Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

caused some damage to my hippocampus."
    "The part of your brain that controls memory? How?"
    "I'm not sure. All I know is that while I remember bits and pieces of what happened in the future, I don't remember much of anything that happened before our argument. Everything leading up to it, nearly my entire life history is fragmented and fuzzy. My childhood, adolescence, high school, college...it's all hazy. I can't remember my parent's faces, or what my old bedroom looked like. I remember what I learned. I know facts and figures, and I can still do the math necessary for our work, but I can't remember when or where I learned how to do it."
    He watched Nate's face pale. "What about us? Do you remember us?"
    His smile was wistful. "I know I love you, enough to have risked everything to go back and save you, but I can't remember how we met, or how we became a couple."
    He saw tears in Nate's eyes as Nate pulled him in close. "I love you, too. Don't worry, Ben. I'll figure out a way to get your memories back. I swear it."
    "Just promise me one thing, Nate. As of now, our time-travel project is over. We bury our findings. It's too dangerous to publish. I only hope to God nobody else figures out how to do it."
    Nate nodded. "I promise. Now, I need to get back to the lab and get started trying to get your memory back. We'll begin by drawing blood, and I'll need to do a complete medical workup on you. Then I'll—"
    "No. The only thing you're going to do right now is take me to bed. He smiled and quickly placed his hand over Nate's mouth, squelching any protest. "There's time enough for work later. Right now, we only have enough time to love each other."
    When they kissed, once again, time stopped.
    THE END
    Author bio: Kiernan Kelly lives in the wilds of the alligator-infested U.S. Southeast, slathered in SPF 45, drinking tropical, hi-octane concoctions served by thong-clad cabana boys.
    Actually, the truth is that she spends her time locked in the dark recesses of her office, writing gay romance while chained to a temperamental laptop, drinking coffee, and dreaming about thong-clad cabana boys. Sigh.
    Other works:
    Kiernan currently has twelve novels and over fifty shorter works available in print and ebook.
    Contact info:
    Links to the full body of Kiernan's works can be found at her website .
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    ****

TO KEEP A SMILE
    by Valentina Heart

    I didn't want kids. But my ex was ten years older, ready to start a family. To keep a classy guy like him happy with tattooed me I gave sperm and we got a surrogate. When I saw my son I was in love... I thought he was, too. Six months later he says Archer is a mistake, kicking us out. Now that it is just the two of us can I find true love?
    ~ Juliana

    genre: contemporary
    tags: family drama; performance arts; celebrities; musicians/rockstars; sweet (no sex); men with children; HFN; tattoos
    word count: 12,011
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    TO KEEP A SMILE
    by Valentina Heart
    "What the hell is wrong with you?" Zach yelled at Austin, keeping the two step distance between them.
    "I'm just not cut out for this. I'm sorry." Austin gave him that puppy dog look, but Zach was too pissed to even notice.
    "Are you kidding me? You're the one who wanted this! You said you were ready for a family!" Zach couldn't even be bothered to lower his voice, his heart aching as Archer screamed on the blanket covered floor surrounded by his toys, not liking his parents shouting.
    "I'm sorry. I'm just gonna leave. I thought I could do this, but he's screaming all the time. I can't sleep; I go to work tired and then fall asleep at my desk. I can't, Zach. I'm sorry." Austin bowed his head in remorse, but fat lot of good that did to Zach.
    "What are you talking about? He cries when he's hungry or in pain. Any other time he's the closest you can get to an angel." Zach couldn't contain his shock nor subdue his fear, "I can't raise him on my own. I have to work to pay the rent. You know the savings are gone." His chest was aching from anxiety. He cared for Austin, even though he couldn't quite find those feelings at that particular moment, but what Austin was doing bordered on criminal.
    "I'm sorry. I would help, but I'll have to find a new place and that's not cheap."
    "Again, are you fucking kidding me?" Zach shouted and Archer screamed, out voicing both men.
    "You'll manage. You love him and your friends will surely help." Zach just stared at him in disbelief,