Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

sweet and sour chicken was one of Mom's specialties. "Call me."
    When I got to work, Jamal was there talking to Ebony. That made it easier. I asked for the night off and Jamal gave the hours to Ebony, since she was worried about losing hours on Thursday. Jamal changed it on the schedule and I wrote it in my planner, and when they both were gone I texted Mom that I had the night off, but I hadn't been able to talk to Alan yet.
    He texted me at ten o'clock. Sorry , he said. Out with Mal.
    Dinner tomorrow? I texted, but he didn't answer.
    An hour later when he still hadn't answered, I knew something was wrong. He was avoiding me again. I started clean-up for closing, making sure to pay attention. No more screw ups. I'd go home because I had to, but I'd be at Alan's door at nine in the morning and I wasn't going to give him the chance to tell me not to come.
    I'd bring coffee and muffins again. That had gone well last time.
    ****

CHAPTER 10
    At eight thirty I knocked on Alan's door. I gave it a long minute and then I knocked again. Then I texted him.
    I'm outside with coffee and sweets. Talk to me please?
    I told you I was a coward. He texted back. I'm sorry, Lukas.
    I set the coffee down and my hands shook as I searched for the hidden key. It was there, and I didn't drop it, and I got the door open. I could tell in an instant the apartment was empty, just by the feel. And the clean. And the lack of clothes on the floor. His computer was still sitting on the table, though. I walked into the bathroom anyway and checked the kitchen. I opened the closet, and my trench coat was the only thing in it.
    My phone sounded. You're early. Alan's text read. Of course you are. Press play. Goodbye, Lukas.
    I don't understand. I texted. Don't do this.
    He didn't answer the text, and my call went straight to voice mail. I walked around the computer and saw it was on. Alan's face was on the screen, with an arrow on it. I pressed "play."
    "Right, so… here we go," he said. "Alan is a big fat coward, take five." He made a cutting motion with his hand like a clapperboard. His hair was black and his eyeliner was smeared. "I guess there's no good way to say it. Lukas, I want you to know I tried to stay away from you. I did. I knew anything we started was gonna end badly, but you just wouldn't stop being so fucking cute and turning up right where I needed you to be and I'm really not good at being reasonable." He took a deep breath. "Yeah, that's not helping. Umm… I don't know how you did it. You're so damned perfect you drive me up the goddamned wall. But somehow I don't care about that. Somehow I'd do just about anything for you." He shook his head. "Scratch that— I would do anything for you. Except the one thing you seem bent on— I can't go back in the closet, Lukas. I can't. I'd die." He swiped at his eyes. "I'm not an idiot. Three days and we never set foot out of this—" he waved around him "—over-sized closet? Then your mom shows up and you vanish? Except, of course, for Can I come over after work so my mommy won't know I'm boning a boy? FUCK YOU." He looked away, heaved a couple deep breaths.
    "I'm sorry. I'm mad but I'm not. I mean, I can't blame you. If I could hide— no. Hiding never worked, but if I could choose— I mean, Mom and Dad are fucked-up assholes, but they're my fucked-up assholes, you know? So I get it. I understand. Mal says you're definitely bi— she's seen you check out chicks. So go find one. Go find a nice girl and take her home to Mom and have a lovely wedding and lots of cute babies and a great fucking life, you asshole." He swiped his eyes again. "I keep trying not to swear at you but I can't help it. I can't believe I'm fucking doing this, but I'd just screw everything up anyway. The last thing the Amazing Lukas Blake needs is a crazy bitch of a college dropout fucking up his life. So I'm going to do us both a favor and boldly run away. Tell Lilia I'm sorry. And I hope she doesn't mind if I keep the laptop. I feel like I should give them both back but I'm addicted to the twenty-first century now, so I've conveniently decided that it's okay to keep one." He grabbed his hair. "What else? Oh, the project. It's done. It's on the desktop." He pointed; his finger on the screen indicated a folder. When he released his hair it stayed standing up. "Yeah, your director is running out on you like the cowardly ass he is, but all the bits are in the same folder so you guys can fix anything I fucked up. So…