Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 8

why you've been pissy since I left you alone with Sammy." Michael's eyebrows lifted in question. "Something happen there?"
    "No," Dev said quickly. Too quickly. He turned away from Michael's knowing smile. Pulling the shirt from his bag, he immediately removed the sweat-stained tee he'd worn to practice.
    "Woo! There's the show everyone pays to see."
    Devin looked over his shoulder to see Lee coming up fast behind him, Sam close on his heels. Turning away again, he slipped the dry shirt on and shoved the sweaty one to the bottom of his bag. "I'll see you later." Before Devin could take more than a couple of steps, Lee stopped him with a hand on his wrist.
    "Whoa. Where you going? I've got to ask you guys something," Lee said. "What are you doing tonight?"
    "I've got a date with Jessica," Mike said.
    Sammy shrugged. "Just the usual. Studying. Maybe a movie."
    Devin said nothing.
    "I'm working on some stuff tonight and I could really use everyone's input," Lee said. "Would you mind coming to my place, say around 11?"
    "That's really late," Sam said.
    Lee smiled, his pale gray eyes lighting on the other man. "Don't worry. I'll make it worth your while to stay up." He turned to Devin and his smile faltered a bit. Not surprising given the way Devin had been ordering him around for the past hour and a half. "How about it, Coach? A little after dinner hang out time at my place?"
    "I think... I have some stuff to do." Like not be around someone who always managed to get under his skin, no matter what kind of mood he was in. And Devin was definitely not in the mood to be a part of Lee's command audience. The sad part was, he couldn't bother to come up with a decent excuse. It probably wasn't the best idea to say he didn't care to watch the two flirt all night. Lee flirted with everyone, though it wasn't until the last couple of practices that Dev noticed Sam responding. Sam didn't seem quite as reserved when the fullback put his arm around him or teased him about his late night cooking habits. The two had begun spending more and more time together and if Mike wasn't going to the late night party, Devin had no wish to be the third wheel on their date.
    Sam frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. "I won't be going over until I'm finished studying. I'm sure you can find a little time to hang out."
    "We'll see," Devin said. He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. "I'm going to get some lunch. I'll see you guys later." He heard Sam ask him to wait up, but he took off down the sidewalk as if he hadn't, feeling every bit the heel as he did so. What did it matter if Sam and Mike both thought Dev could do better than meeting a different guy every weekend if that was what he wanted? It didn't. Not at all. However, it did matter that Sam had pegged him as a headcase, purposely keeping himself out of potential relationships because he was waiting for Mike to come around. As if the other man could see 'fool' stamped across Devin's forehead. Not that Sam had been far off the mark, but that didn't make any of what he'd said easier to hear.
    It wasn't that he expected Mike to magically come around one day, it was that Devin knew how good they could be together if his friend left himself open to the idea. He needed his best friend in his life. What better way to guarantee that wouldn't change than if they were together, in all ways? It had stopped mattering a long time ago that being with Michael was an unrealistic dream. What mattered was, in spite of all Devin's faults, he always had Michael's love and respect. If what Sam said was true, Dev had the sinking feeling the latter might be slipping out of his reach.
    ****
    "How was your lunch?" Sam continued to set up the chess board, not looking up when Devin sat across from him. Sam had showered after practice and changed into his favorite worn Nike shirt and faded cotton shorts, both of which molded to his small frame like a second skin. His short, dark hair stood up all over his head, frizzy from the oppressive heat.
    Devin dropped his gym bag to the floor and leaned back in his chair. No comment on how he'd run away from the park earlier? Good. Devin wasn't up for a soul-baring discussion.
    "It was all right," he answered after a moment. "I think it was a mistake for them to put that McDonald's on Broughton Street. I'm going to get fat from all the cheap, crappy food."
    Sam shrugged. Devin knew he'd signed the petition to keep the restaurant out of the popular downtown