Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 8

shopping area, but the draw of money to the street had been too tempting. The city was happy to have something in a long-vacant building and people on a budget could fill up on all the meat-like product and inexpensive meals the employees could produce. A win for everyone except those who wanted to preserve the integrity of the historical space and encourage tourists to support local businesses.
    "Cheap fast food tends to be bad for you," Sam said. "You know you can shop on a budget and still have decent, filling meals."
    "Yeah, but it's so much easier when someone else does the cooking."
    It was an old argument between them. Exasperating for Sam who, if he was not always health conscious, was at least self-sufficient in a kitchen. That was one of the things he and Lee had in common. Just about every time Devin saw them together outside of practice, one had cooked something he wanted the other to try. Lee had dinner at their house more often than Michael some weeks. That was another reason why Dev didn't understand Mike's statement that he and Sam would be good together. It was obvious, perhaps only to Devin, that Sam had far more in common with Lee and the interest between them definitely went both ways.
    Dev watched in silence as Sam finished setting up the black pieces on his side of the board. He tensed when Sam looked up at him and then back at the board quickly, focusing on what his first move would be. It was a different pawn every time, but Devin had learned to read most of his opening moves. A far left or right pawn meant he was going for a longer game, trying to draw out his opponent's most aggressive pieces. A center pawn meant he was going for a quicker game and wanted to give himself an advantage.
    Sam always had some kind of advantage, whether he knew it or not. Dev made it a point of remaining as silent as possible during their encounters because it was easier for Sam to distract and then beat his opponents if he kept up a steady stream of chatter. Dev's silent act served a different purpose. It gave Sam too much time to think, and then overthink, all of his moves and attempt to second-guess what Dev would do next. His hyperactive brain was his weakness most of the time. This time, though, Dev wished Sam would stay silent and not try to continue their conversation from earlier. It had been hard enough talking himself out of being upset over what Sam had shared with him. Devin wasn't sure he'd be able to keep his remaining bitterness to himself if Sam brought it up again. Maybe it'd be better if they didn't spend any time together at all.
    "I should jump in the shower. I probably smell like musty balls or something."
    "You're fine," Sam said, glancing up briefly again. "You didn't sweat nearly as much as everyone else." He paused, letting that comment hang in the air. "Unless you don't want to play with me." Sam looked up again, this time holding Devin's gaze with his until Dev looked away.
    "No, I've got a little time." Devin swallowed hard. Geez, the air in this room was suffocating. Was the AC out again?
    "So, nothing to do this afternoon." Sam's words were slow, drawn out as he wiggled his fingers over a pawn near the far left. "Nothing earth-shatteringly important?" He looked up again, eyebrows raised.
    God, was this all about him blowing Lee off? Of course. Wouldn't want to hurt his feelings, would we? "No, but I can find something to do if you'd rather not play. I thought I'd rest up before I go out later."
    "Ah," Sam said. He reached for a center pawn and moved it one space. "So you'd rather get wasted with some club rat than hang out with your friend and neighbor for one night."
    At least Sam had the foresight to refer to Lee as a neighbor and not one of Devin's friends. He wasn't up to pretending he wanted to be around Lee any more than Lee wanted him around. He probably only invited him over to be polite. After all, how would it look if he invited Mike and Sam, but left Devin out?
    "I think you know the answer to that." Devin picked up a black pawn and moved it.
    "I thought I knew some things about you, but I could be wrong. About a lot of things." Sam added that last comment in a mumble just before grabbing another pawn and shifting it to one space.
    "Like what?"
    Sam sighed and looked up from the board. "I thought you could handle what I had to say without having a hissy fit."
    "I didn't have a hissy fit." No. What he had was frustration that he couldn't change Mike's mind and, deep down,