Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

crazy about you. And I don't actually give a fuck if it's a bad idea. We're gonna get married and we're gonna fucking make it work."
    I was driving on the freeway, doing fifty-five through a gloomy November day. All I could do was kiss his head again. "Yes," I told him. "We will fucking make it work."
    "With lots of fucking."
    "Lots and lots."
    Alan took my hand from his eyes, kissed it and held it to his chest as he snuggled against me. The rain had nearly stopped and we had the road almost to ourselves, so I slowed down a bit more and let him stay there.
    "You're too comfy," he murmured. "Now that I'm not freaking out, I'm sleepy."
    "So sleep. Get back in your seatbelt first, though."
    "Meanie." He yawned. "Sorry. I… haven't slept since… um, it was on you, I remember that… what day was that?"
    "Then you should definitely sleep." I kissed the top of his head. "Unless you want to take your pill and sleep through tonight?"
    "The neighbors would probably appreciate that," he said with a snicker, nuzzling my neck.
    "I reserved a cottage." I chuckled. "I didn't want you to restrain yourself if you were feeling… operatic."
    He giggled. Actually giggled. "Fucking hell, I'm too tired to be horny or I'd jump you for that."
    "Get back in your seatbelt and lie down, Alan."
    "You have to be awake, I should—" Another yawn interrupted him. He smirked and kissed my cheek and slipped from under my arm, back to his side of the cab. He struggled out of the trench, put his seatbelt on, and lay down, throwing the trench over himself. I tucked it around him as he rubbed his cheek on my leg.
    "You need to get fat," he mumbled. "Not so comfy here."
    "Or we could keep a pillow in the truck."
    "No," he said, and rested his hand on my leg too. I smoothed his hair and he sighed and relaxed.
    When we passed through Scranton I made sure to flip off his parents. I made it an all-around flip-off so I wouldn't miss them. When I crossed into New York I stroked Alan's cheek and welcomed him softly to his future home.
    A few minutes into New York and still an hour from Danbury, my phone rang. I silenced it fast and checked the number.
    The house phone. Crap. I'd meant to space out the calls, keeping Alan occupied and excited, and then completely forgotten the most important call. I took a deep breath and answered my phone.
    "Lukas," I said quietly.
    "Dude," Will said. "Mom was gonna call you but first she called me and then her phone was dying." I could practically hear him rolling his eyes. "If she wouldn't play Angry Birds all the damn time it'd last longer. Anyway, I'm supposed to find out if Alan's coming tonight and what time so when Aunt Lilia brings Mom and the groceries home, Mom knows when to start cooking. And what the hell, when did I get demoted to secretary?"
    "It's a promotion, Will. She's trusting you to coordinate an important dinner."
    "Yeah, whatever. Is he coming? When?"
    "Actually…" I glanced down at Alan and smiled. "We're not going to make it tonight. Something came up."
    "Ew, dude. Also, don't think you're getting out of going climbing because your butts hurt."
    "Chewie," I said, using the nickname he'd punch me for if he could reach me, "those are Wookiee manners. They don't fly well among humans."
    "Yeah, kiss off, Obi-wan Kenobi, you're my only dope. You better get back here soon— I don't know how much more of these two I can take. Lilia made me wash the dogs, man. I hate the smell of wet dog. And she baked me cookies. She said Alan loves snickerdoodles— smart man— but when she had them going in the oven she asked what I liked and then she made those killer peanut butter cookies. Lilia doesn't like me. Why is she baking me cookies?"
    I smiled at Alan again then answered Will. "Maybe your charm and good looks have finally won her over. Hey, before I forget— did you bring enough meds? Might take a few days to get the pharmacy—"
    "You'll have to ask my mommy," Will growled. "She keeps them locked up, been doling them out for months now."
    Crap. "Does she have reason?" I asked carefully.
    "Yeah, I was pissed and I threatened to OD, all right? I knew she'd flip but I was pissed and I said it anyway."
    "She didn't tell me."
    "She didn't need to. I didn't fucking mean it and she knew it."
    "You know she had to take you seriously, Will."
    "Yeah, yeah, shut up old man. So what am I supposed to tell Mom? Lukas can't bring his boyfriend to dinner 'cause they're playing who dropped the soap?"
    "Chewie, you are such