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

Ben looked doubtful, so Jason stepped close and kissed the look off his face. “I promise you.”


“Okay. Just make sure you wear your brace. And do me a favor and pick up more whipped cream and candy canes.”


“I’ll put them on the list.” Jason had to chuckle. They’d used almost all the candy canes from the Christmas tree for their hot chocolate.


“You’d better take the gas can and fill it up. The snow blower is going to get a workout today.”


“Good idea. Listen, babe. It’s going to be slick out there.” Jason wound a soft green and red scarf around Ben’s neck and used the ends to pull him in close. “Drive carefully, okay? I don’t want anything to happen to you.”


“I promise.” Ben kissed the tip of his nose. “You be careful, too.”


Jason smoothed his thumbs over his boyfriend’s mustache. Ben hummed and nipped Jason’s thumb before grabbing his arm, curling it around Ben’s neck, and kissing Jason more thoroughly.


“See you later, babe.” And he headed out the door.


Chapter 54