“It’s—yeah, it’s recent. Kind of a surprise job offer.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re back,” he says, smiling so fondly at me that I blush.
“Yeah, me too.”
Ben starts to speak—but then his eyes drift up and his mouth snaps shut, and a dark-haired boy appears out of nowhere. He drops two boxes on the ground next to Ben. “Sorry, sorry! Don’t be mad. I’m here!”
He grabs both of Ben’s cheeks playfully and kisses him quickly on the lips.
Every molecule of air leaves my lungs.
“Hi!” says the boy, extending his hand. “Mario.”
Mario. My head’s spinning. Mario? I’ve never heard Ben even mention the name Mario when he wasn’t talking about Nintendo. And I’ve never seen this guy in my life. He’s not in any of Ben’s photos on Instagram. Believe me, I’d fucking remember that, especially if the guy looked like this.
Because this boy is holy-shit-level cute. Or hot. Probably hot’s the right word. He’s got these big hazel-brown eyes and a movie-star face and a wide-open smile, and he’s wearing half-buckled overalls over a tank top, like he just wandered off someone’s backyard chicken coop in Brooklyn. He’s got really nice arms, too. Not in a jacked-up bodybuilder way, but he definitely looks like he’s seen the inside of a gym. And he’s at least half a foot taller than me. And—
I realize with a start that I’m supposed to shake his hand. “Hi! Arthur. I mean, I’m Arthur.” I blink.
“Wait. Arthur like Arthur?”
Okay, so Ben’s new boyfriend knows about me, which is just . . . so funny. Hilarious, even. Mario knows me by name, and I didn’t even know he existed.
Ben smiles uncomfortably and shrugs, and Mario’s whole face lights up.
“No way!” He hugs me tightly and kisses my cheek. “So nice to meet you. Holy shit. Are you here on a trip, or for the summer, or what?”
“For the summer,” I say. To Mario. To Ben’s boyfriend. Because Ben has a boyfriend. “I have an internship with this queer director and playwright, Jacob D—”
“Jacob Demsky?”
“You know Jacob Demsky?”
“Dude, JD is a legend. You’re seriously working for him?” Mario clasps his hands together. “Arthur, congrats! That’s insane.”
“Thanks! I’m—yeah. I’m excited.” Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Ben looking nervously back and forth between Mario and me like we’re the crossover series he never asked for. “Sorry, you’ve got stuff to mail. I don’t want to keep you,” I say, gesturing vaguely at the boxes by Ben’s feet. “Anyway, I should run. I’m meeting my friend . . .”
“No, you’re good! I’m just so glad to finally meet you.” Mario hugs me again. “Seriously, don’t be a stranger. We should all hang out sometime.”
He smiles, and it’s so plainly sincere, it almost catches me off guard.
“Okay.” I glance back at Ben, who looks as dazed as I feel. “Okay, yeah. That sounds great.”
Just me and Ben and his boyfriend. Because Ben has a boyfriend. Which is absolutely fucking fine, because I have one, too.
I have a boyfriend. I have a Mikey. And before I even step out of the post office, my phone starts dialing his number.
Chapter Seven
Ben
Monday, May 18
The last time I watched Arthur walk away was two summers ago.
I’m reliving that deep uncertainty in my chest all over again. Back then I wasn’t sure who we were going to be after breaking up, and I’m not sure who we’re supposed to be now that he’s back in town with his new boyfriend.
Texting him that picture of the post office wasn’t meant to be an invitation for him to come surprise me, but I can’t exactly blame him. I did send a believer in the universe a picture of where we met. I practically conjured him here like the summoning spell in my book.
“The ex is back. He’s really, really cute,” Mario says with a smile. “？Cómo estás?”
“What do you mean? I’m fine.”
I’m maybe a little defensive. But I don’t want him freaking out that I’m freaking out on the inside and hoping that he can’t tell.
“I believe you, Alejo. I just know it’s weird seeing exes for the first time.”
Weird is an understatement. “Have you ever bumped into exes before?” I ask.
Mario has never talked about his dating history. I’ve totally respected that even though I’ve been really curious.