Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

sweatshirt. The pants were two inches too short and the shirt stretched so tightly across Niko's chest that Charlie barely resisted the urge to tear it right back off again.
    At Niko's suggestion, they ordered take-out from the Chinese restaurant a couple of blocks away and spent the rest of the night munching egg rolls while Charlie did his best to teach Niko the intricacies of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare . Halfway through attempting to capture Victor Zakhaev, they abandoned the game for another round of mind-blowing sex.
    Afterward, they curled up together on the couch, Charlie draped over Niko, cradled in the space between the back of the couch and his side. It was cozy and perfect and Charlie couldn't believe he had only met this man four days before.
    "Do you really hate the name Stephanopoulos?" Niko asked just as Charlie was beginning to nod off.
    Charlie opened his eyes and tilted his head to look up at him. It was clear that the question—and Charlie's answer—really mattered to him. Charlie smiled and shook his head.
    "No," he replied. "Believe it or not, it's starting to grow on me."
    THE END
    Author bio: I am a stay-at-home mother of one, and I write for fun in my spare time. Up until now, I have only ever written fanfiction, but, since being introduced to this event, I have decided to give original fiction a proper go. Look for more from me in the future!
    You can find my fanfiction here .
    My original fiction works are here .
    You can also follow me on Twitter
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FALLING FACES
    by LdDurham

    It is a black and white photo of two men wrapped in a blanket on a rocky beach with only their feet visible.

    Dear Author,
    You were always such a tough guy growing up. Throughout our teenage years, I was pretty much convinced that you were a complete asshole and that you didn't have a single romantic bone in your body. You'd have laughed in the face of a romantic walk on the beach or a candle-lit dinner. But things change, and when I returned from college it was like meeting a new man. Perhaps that's what happens when you grow up, or perhaps this was you all along. I'm just surprised – and secretly pleased – that you're finally noticing me.
    I'm looking for an HEA , but with no ménage, no BDSM, and no paranormal elements. Thank you! <3
    Sincerely,
    Lauren

    genre: contemporary
    tags: humorous; sweet (no sex); enemies to lovers; family issues; ex-military
    word count: 7,861
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    FALLING FACES
    by LdDurham
    If I had thought for even a moment that I'd actually run into the Neanderthal, I'd have dressed a bit better. As it was, I was stuck outside my dad's shop with nowhere to go when John Jacobs pulled up. I swear to you that that is his real name. Most people call him JJ. I call him Jerk.
    JJ drove a pick-up truck, which was kind of a law in the town I grew up in. In my home town, there are more blue collars than you can shake a stick at. Not that I have a problem with that, exactly. But growing up as a modern hippie, it had always made me feel completely out of place. And John Jacobs had made sure that that was a feeling that never went away, calling me Nate the Nerd in elementary school.
    Of course, when I say modern hippie, I mean budding environmentalist. And being a budding environmentalist in a town that believed the land was theirs to do with as they pleased, I tended to ruffle feathers when I pointed out better ways to conduct business. JJ's father had been a tire salesman and had hated my guts after I brought him printed-out articles about how toxic some of his practices were.
    I've since learned to curb my enthusiasm a bit and put it in more useful directions.
    I had only been home from college for a few days when I had to run into JJ. I'd figured he'd still be off in the Army becoming Sergeant Jerk or some other befitting career choice for the bad-ass tough guy I had grown up with. JJ had a horrible attitude and didn't care who knew it or got caught in it. I should know. I grew up in the same neighborhood as him and had had to ride the bus with him and go to kindergarten through junior year with him. He was a year older, so I got to enjoy my senior year Jerk-free, but still, I knew the Neanderthal well. Well enough to know that I should start walking down the sidewalk away from him as soon as he hopped out of his truck.
    However, my first impulse was quickly snuffed by the thought that I was no longer some younger kid who had to deal with him. I'm a man now, damn it!