Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

same day or night, regardless of who else was around.
    After another hour of television and a few beers, Ruby was yawning and stretching, sitting up from between the two men. "Okay, am I on the couch or one of your rooms this time?" she asked, already getting to her feet so she could get changed for bed, feeling the jetlag more than she would like to admit.
    "You can have my room, lovey, I'll bunk with Scott."
    "Figures." she said, rolling her eyes fondly as she leaned down to drop a kiss on Jimmy's forehead and then Scott's. "I was pissed the first time I woke up on this piece of shit couch and found your bed empty…"
    "His bed is always empty. He can't fit another person in there with him and he doesn't like to sleep alone."
    "Good excuse, I'll have to remember that." she told them, laughing as she gathered her things and headed for the bathroom.
    Jimmy waited until she had turned down the hall before flopping over and resting his head in Scott's lap. "You didn't even mention the fiancé thing."
    "Yeah, but neither did she, maybe she's not all that serious?"
    "Or maybe she's waiting to see if you say something…"
    "Christ, I don't even know what to tell her. I met Roger and he seems like a nice guy, but…"
    "But, she's still a baby, even if she talks like a sailor and runs around with an Abortion on demand and without apology button on her field jacket."
    "Exactly. And, like…I don't know, hell, I'm older than her and I don't feel ready for that kind of thing, ya know?"
    "Yeah, I hear ya." Scott started to shift under Jimmy, readying to get up, "I'm too tired to go to bed, Scott, carry me." Jimmy whined playfully, batting his long dark lashes at his friend.
    "Lose about fifty pounds and six inches, then ask me to do that for ya."
    " Hey , this is all muscle."
    "Which is heavier than fat, or haven't you gotten that far in your book learnin', doc?"
    Jimmy stuck his tongue out at Scott, but he sat up, groaning a little. "You're mean."
    "Tough love. You need anything outta your room before Ruby stakes her claim?"
    "Nah, I'm good."
    "You're wearing underwear this time?"
    "Yes, mother."
    "Don't ' yes, mother' me. That was an alarming way to wake up."
    "By alarming, I hope you mean tempting as hell." Jimmy told him, his grin firmly in place, straight white teeth and all, as he dropped his arm over Scott's shoulder and steered him towards the bedroom.
    "Yes, yes, tempting as hell. Lucky me to have a best friend that's God's gift. I can't imagine how I seem to forget it so often."
    "You just block it out so you don't have to pine for me."
    "That must be it." Scott answered dryly, shutting the door behind them as they made their way to bed. They both stripped off their clothes quickly, backs to each other. Scott caught a glance of Jimmy's bare shoulders as the man tossed his shirt to the floor, but he closed his eyes for a moment to erase the image.
    "I get to be the big spoon tonight." Jimmy told him, already slipping under the covers, plumping a pillow.
    "You always get to be the big spoon." Scott grumbled, pulling on a pair of sleep pants and cinching the waist in a little with the drawstring.
    "That's because I am bigger. You are, by nature, the little spoon. It's not my fault; blame genetics."
    "That's like saying because I'm short, I have to be a bottom." Scowling playfully, Scott climbed into bed, snuggling up with Jimmy.
    "No, you're a bottom because you like taking it up the ass."
    "How do you know?"
    "Thin walls. You think I don't hear you? ' Yes, God, fuck me harder ' tends to carry when the apartment is quiet…"
    Scott felt his face flush with the heat of embarrassment, "Oh, God."
    Jimmy's soft breath moved through Scott's hair, his laughter gentle as he tightened his arms around his friend. "It's alright, princess, better you than me."
    "Don't knock it till ya try it."
    "Fair point," Jimmy murmured, his tone thoughtful. "Hey, how come you never wanted to try anything with me?" he asked suddenly, whispering in the darkened room as the shadows from the lights outside played against the walls.
    "I…" Scott was lost for an answer for a moment, not sure how to respond. In truth, the first time he set eyes on Jimmy he wanted to be pressed up against a wall by the guy, but then they got to know each other, and he realized the man was a few notches past straight, but also the best friend he could have hoped for and anything more seemed like a useless fantasy compared to what he got from Jimmy every day.
    Turning