Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

set."
    Sebastian started trying to guess how much money could be in five safety deposit boxes owned by one of the richest kids in the country. "And you're just thinking about this now?"
    Daren looked down at his hands. "Well… there is the possibility that someone may know I have these boxes, or at least some of them. And I honestly sort of thought I'd be on the run alone once I could stand, or even before that. Figured if I lived… I didn't think I'd… well." Daren sort of vaguely waved with one hand.
    Sebastian gave him the benefit of the doubt. He was sure trusting a poor stranger was hard enough for Daren; trusting one with his money probably went against generations of his breeding.
    "Okay. If I go to these boxes, it's not too likely that anyone looking for you would ping on me?"
    "As long as you get in and out quick, and we hit them all in one day, so word wouldn't have time to get around. You'd need a suit though, and I'd need out of these finger splints to write the letters."
    Sebastian looked at the keys Daren was holding. "How dangerous are we talking here?"
    "They won't kill you. I mean, they're looking for me."
    "But dangerous?" It wasn't like Sebastian had never been in dangerous situations before, but they weren't his fondest memories. He wasn't like some of the other guys, who went looking for them.
    "If you don't want to risk it, I totally understand. I mean… fuck, you've already saved my life, big time, and I'm going to owe you forever for that. And I'm sure we can work something out. If nothing else you should get…" Daren petered out, his brows pulling tight together and his eyes locked firm on his own hands. Sebastian waited.
    "I'm starting to feel better." Daren started slowly. "I'm not better. Not even close. My body still aches every moment. I feel like I have glass between my ears. You know how many nightmares I have. I know I need therapy, and probably surgery and a spa day would be nice. But… I feel like the free fall has stopped, and I've finally got a bit of purchase on something inside my head. I'm holding on by the tips of my nails, but… I know I can't stay here forever." Daren raised his eyes. "I wish I could. I still barely know you on a lot of levels, but I know I feel safer here than I've felt anywhere in years. Saner, too. My head is becoming clearer each day." Daren gave Sebastian a sweet flicker of a smile that Sebastian couldn't help but return. "I think… I know we're both making this up as we go along but…" Daren gave a little shrug.
    Sebastian wanted to say no, to say it was too dangerous, that they'd get along fine, but the fact was that he'd gotten second notice on a couple of bills, and even with his job starting in a week, it would be two more weeks before he got paid. And what would it accomplish in the long run? Daren could still barely get to the bathroom on his own, and living his life as a shut-in would not do him any good. If nothing else, Rachael and Tyrone's curiosity would get the best of them any day now.
    "How much money are we talking?"
    "Enough for a little while. I mean, it's not all cash. There's cash in one, bearer bonds in another. Those are…"
    "I saw Die Hard . I know what bearer bonds are."
    "Right. There are other valuable odds and ends scattered around. Enough to get us through, or start again if we need to." Daren gave another little shrug.
    Sebastian looked down at the pamphlets still in his hands. 'Are You Wandering On Life's Path?' the one on top asked him. He flipped it open. In large, bold letters, the next page read. 'Look Outside Yourself for Direction!' He looked back up at Daren, who had twisted up his fingers and was chewing on his lower lip. Sebastian looked around at his room with milk crate shelves, a road-side chair, and a stack of musty old National Geographic magazines.
    "Okay, how do we do this?"
    Daren smiled, his relief palpable. "Thank you."
    "Don't thank me until we've got the cash in hand. And the planning is going to all be on you because this is your world, not mine."
    "Don't worry, I've got some plans. A Delaware would never put money where he couldn't get to it."
    Sebastian checked the time and chucked the pamphlets on top of the National Geographics . "Let's think about it over breakfast."
    Daren thought about it quietly over breakfast. He wasn't exactly chatty in the shower. After lunch, he requested a pen, a note pad, and for his fingers to be removed from the splints.
    "Just so you know, if I screwed up and