Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

hair as a playful gesture and then wiping his hand on his pants.
    Ann interjected here, "Hey, guys, get you something?"
    "Sorry," Phillip said, turning back to her, "Can I have a triple shot espresso? No froth, please."
    "Same," answered Ian and Santos at the same time.
    "Long night, boys?" Phillip looked back and forth between them and realized they were holding hands.
    Everything clicked. Phillip glared at Ian and then at Santos. "Are you fucking kidding me? What about you and Jean Paul? And you and Jonathan? Has the world ended and no one told me?"
    At that point, Jean Paul walked up. "Something about the world ending? I wanna go to that, whatever it is." He said, glancing first at Phillip, who he hugged slightly, then turning toward Ian and Santos. "What is this?" He said glancing at their hands.
    Phillip began to back up, ready for Jean Paul to start swinging at the couple. But instead, Jean Paul grabbed Santos' hair and pulled him into a kiss, and then, did the same thing with Ian. Phillip had never seen anything that hot outside of a porno and his jeans started to get a little tighter. Ann nearly dropped their shots, as her mouth dropped, and she stared at the four of them.
    "I'm so sorry," Phillip mouthed to her, but she was so lost in this fantasy in front of her that she continued to stare until Jean Paul tapped on the counter.
    "Hey Ann, may I have an iced Chai, please?" He asked, glancing at the boys as they moved to a secluded corner of the shop.
    "Oh my God, Ann, I am so sorry." Leslie said, before Ann had even noticed that Leslie was standing behind the man. "I had no idea that everything was gonna come out like that."
    Jean Paul stood there, waiting for his drink looking at the girl who seemed to have come from nowhere. She was plucky, but gave off a strange jibe. She was oddly shaped, as her shoulders seemed closely attached to her ears, and she stood just over five feet.
    "I think Zach is a wonderful guy, I really do. I just don't think that marrying a gay guy is the right move for you," she said, all in one breath.
    And as Ann's face changed shades, and she fought to remain composed although it was obviously she was about to explode, Jean Paul spoke up. "I'm sorry, but who the fuck are you?"
    Leslie, shocked look on face, turned toward Jean Paul. "Excuse me?" she asked, almost whispering in rage.
    "Are you the Lord God, whom I've been worshipping all these years? Because you are absolutely not how I envisioned you. Who are you to fucking tell anyone who they should or shouldn't mate?"
    "Do I know you? Is there a reason you're talking to me right now?" she asked, snarling at him.
    "You may not know me, but I definitely know you. You're the type that shits all over everyone's happiness to divine your own. You're the fly in the ointment, Lilith of the Eden. You're the voice of reason, except that your reasoning is based on insanity. Go away, and leave this woman to her happiness. Shoo- shoo, little fly."
    "I'm here to talk to my friend. Not you." Leslie said simply, turning back to Ann, who was trying not to laugh.
    "I think he said it all. Goodbye, Leslie." Ann said, handing the drink to Jean Paul, and whispering, "It's on the house," as he handed her money.
    "Then keep it as an early wedding present." He winked and walked to his group.
    "Just so we're clear, I'm not coming to your wedding," Leslie said as she started to walk out of the shop.
    "Just so we're clear, you're uninvited." Ann snapped back.
    Ann moved around the corner and closed the door in Leslie's face and glanced at the clock, 9:55. "Gents, just so you know we close at 10 pm. But I've got to clean, so if you want to hang out, you can."
    "Oh, crap." All four started to stand and move.
    "What time does his flight get in?" Jean Paul asked.
    "Ten o'clock," Santos answered.
    And just as they reached for the doorknob, the door swung open and there stood Bradley, staring at Jean Paul.
    Ann, bounced toward him, and called out, "Brad!" as she grabbed him tight. And after that she glanced at Jean Paul, and asked, " Do you guys know each other? "
    CHAPTER 11 : The Eleventh Hour
    The first ambulance passed the church around noon, just as Zach and Ann were walking through the rehearsal. Three police cars followed soon after.
    Being a worry-wart, Zach said a quick prayer for whomever was involved, hoping and praying that they would survive what disaster had befallen them. He thought about his circle of friends and family and hoped that none of them