Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

up then, going to check on his friend, but decided that maybe whatever was going on with Jimmy was something the man needed to work through on his own.
    Scott curled himself around the pillow Jimmy usually used and listened to the sound of the shower running down the hall, closed his eyes when he saw the shadow of his friend in his doorway. He didn't turn over to look at Jimmy, didn't say a word, but he pulled the covers back and scooted over to one side of his bed. Jimmy didn't hesitate, just padded softly across the floor and slid into bed behind Scott. Wrapping his arms tightly around the man, Jimmy pressed a soft kiss to the back of Scott's head, nestling close to him. They drifted off like that, in familiarity and warmth and in the comfort of knowing that some things can never change.
    ****
    "Wine tasting? And jazz."
    "Um. Experimental Jazz. Whatever that is."
    "Seriously?"
    Scott couldn't help but laugh at Jimmy's expression, the man crinkling his nose and pulling a face as if he'd just been asked to clean up dog shit with his bare hands. "I had the same reaction," he admitted, "I hope I hid it better…" he added with another laugh.
    "Rob's seduction technique is severely lacking if that's typical of your dates."
    "It's not…" Scott started to deny it and then couldn't. Thinking back over the last few weeks, he'd have to admit that-- while the company was nice-- the activities weren't exactly fun. Or even interesting. "Well, okay, it is pretty typical, but… You should come anyway. And bring one of your girls."
    "I don't think I know any girls that boring."
    "Get her liquored up first." Scott offered with a grin.
    "Not enough liquor in the world, bro."
    Walking up close to Jimmy, Scott wrapped his arm around the man's shoulder, beaming and batting his eyelashes just as Jimmy liked to do to him, "For me?"
    Rolling his eyes as if their roles had suddenly reversed, Jimmy patted Scott's head, "Anything for you, princess. Just don't invite me to go antiquing or some shit." Scott knew he shouldn't have glanced away because Jimmy let out a loud bark of laughter, "You've already gone antiquing, haven't you." he accused, expression triumphant.
    "He was looking for a birthday present for his mother, so that totally doesn't count."
    "Did you two pick out stuff you liked that wasn't right for her?" At the guilty look on Scott's face, Jimmy picked up his left hand, examining the fingers one by one.
    "What are you doing?"
    "Double checking I hadn't missed an engagement ring."
    "Asshole."
    "Antiquer."
    "That's not even a word." Scott told him, finally pulling away with a laugh, "And, I like antiques. I just don't feel the need to scrounge through dusty old second hand stores in forgotten old towns all day to find them. Or feel the need to furnish an entire house with them."
    "Does he know that your dream house has a game room complete with a wall size TV screen, foosball table, and a miniature golf course?"
    "That's your dream house."
    "Yeah, but that's when you agreed to be my roommate forever." Jimmy told him, waggling his eyebrows.
    "Only if you have an indoor pool too."
    "Deal."
    "So you'll go Friday night?"
    Sighing like it was an enormous sacrifice, Jimmy looked to the ceiling, "Fine, but I'm not subjecting a girl to that. I'd hate for anyone to think it was my idea of a good time."
    "Nobody that knows you for more than three minutes would think that."
    ****
    Cinching his belt in a notch and smoothing down the front of his dark jeans, Scott glanced at himself in the mirror. He wore a pink pinstripe button down under a light grey sweater and dress shoes that Rob had insisted he buy one afternoon. Scott hated the shoes, preferring sneakers even in formalwear, but, even he had to acknowledge that he looked a little more grown up in shiny black leather.
    Jimmy had decided to bring a date after all, telling Scott that he might as well get laid if he could shake the headache he was sure to have by the end of the night. He knew it was absurd, but he couldn't help a small pang of jealousy over who the man had asked out.
    Tina reminded Scott of a Barbie Doll with real breasts and a law degree. She was smart, funny, and looked like she'd been airbrushed to perfection. She was the kind of girl most mothers would dream of for a daughter-in-law and, if Scott were honest with himself, she was a good match for Jimmy. They'd only dated casually, but Scott could see it turning into something more if either of them decided they had