Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

But he stood rooted, watching. The sunlight found the curve of Daniel's cheek and picked red highlights out in his dark hair. Daniel tipped his head back, laughing at something the blonde had said. His hat stayed perched perfectly on his curls, his teeth flashed white between parted lips. He slipped an arm around the girl's waist, bussed her cheek noisily and steered her toward the roadway to town.
    Trust him. You have to trust him. And Jacob did, truly. He just wished Daniel had let him in on the details of the plan, rather than a hurried whisper of "Just start walking through town. I'll find you," as he brushed past down the gangway.
    Jacob looked down the road again. Daniel and the girl had already vanished. Nothing to do but follow directions. He struck what he hoped was a nonchalant pose and headed casually off the base. As he stepped through the gates, he was approached left and right. He shrugged off an old woman selling fruit, and a man with hammered silver jewelry. A dark-skinned grandmother offered some kind of pastry from a cart, and the aroma made his mouth water, but he shook his head.
    A soft touch on his arm made him jump. "Hey, mate. Want some company? I could show you the town."
    He stepped back quickly, giving the blonde girl a smile that felt false on his lips. "No, no thanks. Um, not yet that is."
    She shrugged. "You want something different? I've got some friends around. You like a little dark meat?"
    "What? No." He turned away abruptly and lengthened his stride. Her laughter followed him down the road.
    The buildings in Townsville seemed to lean towards white and large. The trees were unfamiliar, their leaves a dusty green unlike the tints of a New Jersey summer. Winter, he reminded himself, it was winter here. The hill rose up behind the buildings, a double red-rock face that climbed sharp and tall, framed by the dull green of the softer slope that rose on the far side. Around him American voices, loud and excited, vied with slower drawling speech. He wanted to turn a corner and get away from the main drag, away from everyone and anyone. But even more, he wanted Daniel to be able to find him. He walked on slowly down the road.
    It was almost twenty minutes before Daniel materialized at his elbow. "Got it. Turn left at the next corner."
    Jacob did so, vividly aware of Daniel walking casually at his shoulder. "What was with the girl?"
    "If you need good information, go to a good source. I asked her for the location of a motel that wasn't too nice but not too rough either, where the MPs don't roust people out. Someplace far enough that the whole crew won't be there. I figured she would know."
    "And it took you fifteen minutes to ask one question? What did you do, sleep with her first?"
    "What the hell?" Daniel stopped dead and stared at him. "What kind of question is that?'
    "I don't know," Jacob said miserably. "I'm sorry. I'm stupid."
    After a long minute a slow smile spread over Daniel's face. "You were jealous."
    "You were slow."
    "You were jealous of me and some doxie off the docks."
    "Shut up."
    "I like it." Daniel started walking again, and swayed just enough to accidentally bump his hip against Jacob's arm. "I want you all hot and bothered."
    That wouldn't be a problem, Jacob thought. The sweat was already prickling in his eyes and his shirt clung to his back. His heart was pounding. It wasn't that hot, but he felt odd, a little woozy and disoriented.
    "Breathe," Daniel said softly. "It's okay. Take a breath. We don't have to do this."
    "I want to." He did. Although it was probably a good thing the motel turned out to be twenty-five minute's more walking. It gave him time to find his balance again.
    Even just this was good. Walking with Daniel in a new place. Feeling Daniel steady beside him as they passed the big white buildings of the town center, and then the smaller ones away from the main roads, all built in some undefinable way different from New Jersey's styles. The occasional bird flitted in the trees along the road, and Jacob couldn't identify them by sight or song. The sun dipped lower, falling to dance between the tops of buildings and trees, leaving Daniel's face now bright with golden light, now dark and shadowed.
    They didn't talk. A bump of shoulders and nod of the head drew attention to a flowering shrub or bright-colored bird. Jacob's throat felt dry and his head was light but the sweat dried on his back and the soft breeze loosened his shirt.
    Finally Daniel nodded at a