Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

decided not to go down that route. It was still painful after two years. He wondered if he would be able to handle another relationship again. He hadn't tried since then. He had one helluva dry spell. Jace was so out of practice he wasn't sure if he could do anything right. Jeez, what was he thinking? Well, he wasn't, at least, not when it came to Michael. The man made his heart rate speed up and his blood boil. Fuck, he had to adjust himself. Again.
    Dammit.
    He wasn't at all sure if he should take Michael up on his offer to go see him. Truth be told, he already missed little Joshua. The way his eyes lit up when he woke up and saw him standing there. Jace never had anyone look at him like that. He knew Joshua already had him wrapped around his little finger. Jace sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He flipped the TV on to have some background noise. Maybe if he focused enough on it his brain will shut the fuck up. He felt like he was thinking in circles. Jace decided to give it a few days before he made any decisions.
    ****
    "Daddy, do I have to go? I wanna stay with you." Josh whined for the millionth time. He was perched on the couch while Michael walked around packing a few toys and clothes in a bag so Josh could spend a few days with his sister while he set things straight with the insurance company, his job, and worked on finding a new place to live. He and Josh had looked at a few places on the Internet but Michael wanted to check them out himself.
    "Yes, you have to go. It's only for a few days, Josh. I thought you missed Aunt Sarah while she was on vacation." He took a seat next to Josh on the couch.
    Josh nodded. "I do miss her, Daddy, but I can't go now. What if Jace comes back? I don't want to miss him. I told you we should have kept him." Joshua frowned and folded his little arms across his chest. His grey eyes looked up at his father.
    "Now, Joshua, you watch your tone. If Jace comes by you will be the first to know but right now, Daddy has some things he needs to take care of. You don't want to stay in this hotel forever, do you?" Michael cocked an eyebrow and Josh dropped his arms.
    "No. I hate the bed. It's hard." Michael laughed and hugged his son.
    "Watch some TV. Aunt Sarah will be here any minute."
    "Okay, Daddy."
    Michael finished gathering Josh's things while the sounds of Tom and Jerry drifted around the room. They had done a bit of shopping after they got settled in the hotel. He bought them both some new clothes and some toys for Josh and toiletries. Michael had also taken off work for two weeks. Reading and editing manuscripts could wait while he got his life back on track. The insurance company was still working with the police and the fire department to determine what started the fire. They had yet to figure it out.
    Michael wondered if Jace was in on the investigation. He wished he had some way to contact him to ask about it. But he hadn't seen or heard from him in a week. At this point, Michael wondered if everything they experienced in the hospital was just a figment of his imagination. His hand had tingled for hours after Jace left. His body remained on edge so much so that Josh thought he was constipated. Michael could not help but burst out laughing at Josh's "Daddy, are you okay? You look like you need to go poop. The bathroom is over there." Michael shook his head. But he could not get Jace out of his head. His hair, his eyes, his smile, that ass. Shit, not now. Down boy. Oh great, I'm talking to my junk, now , Michael thought.
    A knock sounded at the door.
    "Aunt Sarah!" Josh yelled, jumping up and heading to the door.
    "Josh! Don't answer the door. What do I tell you about strangers?"
    Josh stopped in his tracks.
    "Don't answer the door unless I know who it is and don't talk to strangers."
    "Good boy." He said as he hoisted Josh up onto his hip and answered the door after looking in the peephole.
    "Hey, Sarah." He said.
    His sister was a short thing, only five feet three to his six foot two. They looked so much alike that people often thought they were twins but she was two years younger than he was. They had the same grey eyes and brown hair but hers reached just past her shoulders.
    "Hey, guys. How is my nephew doing?" She said as she stepped in the room and took Josh from Michael's arms.
    "I'm much better, Auntie!" Josh smiled as he held onto his aunt. He had always adored her.
    "That's a good, boy." She turned to Michael. "I'm sorry about your house, Mike. I still can't