Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

that he'd gotten a good bit of wood just sitting there holding him.
    Daren rubbed at his face. "Time to get up I guess. Are you ready for today?"
    "I thought tomorrow was going to be the tricky one?"
    "It is, but I'm sending you clothes shopping today."
    Sebastian didn't even try to hide the eye roll. "There's nothing wrong with my suit. I wear it to job interviews."
    "I could write a thesis on everything wrong with your suit, and you're going to be faking a job that you could never even get interviewed for in that suit." Daren swung his legs from the bed and grabbed his cane. "Trust me on this. This is one of the few things in the world where I actually know what I am talking about."
    ****
    The bell over the door of the suit shop rang, alerting the proprietor that a customer was present. Daren had insisted he go for the jacket first in case it needed some tailoring. The other things on the shopping list included a very particular make and model of aluminum briefcase, as well as some high-grade stationary and a fountain pen.
    He was told that the suitcase would probably cost a grand and that he should be willing to spend three grand on the suit. The very thought made Sebastian's eyes water. He personally set a five hundred max limit on what he'd spend, which was probably more than he'd spent on clothing in the last decade.
    A tiny Indian man with salt-and-pepper hair came around the counter.
    "Good morning. Can I help you?" His accent was pure Bostonian.
    "Yes, I need a suit."
    "Any particular kind of suit?" The man gestured to the racks of jackets, pants, shirts and ties.
    "Well… I've got a new job. Starting right away. Tomorrow actually."
    "Congratulations. And you need a new suit."
    "I'll be working as a PA for a man in the financial circles, but I was told not to show up if I couldn't look like I belonged there." Sebastian was proud at how close that lie was to the truth.
    The man shook his head in sympathy, but Sebastian could see a smile pulling at his lips for the guaranteed sale. "And what size would you be looking for?"
    "I don't know."
    "Well then." The man produced a tape measure from his pocket. "Let's find out."
    It did not take long before Sebastian found himself in his underwear, trying on different combinations of pants, shirts, and jackets. The tailor, who barely came up to Sebastian's chest, seemed terribly put out that he couldn't have a week to make something custom from scratch. Apparently Sebastian had a very good figure for suits, with shoulders that weren't too broad, a trim waist and long legs. In the back of his head, he could hear Daren laughing hysterically.
    In the end he found himself shelling out almost sixteen hundred for a light wool suit in black, two white shirts (the spare was in case of spilled morning coffee or lunch wine), and a black silk tie, with matching shoes and belt. Sebastian thought he looked like he was about to whack someone for the mob. When he pointed this out, the tailor patted him on the shoulder.
    "You're working in finance, what's the difference?"
    Sebastian really couldn't argue with that one.
    After nearly two hours, he managed to get out with a handshake, a suit bag, and a promise to come back as soon as possible to have the suit 'properly' tailored.
    He checked the time. It was just barely ten. He crossed his fingers that the next two stops would be quicker, so he could be home by lunch.
    ****
    It was after one when Sebastian finally put his key in his front door while trying to juggle all his purchases.
    "Hello," he called out as soon as he got through the door.
    "In here."
    He found Daren sprawled out on the couch, looking exhausted. "I thought I'd watch TV. That's a really long walk when you're afraid of falling on your face."
    "Sorry I'm late. It took me two hours to get out of the suit shop, three different places for the suitcase, and for some weird reason the stationary store was fucking packed."
    "It's okay. I wasn't fully freaking out yet." Daren gave a little flash of a smile, but Sebastian could see the remains of real worry under it.
    "I also got this." Sebastian pulled a small phone from his pocket and handed it to Daren. "It's a burner. Pre-paid. My number is already in it."
    Daren took it with a smile and slipped it into the pocket of his shorts. "Thank you. Now." Daren sat up straight and looked very proper. "Fashion show."
    Sebastian made a face. "It's just a suit."
    "Paid for with my money and purchased at my instruction. Go change, so I