Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

part of a healthy diet…" Scott told her, laughing as he got out juice and the soy milk for Ruby, joining them.
    "Lots of people take charcoal caps every day." Jimmy offered helpfully, his mouth full, milk dripping down his chin.
    Scott leaned over and swiped the milk from Jimmy's face with a napkin, not even realizing he'd done it, but Ruby watched, her brow arching as she observed the two going through their morning rituals. Jimmy poured cereal for Scott, Scott poured orange juice into a glass for Jimmy who pulled out the morning newspaper and handed Scott the world news section while Jimmy rummaged for the sports, setting sale papers in the middle so they could look at them together.
    "Could you pass me the—" Scott didn't have to finish because Jimmy was already passing the little sugar bowl over to him without even looking up from the paper.
    "Sacramento lost by three last night." Jimmy announced, still scanning the paper.
    "How much did you lose?"
    "Only a twenty, but it's still annoying. I hate it when Gary wins; he's such an arrogant prick."
    "Hello pot, meet kettle…"
    Jimmy put his paper down to shoot Scott a glare for that, "There's a difference between some well-earned gloating and doing a chicken dance while sticking a twenty dollar bill to your forehead."
    Laughing, Scott conceded, "Fair enough. You're an arrogant prick when you win but Gary is a prize A jackass."
    "Yeah, alright, that sounds more accurate." Jimmy was laughing with him as he got up to put his own bowl and Scott's into the sink. "Who gets first shower?" he asked, rinsing the dishes and leaving them in the soapy water.
    "Had mine." Ruby told them, the first thing she'd said for several moments, still watching her brother and his best friend.
    "Just you and me, sweetheart." Jimmy told Scott, doing the worst Humphrey Bogart impression of all time. The man had come to stand behind Scott and was rubbing his shoulders lightly as he looked at the paper Scott still held.
    Scott's head dropped back, resting on Jimmy's stomach as he looked up at his friend, "Who're you supposed to be this morning? The Godfather?"
    Jimmy narrowed his eyes playfully, "Just for that, I'm not gonna let you share my shower."
    Scott tried to look wounded, but he laughed instead, "Just save me some hot water."
    "Not a chance. You want hot water, you better join me."
    "You just said I couldn't…"
    Jimmy considered for a moment, "And that is your punishment. A cold, lonely shower."
    Scott just shook his head and laughed as Jimmy gave a little pat to his shoulder and trotted off down the hall.
    Ruby watched her brother for another long moment, waiting for the sound of running water to come from down the hall. "Hey, um, Scott?"
    Setting his paper aside, Scott got up to get a cup of coffee, casting a curious glance at his sister.
    "Are you sure…I mean, I know Jimmy likes to…but…"
    "Spit it out Ruby, you're gonna develop a stammer."
    "Well, I mean…" She scrunched up her nose and tilted her head, as if trying to choose her words carefully then just blurted her question out, "You sure Jimmy's like, really really straight?"
    He had to laugh. Scott had been hearing that same question since the first time Jimmy pulled Scott down into his lap in the commons and planted a sloppy kiss to his cheek. For a while there he thought he'd never get another date as long as he hung out with Jimmy; everyone assuming they were a couple. "I'm pretty sure the entire cheer squad can't be wrong."
    "There are guys on your cheer squad…" Ruby pointed out, both of them laughing that time.
    "The female portion of our cheer team."
    Helping clean up the breakfast debacle, Ruby shook her head a little, looking a lot like her brother in the moment, "If you say so, but… Do you guys really take showers together? I mean…"
    Snorting a laugh, "Sometimes, but only if we're both in a hurry. It's not as hot as it sounds."
    "I just think he—"
    "He just likes to play around, and he likes to shock people. Hell, his own mother wonders. She even asked me the first time I met her."
    "Seriously?"
    "Yeah, she pulled me aside and said, 'I'm so glad my son has a friend like you now.' Emphasis on the word friend. Then she asked how long we'd been together. I had to swear up and down that it wasn't like that and we really weren't euphemism friends. I still don't think she fully believes me."
    "Well, I can't blame her, I mean…"
    As if Ruby had called Jimmy out to illustrate her point, the man sauntered in