Ends of the Earth

Maggie whipped her head up, eyes wide in horror. “Here? Instead of being a ranger in the mountains? No way! That would be so dumb!” She snapped around to face Jason. “Right, Dad? Can we go? Can we move to Yosemite? You can go to art school and we could have a house!”

Jason was apparently at a loss for words. He finally said, “But where would I work? I have to make money.”

“I’m sure you could find something part-time,” Ben answered, heart hammering. “I have savings and a good salary. If money were no object, what would your dream life be? What would you change about this plan? I don’t want to come in here and dictate. We need to decide together. This is a jumping-off point. You know, just a start and…” He was babbling, and he stopped.

Jason stared into space. “What would I do differently?”

Maggie’s brows drew together. “You know you don’t have to do something different just for the sake of it. You don’t have to be a control freak all the time.”

Jason’s cheek dimpled with an incredulous smile. “You know what? I don’t think I would do anything differently. You could still work in a national park, Maggie would live in nature, and I could go to art school. It really is perfect if we can pull it off.”

Ben’s throat was dry, and he was going to come out of his skin with nervous optimism. “I know this is happening crazy fast, but if it will make us all happy, I think we should grab it. At least try, and if this plan won’t work, we’ll come up with another one. What do you say?”

Vibrating, Maggie clutched their hands, and Ben wanted to make her smile that widely for the rest of his life. He waited for Jason to answer. Jason looked at them, taking a shuddering breath before he asked, “Can we really do this?” Then he answered his own question. “I think we can. I trust you. I trust you, Ben. Let’s go for it.”

Maggie flew off the couch, literally jumping for joy, and Ben pulled Jason close. It was time for another kiss.

How is this my life?

The last time he’d wondered that, Jason had been shivering in the black of night, miles and miles in the middle of the Montana wilderness, Maggie gone. But Ben had been there, strong and dependable and good.

And here he was again.

Jason’s arm was numb, but he didn’t want to move an inch as the first rays of dawn brightened the living room. Ben’s steady breath gusted over the back of Jason’s neck, Ben spooned up close behind him, arm slung over Jason’s waist. It had been too hot for T-shirts over their pajama bottoms, which they wore for Maggie’s sake. Their heated skin pressed together.

Jason grinned to himself in the stillness.

They’d stayed up late making tentative plans that depended on Ben getting the job, and backup plans in case he didn’t. Without a proper bedroom, they’d only kissed softly and held each other as they fell asleep, content simply to be in each other’s arms.

Maybe it was crazy and impetuous for them to plan to move to California, uprooting both their lives to make a new one together with Maggie. But only one other thing in Jason’s life had ever felt so right, so destined and true—keeping his daughter when everyone said it was a mistake.

Ben stirred, his dry lips nuzzling Jason’s neck. “I can’t wait to wake up with you in our own bed,” he whispered.

A dizzy thrill sparked. “Me either.” Feeling Ben’s morning hardness pressing against him through their pajama bottoms, he boldly added, “Can’t wait to do so many things in that bed.”

“Hmm, tell me more.” Ben scraped his teeth over the back of Jason’s neck, then kissed the spot, trailing his hand down Jason’s chest. Then the teasing tone was gone, and he flattened his palm over Jason’s heart. “We can take it slow. I know what happened at the hotel was a lot to take in.”

A snort of laughter escaped Jason’s lips. “You could say that.”

Ben shook. “Oh my God, I did not mean it that way. I swear.” His laughter trailed away. “But seriously, I want to make sure you’re comfortable with everything we do. Or don’t do.”

Jason covered Ben’s hand on his chest with his own. “I know. It was intense—I guess more than I thought it would be. I’d never really let myself think about sex, so maybe that played a role. It was like…”

Ben nuzzled Jason’s neck. “What, baby?” Then he went rigid. “Shit, sorry. You didn’t like it when I called you that.”

“No, it’s okay.” He rolled it around in his head. “Say it again?”

“Baby,” Ben whispered before kissing Jason’s neck behind his ear.

A shiver skimmed over his skin. “I think I like it, actually. When we’re like this.” Now that he could relax, feeling taken care of—protected and safe—settled him and let him breathe easier. He turned his head so they could kiss briefly, slow and sweet, then rolled onto his back. Ben propped his head on his hand, waiting, his palm returning to Jason’s chest, patient and steady.