Page 147 of Smart Ass

He was almost afraid to hear what came next.

You ask the questions

Never asked before

You code into wonder

Pushing for more

In algorithm dreams

The whole world your design

Crazy baby of mine

Oliver repeated the last line, pulling it out until it dripped like honey with adoration.

Was that really how Oliver saw him?

“Is that about me?” Ben asked, even though it was a stupid question.

“All of my songs are about you.”

“Jesus fuck, Oliver. How many songs are there?”

“A hundred thirty-two that are close to completion. I’m working on another sixty-five.”

Ben shook his head, eyes unable to focus on the exquisite meal in front of him. The one that Oliver had planned.

“You’ve written two hundred songs about me?”

“They may not be any good.”

“Good, Oliver? That was fucking brilliant. You should sell that shit. Find an agent. Go on tours.”

Leave Ben behind, after he’d finally gone and admitted that he couldn’t live without Oliver and needed him like air. Oliver was going to be a celebrity.

“You’ve mentioned that before, and I’ve been doing a little research,” Oliver said lightly. “I might try it in a few years, after we’ve got the company off the ground. I don’t want to do anything that would take my attention away from you.”

Ben was not going to blush or cry or any of that touchy-feely shit. He crammed the rest of the summer roll into his mouth.

“You’re fucking adorable,” Oliver told him.

Ben glared at the nearest camera.

“I was thinking, though, that if I started to do this music thing and it took off, we could take a sabbatical year. Tour the world. You could pick everywhere you’ve wanted to visit, and I’ll schedule a concert there. Maybe one every two or three weeks, and we’d spend the rest of the time playing tourist. Or,” Oliver’s voice went deeper, “see how many different stunning locations I can defile you in.”

Ben narrowly avoided choking on his veggies and shrimp.

“Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

Oliver was evil. Pure evil.

Ben managed to swallow. “If you’re giving live concerts, you’d still be here, right? You’d just be streaming somewhere else? So I could just stay home.”

“Yeah. But I only want to travel if it’s with you. You’re my muse.”

Ben shook his head. Oliver was being ridiculous.