Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

world." Oh god, did he just move closer?
    "One night might not be enough for me to figure it all out."
    "Another night then."
    If I lifted my head, I could steal a kiss. Almost. Did he pull back just a fraction of an inch? Teasing me? I smiled. He was good. Very good. I wished we could've met on the street and without money changing hands. "I don't know if I can afford another night," I whispered, "but I'll try."
    I stretched my neck, seeking his mouth. He sat up suddenly, his angelic, predatory smile gone. The frown he wore darkened the whole room. "What are you talking about?" he demanded. The silky, sexy tone gone, I simply stared. His one-eighty made me dizzy. What had I just said to piss him off?
    "Did you just call me a prostitute?"
    "I… Yeah, I… Why? Aren't you?"
    "Jason…" His expression crumpled, and he threw himself off the bed. He hid his face from me as he bent to pick up his belt. He didn't bother to put it back on before he walked out. I called his name, but he didn't hesitate or look back.
    I screamed after him. "Bubble gum!" Then I heard the apartment door slam.
    ****
    "Jason?"
    I heard the knock on the door jamb, but I didn't move. I felt shitty enough without having to explain it all to Sam.
    "You're still dressed?"
    I sighed and turned my head to look at him. I'd returned to my stomach to let the blood flow back into my hands, but I'd otherwise had not bothered to move. "I fucked up," I said. "Just untie me and let me wallow." I turned my face away again.
    The bed sagged as he sat beside me. I felt his fingers working at the ropes, releasing me from the headboard. Once the tension released, I remained still. After a full minute of silence, Sam gently removed the rope from my wrists and set it aside. He swung his legs up on the bed and propped my spare pillow behind his back. We'd shared a bed for long talks before, and since Wolfgang had to call him to tell him to come home, there was a good chance Sam already knew there was much more to my moping than I'd care to admit.
    He waited. I ignored him. I won, but I didn't.
    "Look, Jason, I don't know what happened, but Wolf called and he sounded completely pissed."
    I snorted but said nothing.
    "What happened?"
    He wasn't going away. Sam got stubborn. I should've known he wouldn't wait for me to pull it together. Fuck, he deserved to share the pain, so I said, "You fucked up."
    "No shit…no, wait, you fucked up."
    "Fuck you. Get out of my room."
    "No, shithead, you insulted my friend. Tell me why. If you were still pissed at me, then you should've taken it out on me, not Wolf. He looks like a punk, but he's a great guy. I thought you two would get along. I—"
    "Fuck!" I punched my pillow, and Sam shut his mouth. "He said he was my birthday present, so I thought you hired a fucking rent boy."
    "Shit, Jason, I have to work with the guy and you call him a hooker?"
    "You have to be fucking kidding me." I sat up and, using the momentum, slammed both hands into his chest, shoving him. Sam saw it coming and tried to block me, but he wasn't fast enough. He tumbled off the bed with a startled curse. The loud thump of him hitting the floor wasn't nearly satisfying enough.
    "What the hell was that for?"
    He sounded both pissed and afraid. I didn't care about either and dropped back down, throwing my arm over my eyes to block him out. "Hookers are girls," I muttered.
    "Don't get smart with me."
    "You sound like my mom."
    "Your mom would wash your mouth out with soap for calling someone a hooker."
    "I didn't call him a hooker." I lowered my arm to glare at Sam. He'd stood up, but he kept his distance. Good. I wanted him wary enough to think before he did anything. As soon as he started up with me, my anger returned, and I wanted to hit him. I didn't punch people, but I didn't feel much in control of that urge. He may deserve something for this fuckery he created with his perverse sense of humor, but I wasn't ready to cross that violent line.
    "So you, what? Implied it?"
    "What would you have thought? Just stop being an ass for five seconds and think about it. You tied me up, and then this guy with great hands shows up and tells me that he's a fucking present from my so-called friend. Yeah, I thought he was bought and paid for. Maybe if you'd told me what the fuck you were planning, I wouldn't have to assume shit."
    "Ouch. I was doing you a favor, asshole."
    "You're the asshole. You set me up, and now you're pissed because I didn't read your fucking mind. What