tell him all about our drunken night together. What would you think?”

“That you were trying to break us up, because you’re right, outside of a relationship, that sort of thing is private.”

“Then I believe you have your answer.” She stiffened. “Don’t look now, but here they come.”

He looked anyway, expecting to see Jason and Caesar. He got it half-right. Caesar was moving through the room toward them, but Ben, not Jason, was at his side. He and Lily went unseen. Ben had car keys in hand as they headed for the door. Regardless, William didn’t want to interact with Caesar again, so he moved along the wall to avoid them.

“Maybe he’s leaving for the night,” Lily said.

“Not with Ben. That doesn’t make sense. They must be doing a beer run.”

William looked over to where he had last seen Jason, but the spot was empty now. He didn’t have to search far, because Jason was making a beeline toward him.

“Hey,” he said when close enough. “Can we talk for a minute?”

“Yeah!” William said.

Jason looked at Lily. “Do you mind if I steal him away?”

“Be my guest!” she replied. “I’ll get us some refills.”

William handed her his cup, then followed Jason. To his bedroom. His heart was thudding. Caesar must have said something, and now Jason wanted confirmation. Right? Maybe not. This wasn’t the first time they had snuck away from a party and hid themselves away in a bedroom. Ha! He only wished…

“This brings back memories,” William said, looking around the room, which was still too new to have Jason’s trademark clutter. “Although last time we were playing waiter.”

Jason grinned, leaning against the closed door. “That’s right. Uh, but I didn’t bring you in here—”

“I know,” William said, holding up a hand. “Those days are behind us. No more cheating.” He sat on the edge of the bed, his chest painfully tight when Jason sat next to him. “I’m glad we have a chance to talk. There are things I want to set straight.”

“Okay.”

William took a deep breath. “Two years ago, when we stopped sleeping together or being affectionate, that wasn’t because I stopped loving you.”

Jason looked over at him. “Then why?”

“Because I felt like I was holding you back. I was never okay with making you wait four years, but every time I returned to Austin, all I wanted to do was see you and be with you, and I knew that kept you hanging on. So I made the decision to let you go. Properly. And it worked. I knew it would hurt you, but you finally moved on.”

“No, I didn’t.” Jason sighed. “I didn’t stop loving you. Ever.”

William met his gaze, sensing the truth of his words. He couldn’t help smiling in response, but it was tinged with sorrow. “That’s different than moving on. We’ll always love each other. That’s how it works. But there’s more I want to say because I’m not a saint. I’m human, and I’ve been with other guys. There were situations I found too tempting, or that I simply wanted. So two years ago, that wasn’t an act of self-sacrifice. I needed that freedom, and I needed you to have it too.”

“I’ve also been with other guys,” Jason said easily. “After you and before Caesar. Guys who didn’t mean anything, and a few who I thought could be something special. But none of them even came close to what you are to me. None of them changed how I feel.”

Fair enough. Lily was right. They both had a life away from each other. Nothing was wrong with that, no matter how awkward the situation might be, and regardless of who the other person had been. “The guy out there, he’s the one from your past, right? There aren’t too many people named Caesar, so I figured…”