The moment they left, Dean frowned at his husband. “Benedict, honey, if you cry here, I’m not gonna know what to do.”
“I am not crying,” he said defensively.
“You’re blinking furiously. You’re crying,” Dean pointed out.
Then Ben turned to me and smacked me right in the chest. “Ouch!” I glared at him, rubbing my chest.
“Why did you have to do that despicable thing? Why?” he asked, his voice sharp with fury.
I knew Dean must have told him everything. They could never keep anything from each other, even if they never said a word to anyone else.
“You look at each other like you miss each other so much,” he continued, blinking hard again. “It’s so fucking heartbreaking.”
I didn’t know what to say, but I was sure my expression had already given him the answer.
“Damn you, Cam.” He shook his head. “I’ve been biting my tongue all this time, trying not to walk over and tell you off, but Dean kept talking me down. I was exhausted and ready to call it a night, but instead, I’m here because I needed to look you in the eye and be angry with you.”
I turned my chair forward and took a big gulp from my glass.
Ben stepped between Dean and me, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder.
“How are you feeling, seeing that?” he asked quietly, his anger mixed with concern.
I didn’t answer, just nodded at the bartender for a refill.
“You deserve to see it,” Ben said softly. “To see that she’s moving on. You probably deserve a lot worse. But I know it’s still hard to watch.”
I looked his way and gave him a faint smile, hoping it would reassure him.
“To be honest, Dean and I really hope you both find your way back to each other someday. Despite everything that’s happened, you both still care. You still love each other. But you need this time apart. Maybe one day, you’ll both come back stronger.”
My phone buzzed in my jacket pocket. I pulled it out. It was a message from Sloane:
“I’m sorry. Didn’t know you’d be here.”
I replied right away,“I know. It’s okay.”
Then I waited, but she didn’t reply. I knew I probably shouldn’t push it, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“Did you have a nice dinner?”
Even though what I really wanted to ask was:Are you happy, Sloane?
She answered right away.“I did.”
Maybe not the best question after all, because my chest tightened.
I quickly typed back,“Good.”
“Okay,” Ben frowned. “Stop texting her.”
I scowled but did what he asked.
Then he said, “What are you going to do now, Cam? After the divorce, I mean?”
I looked at him and said, “I’m going to let her be happy.”
Ben blinked furiously once more. “Goddamn it, Cam. Why did you have to say that right when I was planning to be angry at you for eternity?”
