Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

cultivate the public impression that what they did were threesomes.
    They dated models, actresses, actors, indiscriminately. If a person was young and pretty, male or female, then they had a chance at scoring with the Sanders twins...as long as they didn't mind that it was both of them. Unsurprisingly, most of them didn't.
    What bothered him, and them, was that there was never a second date. They'd tried that early on, sharing a girlfriend or a boyfriend, but the third parties always, always got possessive, or jealous, or ...too observant.
    He didn't want that anymore. He wanted fucking Dion to wake up and realize that he wanted them too. Like they hadn't seen the lust in his eyes over the years?
    Trouble was, for all his creative vision, Dion apparently didn't have the imagination to see how things really could be. And there was the man himself, scowling at them, dark eyes fiery with...hate? His heart lurched a bit. That was new...better than the bloody fucking indifference of the past year, yes, but ...a far cry from the lust of seven years ago, or the stunned bemusement of ten years ago.
    He swallowed hard and felt a new chill creep down his spine.
    Pamela was making soothing murmurs, but Dion shook her hand from his arm and opened the door. "Let's fucking go. I have a plane to catch."
    The three of them exchanged glances, Pamela concerned, Rik pissed, and Lars was afraid to even guess what his own face betrayed. They trailed after Dion onto the stage and arranged themselves in a semi-circle behind him as Dion stepped up to the podium. The gathered reporters shushed instantly. Dion didn't speak in public often. Didn't give many interviews, participated minimally in the required photo shoots.
    He didn't hesitate. No tapping the mike, looking around, waving or joking. He stepped up, in typical Dion fashion expecting everything to function properly, and immediately began speaking. "I have an announcement to make, after which I will answer five questions, related to the announcement only. My private life is off limits. There will be no discussion of Kim Pham."
    A knot of tension formed in Lars's belly. This wasn't sounding good. Beads of cold sweat trickled down his temple over his cheek. Hopefully it didn't look like he was crying. He felt like crying for some reason. He pressed his lips firmly together, tried to remain stoic. A smile was beyond him.
    The members of the press looked shocked. He sneaked a glance at Pamela, who appeared bewildered, at Rik, who looked strangely grim. Nausea rose with earthshaking suddenness. He swayed a bit on his feet, grabbed at Pamela's hand for support.
    "I'm announcing my retirement. I will be leaving Devil's Halo effective immediately."
    The trickle became a flood of ice and rising gorge. He was going to be ill. He must have made some sound, because in the flash of lights and murmur of voices, as though from a great distance, he heard Dion asking for questions, but Pamela and Rik were guiding him from the stage with urgent murmurs as black spots danced in front of his eyes.
    CHAPTER 3
    He felt the disturbance behind him as much as heard it. Lars choking, Pamela and Rik moving into action to get him away. He ignored it. Wished he could ignore that picture in his head of Rik and Lars together.
    That's right. Wasn't too sick to fuck a few minutes ago, so he'll be okay. Answer your questions and get on with it. "You, Music Daily, your question."
    "Will you be pursuing a solo career?"
    "No. Next question?" He waved at a man in a yellow polka dot ascot. Who the fuck wore ascots?
    "The Sanders twins seemed surprised by your announcement. Were they unaware of your plans?"
    Guilt washed over him. The lie spilled before he could consider it. After all, he'd meant to tell them. "No. Next question?" He pointed into the crowd at random. The others hadn't returned. Concern for Lars inched its way into his conscience. He'd have to check on them before he left, explain the lie he'd just told.
    "Do you plan to answer all the questions today with yes or no?" The humorous question was clearly an attempt to catch him off guard.
    "No." He pointed again. The blond who'd wasted his question sputtered a bit.
    "That wasn't my question!"
    "Sounded like one to me. Last question." He'd been lucky so far, they'd followed his directives like cowed sheep.
    "Does this have anything to do with the upcoming court case for Kim Pham's wrongful death suit?"
    He glared at the reporter who'd dared ask. "This conference