Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

that shopping basket?" He turned and found it still on the floor a few feet away but didn't feel like taking up where he'd left off. Instead, he headed to the cereal aisle to check on the placement of his baby. The first solo project he'd been given and a runaway success. He rummaged through his pockets to find ear buds and iPod to drown out the supermarket radio station. Cranking up the volume, he smiled. Food for the soul. Well, fast food. Lady Gaga didn't contain much nourishment but it did blast away the last of the blues.
    For a moment, he paused. It felt like… He spun round expecting to see someone behind him but the aisle was empty. In fact, the supermarket was eerily quiet. Jesse shrugged and tuned back in to the music half-walking, half-skipping to the aisle he wanted. And there it was, his pride and joy, right at eye level – Krispie Stars – perfect product placement. He closed his eyes and smiled. Iceman may not want Jesse's ass anymore but he wouldn't be getting rid of him anytime soon and that was good news indeed.
    "Life is still good." He breathed deeply and let the music wash over him. "It's alright, alright, just dance," he sang, eyes still closed. "Gonna be okay, dada doo dadooda dance." Jesse twirled in the aisle holding one hand to his headphones. The other brushed the shelf and sent several boxes of cereal tumbling to the floor. "Shit." He stooped to pick them up and jumped as an electric shock jolted through his body.
    "Sorry." On the other end of the Cheerios was the most breath taking pair of green eyes Jesse had ever seen. Time itself stood still as they crouched over the little pile of boxes. Jesse pulled out his earplugs with his empty hand. He realised he was staring and clapped his jaw shut, letting go of the Cheerios and reaching instead for the Captain Crunch at the same time as Mr The-grass-is-greener-eyes. Their hands collided again over the new box and Jesse had the same electric thrill run through his body. This time he didn't pull away, he stayed touching the delicate hand of his cereal-box-rival and observed the thrum. It was so strong Jesse swore their hands were glowing where they touched. "Shall I get it?" the guy said. Soft, dulcet tones, warm and smooth like velvet over Jesse's newly frayed nerves. He couldn't let go of the box. Or the guy's hand. It was one of those pivotal moments that change the world. Jesse heard flashes of laughter and stories being told in the dim and distant future of locking eyes over a box of Captain Crunch. Why couldn't it have been Krispie Stars? That would have made an even better story.
    The guy reached over with his other hand and prized Jesse's fingers off his own before standing up and placing the box back on the shelf. Jessie flopped onto his backside and followed the long slender legs, tried to ignore the interesting package, up over hips and torso to a blinding smile. What colour were his eyes again? Because right now Jesse couldn't see past the light that shone from perfectly parted rosy lips.
    "Are you okay? All that twirling seems to have made you dizzy."
    "Oh, hell." Sensibilities shaken back into place, Jesse struggled awkwardly to his feet. "You saw that?"
    "Very entertaining. The voice could use a little coaching."
    "I was singing out loud." He knew he had been. He groaned. Embarrassment complete. The faint echo of Poker Face taunted him from his abandoned headphones strung over his shoulder.
    "I liked the dancing best. I don't think I'm familiar with that tune."
    "Tune?" Jesse scooped up the remaining boxes and placed them carefully. "It's Lady Gaga. I can't have been bad enough for you not to recognise it."
    "Can't say I've ever heard of her."
    "Where have you been for the last forever? Even my gran has heard of Lady Gaga."
    "Oh, I'm not really local."
    "Dropped in like Paddington have you, from deepest, darkest Peru?"
    "I'm sorry?"
    "Never mind. I'm Jesse. Can I buy you a coffee and introduce you to the greatest pop goddess since Madonna?"
    "I'm not supposed to mix with immortals. What realm is she from?"
    Jesse cocked his head to the side and took a good look at the man in front of him, all contradictions and invitations. "You are seriously quirky. I like it. Got a name, or should I call you Paddington?"
    "Omar."
    "Come on then, beefcake. I need a caffeine fix to get to the bottom of you." Jesse grabbed Omar's solid, nicely muscled arm and pulled him along towards the supermarket café, noting the unusual heat and the