Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

he began, but before he could finish speaking, Len had walked over to him.
    "Ready to make some headlines?" Len asked in a low voice that only Ted could hear.
    "I… what?" Ted looked to Tina for help, but she only grinned back at him. "Len, what's going on?"
    Len's answer was to take Ted into his arms and kiss him. Not a friendly peck on the cheek, not even a brief kiss on the lips, but the kind of kiss that he'd seen Len use on his leading ladies. The kind of kiss that went right to Ted's toes and made them curl with lust. The kind of kiss that—
    "Mr. Golden! Mr. Golden!" The reporters all seemed to shout at once. Ted's brain hadn't kicked back in again but Len, always the professional, just smiled broadly for them.
    "Ladies and gentlemen," Len said as he put his arm around Ted and began to walk toward the dressing rooms, "I have a little celebrating to do. I promise you, I'll give you the entire story. But not tonight." He kissed the stunned Ted once again, then took the statuette in Ted's hand and the one in his own and handed them to Tina, before leading Ted into his room and locking the door behind them.
    "What… I mean, when… shit, Lenny, you planned this thing all along, didn't you?"
    The mischievous grin on Len's face was all the answer Ted needed.
    "I told you, Teddy. I've had enough of the bullshit. I'd hoped it would turn out this way, but when I met you, I decided I was going to do it even if I didn't win."
    "And Tina?" Ted put his hands on his hips and scowled.
    "Well, I did ask her if she thought you'd be okay with it."
    "And you believed her?"
    Len's face was suddenly tense. "It is, isn't it? Okay? I mean, you're out, we're together, and—"
    Ted kissed Len. "Yes. You big idiot! Of course I'm okay with it. It's just that… I don't know… I never thought…."
    "Oh, shit. I'm so sorry, baby. I thought this was what you want—"
    "You're damn straight it's what I wanted!" Len looked taken aback with the force of Ted's reaction. "Of course I'd wanted this. I have no idea why you'd want me, but hell, I'm not an idiot."
    This time, it was Len's eyes that misted over with emotion. He pulled Ted against him and he melted into those powerful arms, his head resting against Len's broad chest.
    "Teddy," Len said as his voice broke, "haven't you figured it out yet? I love you. You . Teddy Aaronson. The guy who thinks he's a geek, but is the sexiest man I've ever met. The guy who just won a fucking Oscar because he's the best ! I love you. Me. Lenny Goldberger. North Shore born and raised. I love you, Teddy."
    "But—"
    "I haven't changed," Len continued, holding Ted's arms so that he had no choice but to look his lover in the eyes. "I'm still the nebbishy kid who used to get beaten up at school. The kid who wouldn't have made it through high school if it hadn't been for Mr. Pintzky, the drama teacher. The kid you knew from summer stock who was too shy to talk to you all those years ago. The fuckup who finally figured out what he was good at. It's me, Teddy! I'm still here. And I want you. More than you know. And even if you don't love me back it's okay, because I can wait as long as you want and—"
    "I love you, Lenny." He closed his eyes as Ted pulled him closer. "But what you did tonight…."
    "It may lose me some jobs," Len admitted. "But most of the people knocking on my door… they'll be there tomorrow. You'll be there tomorrow, won't you?"
    Ted sniffed. "Damn you! Yes, of course. You're making me cry. I never cry!"
    "Well, are you ready to go partying, then, baby?"
    "Are you serious?" Ted pulled away from Len and looked at him as if he'd lost his mind.
    "Entirely. Time for the world to meet the real Len Golden and his wonderful partner."
    Ted wanted to protest, but it was no use when Len smiled at him like that.
    "Okay." Ted imagined the press descending like piranhas, looking at him like he was dinner.
    "It'll be fine. I'll be with you every step of the way," Len said. "Let me handle this. You just stay close and I promise you'll be fine. I love you, remember?"
    And what , thought Ted with a wry shake of his head, can you possibly say to that? Except: "Cut. Print. That's a wrap!"
    THE END
    Author bio: In her last incarnation, Shira Anthony was a professional opera singer, performing roles in such operas as Tosca, I Pagliacci, and La Traviata, among others. She's given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle.
    Shira has