Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

deep melodious sound rumbled right across the phone lines and through my whole body, stopping right at my dick.
    "Jesus, kid. Well, they do let you out of there once in a while, right? I was hoping we could meet up for lunch or something. It's been too damn long, Little A."
    We made plans to meet up the next day at a sports bar in San Diego that Chase swore had a casual atmosphere and great food. After I hung up the phone, I stared at it for a few minutes, embarrassed by my not keeping in touch with him and yet he acted like it was nothing, like we talked everyday.
    My dick clearly still responded to him. Jesus, my crush on him was years ago, and I'd had plenty of men since then. I really hadn't thought of him in that way anymore, and yet just the sound of his voice elicited some kind of Pavlovian response in my dick, jumping to attention like an eager puppy. Shaking my head, I locked my phone in my drawer and headed for a shower. Make that a cold shower.
    ****
    The next day, I had to admit that I was a little nervous as I drove to San Diego to meet Chase. It was silly, since we'd known each other for so long. But I hadn't seen him in person since Dad's funeral, almost three years ago.
    When I got to the restaurant he was already there. I saw him in a booth at the back of the room and started walking towards him. As soon as he saw me, he stood up, a big smile on his face.
    "Hey, Little... um, well. Wow, look at you! I guess you're not so little anymore are you?" He eyed me from head to toe. I was still as tall as I had been the last time he's seen me, but I stood a little straighter as habit from the Marine training and had packed on another fifteen pounds of muscle.
    I wasn't the only one who had changed. Chase was still taller and bigger than me but he had lost a little of the stockiness from football, and his hair was a little more neatly trimmed. He was always incredible looking before, but now he looked even better, if that was even possible. Thank God I'd worn my loosest jeans, 'cause my dick was going to have a hard time behaving itself.
    As we both started to sit down, Chase continued talking. "I mean it, you really look great, Adam. Not just physically but you really do look more confident and happier. Apparently being a Marine really agrees with you."
    "It does. I really love it."
    He chuckled and shook his head as he stared at me across the table. "Man, I never would have guessed in a million years when we were kids that you would end up a Marine."
    "'Cause I was such a wimpy, dweeby little kid?"
    "Nah, you were pretty tough for keeping up with Bobby and me. No, I just... I don't know, it just never seemed like something you would have been into. All that regimented structure."
    "Yeah, but that was exactly what I ended up needing. I needed to straighten my life up and make some sense of it, you know? And find some purpose."
    He studied me quietly and nodded. "Well, I'm glad you found what makes you happy."
    The waitress interrupted at that moment to take our orders. Chase said the burgers at this place were out of this world, so we both ordered burgers and fries and beer.
    "So, what's been up with you lately? Bobby said you left the football team on your own?" I asked, the minute the waitress left the table, before Chase could start a new conversation.
    Chase's expression was something between a smile and a grimace. "Well, for one thing, I was never going to be a first string star player in the NFL. I mean yeah, I still made some good money, but I didn't want to tear up my body for the rest of my life just for that. And the other reason— the real reason, actually," he paused and looked me in the eye. "I got tired of not being able to be who I really was. I didn't want to hide any more and yeah, I suppose I could have come out nationally, but frankly, football just wasn't that important to me, to deal with all the backlash and controversy and shit that would have went along with coming out."
    I nodded silently.
    "So what's it been like for you, Adam? I mean I know what it was like around professional football players and the comments got pretty homophobic at times. Not to mention having to dance around their questions or pretend I was dating some girl."
    I winced inwardly. As long as I was trying to avoid this topic, the discussion had naturally detoured there, like it or not.
    I sighed. "Honestly, Chase, it hasn't really been that big of a deal. I mean I've been moved around so much; I've never had any