Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 9

really work. It, uh, ended about two years ago."
    She patted his arm. "Oh, I'm sorry dear. But I suppose for James' sake I shouldn't be. That probably makes me an awful person, but one does have to look out for one's family first." She grinned at him and Eli just swallowed. His freak-out-o-meter was going through the roof.
    They stopped in front of a man with Spock ears and a very realistic hair piece. James' mother patted him on the shoulder. "Carl, I want to introduce you to someone."
    James' dad turned and smiled at them. Eli could imagine James looking like this in thirty years or so, minus the Spock ears. "Carl, this is Eli, Dr. Zimmerman, who James and Abby told us about."
    James' dad smiled even wider and held out his hand, giving Eli a hearty handshake. "Ah, the good doctor who stitched up Dedrick." The man nudged an older man wearing a long white robe next to him. "Stan. Stan. This is the doctor who fixed up Dedrick. Dr. Zimmerman."
    The man in the robe smiled and shook Eli's hand, too. "Good job doc, good job. It looks fine."
    Eli found himself blinking dumbly. "Um, thanks." He cleared his throat. "I, uh, also helped with James' wrist." He felt compelled to get the guy some sympathy.
    Carl was waving his hand in the air. "Damn fool should never have been up on the ladder. It's a cat for chrissakes, it would come down when it was ready. Kids." He smiled again. "Hope you enjoy the party, Eli." He gave a little wink. "That tribble seems to have taken a liking to you." With a laugh he was off across the lawn with Stan discussing dilithium crystals.
    Once more Eli felt compelled to defend James. "It really could have been quite bad you know. He was lucky it was a minor break."
    James' mother patted his arm. "You're a sweetheart. I know. We were very upset at first, but he shouldn't give in to Abby or Dedrick. I swear, every time they say jump, he asks how high. He needs to get some interests of his own, something, or someone, to keep him busy and occupied with his own life." She stopped then and looked directly at him.
    "Oh, yeah, I suppose."
    She rolled her eyes. "I'm trying to be subtle here, Eli, since I don't know you that well, but really, he needs a man. Think about it." She pulled him forward. "Come, we'll get you a drink and find James. He should be suitably freaked out that I've had you to myself for this long. Tell him I asked about your annual income and condom preference."
    His mouth hanging open, Eli entered the house behind her to find James pacing the length of the kitchen. When he saw the shell-shocked look on Eli's face, he turned to the kitchen cabinets and started banging his head against them. James' mother just laughed some more and kept walking.
    James watched Eli walk up to him with trepidation. God only knew what his mother had said to the man, but from the look on Eli's face, it hadn't been good. Eli stopped in front of him. James cleared his throat. "Um, do you want to leave?"
    His eyes going wide, Eli looked startled. "No, of course not. Why?"
    "Well." James just kind of waved his hand towards the backyard.
    "Oh, no, it was fine. Weird, but fine."
    "You desperately want a cigarette though don't you?"
    "Yes. No. Well, whatever, I didn't bring them with me so I'll be fine."
    "Eli."
    "What?"
    "Fine?"
    Eli huffed. "Sometimes fine fits. I go long hours at the hospital without smoking, I'm not going to have a nicotine fit, and your mother was very nice. I'm just not used to... well, families I guess, or being grilled by someone's mother."
    "Oh, God." James grabbed two beers off the counter and pulled Eli by the hand outside. He found a quiet spot near the corner of the house and handed one of the beers to Eli. "So what did she say?"
    Eli smirked as he took a swallow of beer. "She said I'm to tell you she asked about my annual income and condom preference."
    James felt his face go hot with embarrassment and he closed his eyes momentarily. "Oh, shit. What did you say?"
    "I told her I'm quite capable of keeping you in the style to which you are accustomed, and ribbed for receiving. Anything will do for giving."
    His eyes wide, James coughed. "You didn't." Then he paused and frowned. "I don't have any ribbed."
    Eli's grin grew wicked and wide as he stepped into James' personal space. "Well, then..."
    James nodded mutely. His mind was already spinning off into a fantasy of Eli fucking him, somewhere, anywhere, even right here in the garden. Eli stepped even closer until their chests were