Ben Haggerty is devastated when he returns home from work to discover his lover of eight years has gone off to complete his master's degree at another college -- and left no forwarding address. Not only has Ben chosen Rick over his beloved family, but he's supported his boyfriend both financially and emotionally the entire time. Unable to remain in their shared apartment, Ben moves and spends a miserable holiday season alone. With the New Year, however, he's determined to make a fresh start, so he manages to obtain Rick's address and sends him a card asking if Rick ever plans to return. Somehow, the card winds up in the wrong mailbox.<br><br>Jason Prescott is a genius, having obtained his first master's degree at twenty-one and now working on his second. When he receives a card in error, he returns both the card and a card of his own to be courteous, expressing his hopes Ben can get in touch with his boyfriend. This begins a correspondence that leads to friendship, and ... the start of something more? Jason introduces Ben to his family and reunites him with his own.<br><br>But will Jason, who's even smarter than Rick, be satisfied with someone as ordinary as blue-collar Ben feels himself to be? Or will Rick, realizing what he's let slip through his fingers, manage to persuade Ben to take him back?

Always, Ben

I’m very sorry you had a problem with your…should I call him your boyfriend? I don’t know what people your age call their significant others. Sorry. He tapped his pen against his teeth. Did he want to add a smiling emoji? Sure, why not? ?


I’m glad to hear you’re going to try to contact Rick again, and I hope it works out for you.


I got your wishes for a happy Goof Off Day; thanks so much! And in return, may I wish you a very happy Smoke and Mirrors Day? LOL (that means laugh out loud.)


He addressed the envelope and put a stamp on it. He’d drop it off at the post office on his way to class in the morning.


Meanwhile, if he intended to meet his friends at Easy Street, their favorite tavern, he’d better get going. 6


As soon as Ben dropped the card in the mail slot at the post office, he knew he’d screwed up. Jason had thought Ben was missing his lady, and he’d gone and outed himself.


Chapter 16