Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

years. He'd never seen them like this with each other.
    Was this what they were really like? Was this what they hid from the world behind the smiles and wild party boy images? Two men so in love with each other they couldn't keep their hands to themselves?
    Some resistance faded. Cracked a little. Letting him see this, it was pretty much the same as inviting him in, wasn't it? How could he doubt that they trusted him, loved him, even if just a little, when they behaved like this, so openly in front of him?
    "Maybe..." He crossed to the sofa and dropped to his haunches. "Is this really something you want to do more than once? You never date a guy more than once."
    "You're the only one we wanted more than one night with." They spoke together.
    "You both, really, both of you want this? Want me?"
    "We've been patient. Been supportive. We waited for you to figure out this rock and roll life style wasn't what you wanted."
    "We thought we'd screwed up. That Kim would convince you to leave us and start his acid rock band that he wanted."
    He winced at the mention of Kim again. Time to clear the air completely. "Kim was leaving me when he crashed his car."
    He stared into one pair of blue eyes after another. "He said I had to choose. Devil's Halo or him."
    "You couldn't leave the band for him?"
    "No. I had no problem leaving the band. It's you I couldn't leave for him."
    "Then what's different now?" Rik demanded urgently.
    Now. Guilt. "I killed him. He died because of me."
    "Don't be an egocentric ass."
    "He can't help it, Lars. He's always been the center of the universe."
    The fuck. Dion scowled. "Fine mock me. The truth remains the same."
    "The truth is relative. Kim died because he drove a car he couldn't handle on a twisty mountain road in a snowstorm, drunk off his ass."
    "He died because he was drunk dialing us to bitch about how we were destroying your career, freeloading off your God-given talent and wasting your time with our pretty boy band."
    Recalling the bitter words they'd exchanged that day, Dion was certain that Lars and Rik were being honest. "I have to catch my plane." Foolish to insist on that.
    Lars leaned forward and rested his forehead against Dion's. "I hate you. I'll miss you. What the fuck am I going to do now?"
    More guilt? "You said you were tired. Take a vacation." He pulled his t-shirt from under the sofa and tugged it over his head. When he pulled the fabric down he caught the two men staring into each other's eyes intently. They had each other. Did they really need him?
    "Fine."
    Boots. He dragged the supple leather up his calves. Dressed, Dion hesitated. He glanced at the twins, at the door. A slow step toward the exit, and he looked back to find them watching him again. They said they loved him. He knew he loved them. They trusted him with this dark secret. He shook his head. Took another step toward the door. He just couldn't trust them.
    Whatever they said, he knew they loved each other. He'd seen it. Another step. His shaking hand closed on the door handle. He looked back over his shoulder again. Still silently watching them.
    He twisted the handle. The door swung open a tiny bit. He drew in a deep breath. What difference did it make if he hurt away from them or with them?
    Swallowing hard, he licked his lips. Why not? "In Aspen. You could take a vacation, in Aspen." Without waiting for an answer, he stepped through the door and let it swing shut behind him.
    THE END
    Author bio: I am an avid reader and former teacher of grammar and composition who believes that falling in love is the grandest adventure anyone can have. In a nutshell, that's every story I have to tell.
    Relocating from the crazy pace of life in Southern California's Orange County to the beautiful and leisurely atmosphere of the Illinois countryside has given me the time to indulge the desire to write that I set aside when I started teaching fourteen years ago. Readers can find out more about me and my writing by visiting me at my blog, Lee's Musings or finding me on Facebook . Feel free to drop me a line at [email protected] .
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DIRTY PLAY
    by Kyle Adams

    It's easy to be a hero in the game. When we play together, I'm brave and strong and handsome and I slay the dragon. But when we stop playing, I'm back to being regular old me.
    Am I brave enough to tell him how I feel? When the game ends, can we still be comrades in arms, or is it all just empty fantasy?
    [This'd work for computer or video games, but I'm