Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

trace of sarcasm in his voice.
    "Who was next?" Jimmy asked, seemingly out of the blue.
    "Next what? Just the one girl; I told ya that."
    "No, who'd you come out to next?"
    "Oh, Ruby and Ma the next day. Ruby just cocked her little head and smiled and said, 'Figured,' and Ma hugged me and told me she was proud of me for finally telling her."
    "That's it?"
    "I think she'd wondered for a while, I mean, yeah, I had a girlfriend and played football and baseball and all that, but I took ballroom dance and watched Golden Girl reruns with her too…"
    Feeling like it was safe to laugh again, Jimmy let himself, "That would've been a toss-up." he said, grinning again as they started the winding curves into the airport.
    "Not really; I got into sports for the locker room." Scott's phone buzzed in his pocket as he was trying to merge into the arrivals lane. "Can ya get that for me?" he asked, lifting his hips up a little so Jimmy could fit his hand into Scott's impossibly tight jean pocket.
    "Do I get to feel ya up too?" the other man teased as he dug out Scott's phone.
    "Maybe later, doll." Scott drawled, rolling his eyes as he scanned the signs for Ruby's airline.
    "It's baby sis, she says—and I quote—' You're late, asshole. I hope you're at least getting laid .' Want me to respond to that?" Jimmy asked, beaming and already thumbing a message back.
    "Oh, Christ, what did you say?"
    "I told her I was blowing you in the parking deck but we'd be there in a minute."
    "Asshole," Scott said under a laugh, rolling his eyes again.
    "So, what's the deal with her and this guy?"
    "Engaged and planning to tie the knot this summer. I think Ma's hoping I can talk her out of it while she's here."
    "She's not even twenty-one, I can't blame your mother."
    "Almost twenty-two, but Ma's a little gunshy about marriage in general, so…"
    "Well, marry a lying sack of shit and that's bound to happen."
    "Too true."
    Scott's phone buzzed again and Jimmy flipped it open without hesitation, laughing out loud after reading the message, "She says it's about damn time I gave you some. She also called me a prick tease."
    "You are a prick tease, bitch."
    "You love it. Also, I could say the same to you. You weren't even willing to give me a hand that one time…"
    "Oh, God, that again? You were shitfaced, falling over and about to pass out."
    "Yeah, see? I actually did need a hand."
    Scott pulled up to the lane for picking up arrivals and looked at Jimmy, "I'd never take advantage of you and you know it." He was totally serious, but Jimmy, of course, made a joke.
    Batting his eyelashes at Scott, the man asked, "Even if I begged you to, angel?"
    Scott was saved from having to respond when Ruby knocked on the window, the two men getting out and greeting her.
    ****
    "Fucking hell, I've been here over a half hour," Ruby told Jimmy as the man squeezed the air from her lungs, hugging her tightly. "Did you two have to get rid of last night's himbos and bimbos?" she asked, grinning against Jimmy's shoulder as he lifted her off the ground.
    "Yeah, but for once neither of the himbos were for Scott." Jimmy told her, setting her down again and ruffling her hair like she was still in grade school.
    Ruby could probably pass for grade school if she didn't open her mouth. Her petite frame only came to Scott's shoulder and somewhere in the middle of Jimmy's chest. Her blonde hair was a natural mass of ringlets that shined like spun gold when the sun hit. "Did you finally start playing for the other team or just switch hitting?" she asked, beaming up into Jimmy's face.
    "Neither. Until your brother makes an honest man outta me, I'm sticking with the ladies." Jimmy told her, laughing with her as he ran his hands down her sides, flirting and playful as always, "You look incredible, by the way."
    Narrowing his eyes, Scott reached a hand up and smacked Jimmy on the back of his head, "Hands off, Don Juan."
    Jimmy hopped back a little and reached to smooth his dark hair down where Scott had just tapped him, "Well, if I can't have you …"
    It was Ruby's turn to give him a playful slap then, "Did you just call me your second choice, shit head?"
    "I'll get your luggage." Jimmy said, laughing as he backed away from the two siblings.
    "Hello, gorgeous," Scott said with affection as he scooped his sister into his arms and swung her around. "God, it's been too long." he added, squeezing her good before setting her down again.
    "I didn't tell ya to move two thousand miles from