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

Instead he adjusted himself discreetly. Then he put the bag in the Jeep and closed the hatch.


“This was a great afternoon.” Jason said as he climbed into the front seat.


Ben got behind the wheel. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” That meant a lot to him, especially since Rick had never wanted to come over back before the shit had hit the fan.


“About that long drive I have to make…”


“I’ve had a perfect attendance record at Wooster U.”


Ben blinked. “And?” He had no idea where Jason was going with this.


“If…if I miss tomorrow’s classes, the world won’t come to an end.”


The light went on. “Jason, would you like to spend the night at my place?”


Ben wrapped an arm around Jason’s neck and tugged him close. It’s too soon to tell him you love him, Ben reminded himself, so instead he whispered in Jason’s ear, “Thank you for coming with me.”


Chapter 41