Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 8

book when he thought he was being clever or hiding what he didn't want others to see. Devin had a soft heart and a great body and a way of bringing a smile to Sam's face just by teasing him or trying to bring him into the action. Being his friend was sometimes like being caught up in a whirlwind, one that usually left Sam feeling flustered and winded. Of course, that could be put down to feelings he'd rather not put a name to, but Sam wouldn't dwell on that. The sad fact was, Dev acted like the idea of anything more intimate than beating Sam at chess three times a week would be punishment.
    Would it? Devin could be pushy and loud and aggravating— all the frustrating things that sometimes made him a less than ideal roommate. And there were definite drawbacks to beginning an intimate relationship with a roommate, especially with another person in the house. Lack of privacy, a shift in expectations for intimacy, not to mention what would happen if it all fell apart. Not that any of this mattered. The entire possibility was rendered moot because Devin couldn't see it happening.
    This is wrong , Sammy thought, allowing myself to feel this way again because Devin doesn't want me. Dr. Willis would call it a textbook case of reverse psychology. Sam thought he'd gotten over the crush a while ago, but as soon as Dev implied he didn't find Sam attractive, those old feelings of inadequacy made him want to prove to Devin that he was worth wanting. Which was childish. Silly. Not worth either of their time to prove something that Devin didn't care to know and Sammy knew wouldn't change anything. It was the principle of it.
    Well, fuck principles. Proving the point could only get Sam in trouble of the sort he didn't need.
    The problem was, now, the idea had been planted. Nothing he'd said or done before had gotten Dev to notice him that way, but that didn't mean it couldn't be done. After all, Sam hadn't tried the direct approach. That could end well or... it could end with him questioning how he'd developed anything as hopeless as a crush on someone who'd put him firmly in the platonic friend category. As much as he knew it was a bad idea, Sam was sure a large part of him had accepted the challenge. He only hoped the sane part of him could intervene before he did something he couldn't take back.
    Michael glanced over his shoulder and waved Sam up with one arm, shifting his gym bag higher on his shoulder. "It's okay if you actually walk with us to practice, you know."
    Sam smiled and walked a little faster, closing the distance quickly. "I figured Dev needed some private time with you, so he can seal the deal."
    "Uh no," Mike said. As Sam got closer, Michael grabbed him by the elbow and jerked him forward, until he walked between them, the three of them blocking the sidewalk. "I think this is a good time for the two of you to get to know each other."
    "You can't be serious," Devin said. "We've been sharing a house for two years. We know each other well enough."
    "I mean something a little deeper. Sam only knows that you leave your stinky socks in the bathroom all the time and you know he likes to cook spicy garlic chicken at two in the morning."
    "Hey, only when I'm studying," Sam said.
    "And when you want the house to smell like Chinese food for two days."
    Sam shrugged. "I opened the window and turned the fan on last time I cooked."
    Devin rolled his eyes. "Which just made Lee invite himself over to eat. Speaking of which," he looked around, scanning the sidewalk behind them, "Where is he, anyway? Is he going to be late for practice again?"
    Again, as if the one time Lee Ashby had been late for practice had been a world tragedy. Of course, to Devin, anything that affected practice was a big deal. But even before Lee had joined the rugby team the previous year, Sam had noticed Devin hadn't really taken to their tall, attractive neighbor. Something about having another hot guy around triggered his territorial instincts. A bartender at Club One, Devin's favorite hangout, Lee received more than his fair share of male attention. The only way for Devin to assert his dominance was to order Lee around at practice, often chastising him more than the other players.
    Of course, Lee took no notice of any of this. Sam doubted anyone else noticed the rather subtle attempt at an ongoing rivalry on Devin's part, but he noticed everything. If there was one thing his years of studying clinical psychology had taught him, it was that no detail was