Even though Chase had been over to help pack the contents of Ben’s house for two days in a row, it was still sort of a shock to him when he walked through the front door and saw the bare walls and stacks of boxes everywhere.

“It’s kind of weird to see it like this, isn’t it?” Ben asked, apparently seeing the surprised look on Chase’s face. “I’ve been wandering around here with that same look all day. I’m not sure when it will start to feel right.”

Ben had been leading Chase through to the kitchen, but Chase caught up and stopped him halfway, spinning him around and embracing him as he spoke.

“It might not feel right for a while, babe,” Chase said, rubbing his hands slowly up and down Ben’s back. “This is the only home you’ve ever known, so I don’t think anyone expects you to be jumping for joy over this part of the process.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Ben agreed, his voice muffled as he nestled against Chase’s shoulder. “I just didn’t expect it to be this hard, I guess. I didn’t really have time to think about it at all once things started falling into place.”

Chase’s heart ached for Ben. Even though he didn’t have the same sort of attachment to places and things that Ben obviously had, it was easy to see that the man was hurting. Chase just wished there was more he could do to help.

“I think it’ll probably start to get easier once you sign the paperwork tomorrow,” Chase said, trying to sound hopeful.

He wasn’t at all sure that would be the case, but it was scheduled to happen, so he wanted to try and get Ben psyched up for it. For a moment, Chase considered offering to go with Ben to the closing meeting, at least to offer moral support. But Chase didn’t want to overstep his bounds or put Ben on the spot. He at least felt a little better knowing Eric would be there if Ben needed someone to bolster his spirits.

“I hope it does get easier,” Ben said, sounding completely unconvinced. “What time are you leaving tomorrow?”

Chase flashed him a sympathetic smile. They’d discussed the upcoming schedule at least a half-dozen times over the previous days, so Chase knew that Ben had to have it memorized by now. Still, if it somehow helped to have the conversation a seventh or eighth time, that’s exactly what Chase would do.

Whatever it took to make Ben comfortable with this move.

“Around two,” Chase answered. “If you get finished with the paperwork early, you should give me a call. I can’t promise much, but I’ll still swing by on my way out, even if it’s just for five minutes.”

“I have no idea how long it’ll take,” Ben said. “But yeah, it would be nice to see you at least one more time before you hit the road.”

Chase knew it would probably be torture for both of them to only get a few minutes to say goodbye, but leaving town without at least attempting to see Ben again was just… unthinkable.

“At least we’ve got tonight. All night.” Chase kissed him again and stepped back so Ben could keep walking toward the kitchen.

“Well, I’m afraid I can’t offer much in the way of entertainment,” Ben said, continuing through the house, looking around as if he was still a bit dazed. “Or food, for that matter. We’ve pretty much packed up everything that would hold still. I’m not even sure I know where all of my utensils are.”

“I’m not that hungry,” Chase lied. “But we can drive into town later and pick something up if you want. No need to cook for me. That’ll just be one more thing to clean up later.”

Ben turned to look at him. “Thank God you’re here.” He shook his head. “I honestly don’t think I could do this without you. There are just so many memories, and… you know. It’s just a lot.”

“I do know,” Chase agreed. “And you’re doing a hell of a job getting through all of it, Ben. I’m proud of you and you know I want to help in any way I can.”

“I appreciate it so much,” Ben said, finally smiling a little as he closed the distance between them. “And I didn’t mean to spring all of this on you the minute you walked through the door. I’ve just been here with my thoughts all afternoon, and I think they got the best of me for a minute. But I don’t wanna talk about that stuff anymore. I just want to enjoy the rest of the night with you.”

Chase nodded, but still wanted to double-check. “You don’t have to put on a brave face for me, you know. If you want to talk about anything, I’m here, okay?”

“Thank you,” Ben said, tipping his head up to kiss Chase. “But I’m good. I promise. I want tonight to be as nice as we can make it under the circumstances, since it’ll be a while before I really get to see you again.”

Chase definitely couldn’t argue with that. Any time he got to spend with Ben was a good time, as far as Chase was concerned. But tonight, especially, he was determined to give Ben whatever he wanted, whatever he needed to make it through the next couple of weeks.

Ben was giving up so much to be with Chase. The least Chase could do was to be there for Ben through his last night of owning the ranch.

Chase pulled his suitcase onto his bed and rubbed his eyes as he looked at the clock. Why had he thought it would be a good idea to make it home at the crack of dawn after spending the night with Ben?

With a nearly twenty-hour drive ahead of him, this wasn’t exactly the best day to be operating on no sleep. But if it meant getting the chance to spend a few more hours with Ben, Chase wouldn’t have changed a thing. He was just going to have to suck it up, like he had in his Marine days, and get by with a power nap later.

The important thing was that he’d been there for Ben. That was where he needed to be last night—where he probably should still be, if he was being honest.

Chase started pulling clothes from his closet and tossing them in the general direction of his suitcase. He still had a lot left to do here before he could get on the road, and the sooner he could get this chore out of the way, the better.

“I hope that’s not how the Marines taught you to pack a suitcase.”

Chase spun around at the sound of his mother’s voice and gave a sheepish grin. “There are a lot of things they tried to teach me.” He shrugged, then added, “Some lessons were more effective than others.”

Patricia sighed and moved across the room, taking the discarded shirts off hangers and folding them one by one as Chase continued pulling them from the closet.

“I thought I heard you come in just a bit ago,” she said. “Did you stay at Ben’s house all night?”

Chase was glad for the moment that his back was turned, so she couldn’t see his eyes narrow at the question. He had enjoyed being spoiled by his parents when he’d first returned home from the Marines, and had overlooked the prying questions and the fact that they still talked to him like he was a high school teenager instead of a grown-ass man approaching thirty years old.

“I did,” he answered, finally. “I was helping him pack.”

He hated that he felt the need to explain himself in spite of the fact that he resented the hell out of it. There was probably some underlying issue there that he’d need to address at some point, but today was not the day for that.

“Is he finally getting some sort of vacation from that ranch?” she asked. “That poor boy works harder than anyone I know, and he can’t be making much, from what I hear around town.”

Chase inhaled sharply, willing himself not to say something disrespectful. But the sudden urge he felt to stand up for Ben was too strong to simply ignore.

“Ben is doing okay for himself, Mom,” Chase said, turning to look at her while trying and failing to keep his tone steady. “And anyway, he’s selling the ranch. Today. He and Eric are probably already meeting with the guy who’s buying it. So that’s why I was helping him pack.”

“Selling?” She sat down hard on the edge of the bed, absently pushing the suitcase and pile of clothes aside. “Really? That ranch has been in his family for generations.” She shook her head. “It’s a sad day for Baxter Springs if that property is changing hands.”

Chase had to turn back to face the closet again while he closed his eyes and counted to three. Then, just to be on the safe side, he counted to three again. She didn’t get it. Ben was going to be happier now without that place—without this town—holding him down.

There was no way to say that to her without being rude, though, and Chase wasn’t trying to fight with his mother on his last day at home.

“It isn’t a sad day for Ben,” Chase said, simply, turning to face her again now that he had his temper in check. “Doesn’t his happiness count for something?”

“Of course, dear,” she said, giving him a puzzled look. “But how do you know what’s going to make him happy? What is he going to do without that ranch?”

“I do know what’s going to make him happy,” Chase said. “He’s moving to New York. With me.”

She blinked, and he snapped his mouth shut, suddenly wishing he could rewind and take back the last five seconds. He would’ve told her about Ben moving eventually, of course. But he certainly hadn’t planned on doing it today.

And now there would be more questions. Harder ones to answer, no doubt.

“New York?” She repeated. “With you?” For a moment, she just sat there, looking at him expectantly. When he didn’t say anything else, she asked, “But why? What made him decide to move to New York, of all places? This doesn’t make any sense, Chase.”

“No, it doesn’t,” his dad added, from the doorway. “Ben is selling the ranch and moving in with you and Jacob in New York?”

Chase sighed. Now there were twice as many questions. This was not how his last day in Kansas was supposed to go. Not at all.

“He’s not moving in with me and Jake,” Chase said, his eyes darting between his parents. “But he and I will be spending a lot of time together, so I might end up staying with him most nights.”

Chase didn’t know why he kept talking. He should have just shut the hell up and gone back to packing his clothes. But once he started, he couldn’t make himself stop. Their slightly-confused-but-mostly-disapproving looks only fueled the fire.

“But why—” Patricia started to ask another question, but Chase cut her off.

“Because I want to date him, Mom. And he wants to date me, too. That’s why we’ve been spending so much time together while I’ve been home, and that’s why he’s decided to move to New York.”

When Chase stopped talking, the room was so quiet that he was certain they could all hear his heart beating. Neither of his parents said a word for several long seconds. They both just stared at him with matching shocked expressions.

“Are you sure,” Neil asked, finally.

Chase cocked his head to the side and looked at his father. He wasn’t even sure what the man was asking. Was he sure… about what?

“Of course he’s sure,” Patricia snapped, shooting her husband an irritated look. “Don’t you know that tone of voice by now, Neil? It’s the same one he used when he told us he was joining the Marines. This is really happening.”

Chase’s dad exhaled loudly, and it looked as if he was actually deflating a little. Chase was nearly certain that the first thought that came to his dad’s mind had been about grandchildren.

But whatever. That didn’t matter right now.

“I’m happy for you, dear,” his mom said, simply. “Your father and I are both happy for you.”

Now it was Chase’s turn to be shocked. “You… are?” he asked, looking from her to his dad. “Are you sure?”

The fact that he was repeating the same nonsensical question his dad had just asked wasn’t lost on Chase, but he literally had no other words. It felt like everything he’d ever known had just been turned on its head.

“We are,” she said, and even his dad was slowly nodding, though he didn’t seem quite as certain as she did. “All we’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy, Chase. And if Ben Harper makes you happy, then I couldn’t think of a better person for you to date. We’ve known him practically all his life, and I honestly think he might be the one person in the world who could get you to settle down a little.”

Chase laughed. He couldn’t help it. Even though it was one of the weirdest, most dramatic moments of his entire life, his mom’s pragmatic side had won the day. It apparently didn’t matter so much to her whether Ben dated a guy or another girl, just long as he settled in and put down roots somewhere.

“Your mother is right,” Neil said, shocking the hell out of Chase again. “It may not seem like it all the time, but we really do want what’s best for you. And even I can see that look you get on your face whenever you talk about Ben.”

“What look?” Chase asked, curious as to how long he’d been giving away his own secret.

“The one that says you’re in love, dear,” his mom answered for both of them, then stood up and closed the distance between them to give him a hug. “And we love that look. Truly.”

Chase hugged her back and had to blink hard to keep the tears that were suddenly welling up from spilling over. How had this conversation even started?

It was literally the last thing he had wanted to discuss with his parents, ever.

And then, somehow, it had turned into the best conversation they’d ever shared.