Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

over.
    Sam took another step backwards. "I'll ask next time I see him. I promise you that. But don't hold your breath. Okay?"
    Speechless—because what was the point of yelling at a mind full of rocks—I stared at his back as Sam sauntered out of the room like all was good with the world. He'd asked me if I'd move out because of this, and he'd asked it as if he'd knew the answer would be no. He planted that seed and then poured fertilizer all over it. After tonight, I couldn't deal with any more of his practical jokes. Maybe it was my fault for putting up with his games for so long, but now it was time to grow up and move on.
    ****
    "Did you talk to Wolfgang?"
    Sam scowled at me as he shut the front door. He took his time shedding his coat and shoes. I snorted, and shifted from foot to foot, unashamed to show my impatience. Hell, it was better than yesterday; I was fairly certain I wouldn't kick the crap out of him tonight.
    "Okay, I came across desperate just then, but fuck, Sam, I am. Please tell me that you apologized."
    "Me apologize? I told him that you did." Sam sighed, and despite my glare, fixed me with a look I knew too well. He said it anyway. "Wolf said no to meeting with you again."
    "You didn't apologize." I wasn't surprised, but I had hoped.
    He went from sympathetic to annoyed with the flip of a switch. "Don't blame me for your fuck up."
    I grabbed my coat and keys, and hurried past him.
    "Where are you going?" Sam asked.
    "To the Boneyard."
    "Oh hell no." I had the door opened already. I hurried out into the hall. "Come back here." He caught me at the elevator, and his hand on my arm restrained me like a vise. I could've freed myself—pushed him and made a run for it—but no matter what happened between me and Wolfgang, I had to live with Sam when it was all said and done. For now, anyway.
    "Let go, Sam. I want to talk to him myself."
    "Just yank one out in the shower."
    "It's not about the sex. We didn't even have sex—not even a kiss for fuck's sake—but I can't stop thinking about him. He plays the piano. He teaches music. He has this way of taking charge without taking control, and it is so fucking hot."
    "You sound like a girl."
    "Fuck you." I did shove him then. I'd had enough. Regardless of how things worked out with Wolfgang, I was done with Sam. "We connected. I'm sure we did. If I had known you were setting us up, I wouldn't have insulted him. Did you even bother to tell him that?"
    Sam had the nerve to look sheepish when he shrugged noncommittally. "So you really did like him, huh? I thought you two would hit it off."
    "Yeah." I sighed. "We talked as much as we flirted. Once I realized what the hell was going on—or thought I did—I had a good time." Don't relent. Don't fucking relent. Sam is an ass, and he's going to try sweet talk now. Don't fall for it.
    "Until you called him a hooker."
    Or not. Stay calm. "I figured he was putting on a show for me, but it turns out it was who he really is, and I want more of that."
    "Wolf doesn't fake anything."
    "You know that, but I didn't know who the hell he was. Shit, Sam, all you had to do was ask me if I wanted to meet a friend. That's it. I don't know what the hell you were trying to prove by tying me up and not telling me what the fuck you had planned." I was getting pissed again. He still seemed to think I should've known everything he did. He still blamed me. I blamed myself plenty, and I hadn't even known better. Not about Wolfgang. I knew my friend was a jerk, but I'd been overlooking how often he turned that empty charm on me for a long time.
    "Go back inside, Sam. Put an ad in the paper. I'm moving out as soon as I can find a place."
    He laughed. Of course, he would think I was kidding. I turned and walked away without saying another word. Not even when he shouted down the hallway. "Yeah right, Jason, you're quite the kidder, but you can't best me. I'm the king of practical jokes."
    You sure fucking are, asshole.
    ****
    Abandoning my best friend derailed my life. As soon as the words shot out of my mouth, I forgot about Wolfgang. Instead of trying to talk to him at The Boneyard, I walked to my sister's place seven miles away. I was tired, sweaty, and cranky as all hell by the time I arrived at her door, and not just because of Sam but because I'd developed blisters seemingly everywhere on both feet.
    Kenzie had always been a supportive sister. She didn't ask me what happened, or anything at all. She knew I'd dump it on her when I