“C’mon,” Julian said, tilting his head to the side so he would follow.
Ben climbed into Julian’s truck, not really caring where they went. As long as he didn’t have to watch another holiday romance or Valentine’s Day commercial, he was all set. Anything requiring a drive, especially a long one, was always a welcome reprieve. He clipped his seat belt and sat back, enjoying the slow drive as Julian made his way through Sunday traffic. Looking out the passenger side window, he enjoyed the cool air blowing inside the cabin as the sun shone bright through the tinted window.
A short while later, they turned into the large parking lot of the home improvement store and drove up and down a few rows until Julian found a spot wide enough for his truck. Ben wistfully smiled at the family parked a row over, watching the man protectively corral their kids in a small circle as the woman tucked the youngest into the shopping cart’s top seat.
“Stay close,” Julian said as they grabbed one of the flatbed carts.
He walked alongside Julian as they strolled through the aisles, staring up at the stacks of boxes while Julian loaded supplies onto the flatbed and checked off items from his list. Even the home improvement store capitalized on the holiday, hanging heart-shaped balloons at the end of the aisles to accent their displays. Couples pointed at the floor tile options and an older man and woman raised every lid of the washing machines on display. Families and couples surrounded him. Likely searching for things for their home.
An ache poked at his chest. The couples, the big red balloons, and the stolen smooches. He had to turn away and walk in the other direction.
He blew out a deep breath, the eagerness to leave the house suddenly weighing more on him than he had anticipated. A home. A family. He wanted that special connection with someone. Like the unspoken words exchanged between Matt and Julian, or Shaw and Drayton. Even Aidan seemed to have that telepathic skill when it came to his partner, Jessie. Deep down, Ben suspected it was a bond that couldn’t be broken by life’s stumbling blocks.
Maybe it was something not meant for him. He swallowed heavily, fighting back a wave of emotion. No, he refused to believe that. He instinctively saw the positive in others, and he was determined to find the positive in himself as well.
He jerked to the side when something slammed against him. Quickly turning, he spotted the tall man.
“I’m so sorry,” the man said. The guy seemed to repeat the same phrase, making it easy to decipher his words. Ben rubbed his arm, then shook his head, waving off the man’s concern.
The man extended his hand. “I’m so sorry about that.”
Common courtesy drove Ben to shake hands in return.
Warning flags instantly waved in his mind with the contact. He tried pulling away, but the man’s grip tightened.
Ben glanced to each side, willing Julian to appear. He returned his attention to the man and yanked his hand with force. Finally breaking free of the contact, he took a step back, adding space between them.
At the end of the aisle, he spotted Julian looking side to side until their gazes locked. Without hesitation, Julian abandoned the flatbed and was at his side in a few steps, his body language on guard and ready to attack.
The man instantly stepped back and raised his hands in surrender. “I was distracted and accidentally ran into him and was apologizing. I’m sorry.”
Ben’s gaze swiveled back and forth between them, trying to follow the conversation.
“You’ve apologized. We’re done here,” Julian said, his gaze fierce and unwavering as he stood alongside Ben like a guardian.
The man returned his attention to Ben and half smiled. “It was nice meeting you.” With a slight tilt of his head toward Julian, the man turned away and walked down the aisle until he disappeared into the crowd.
The hand on Ben’s shoulder made him jump and drew his attention.
“What happened?”
Ben signed his response, confirming exactly what the man had said had happened.
“So why did you look freaked out?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Something didn’t feel right. I had to get away,” he signed in response, almost embarrassed by his admission.
Julian nodded. “Good.”
What’s good about that? Ben thought with a scowl.
“You trusted your instincts. Something felt off and you were looking for a way out rather than trying to be the nice guy. That’s important.”