Love Is Always Write Volume 4

we really do need to get Mariah and Alyssa will kick my ass if I involve her in this, so can we please get a move on?" Jory rubbed his arms again and turned away.
    Bob's thoughts were whirling. A game? He had been terrified out of his wits and risked his life walking across a five-story drop for a game? He could not trust himself to speak, so he only trailed after Jory, who had set off at a brisk pace.
    Alyssa's new place was several blocks away and uptown. The grade rose steeply past the docks and Bob's thighs and calves burned as he powered up the hill after Jory, unwillingly admiring the motion of Jory's hindquarters in the black jeans and the play of his muscles as he walked.
    Traffic was heavy on Third while they waited for the light. Bob tried not to pant with exertion. He was in good shape, but such a steep climb always left him gasping for breath. Jory did not even seem to be breathing hard. He glanced at Bob as they waited and then winced when a drop of water hit his cheek.
    "Of course it has to rain," Jory said in a wry tone.
    "Here," Bob said impulsively and unwound the scarf from around his neck. He stepped closer to Jory and wrapped it around his throat, looping it once and then straightening it with a quick tug on the ends. His knuckles grazed Jory's chest, and he felt his cheeks heat with a blush. He dared not meet Jory's eyes. The scarf was a soft grey color with a muted violet pattern and looked surprisingly stylish with Jory's blue shirt.
    Idiot , Bob said to himself, you're supposed to be pissed off at the guy, not admiring his ability to look like a fashion model .
    "Thanks," Jory said and curled his hands around the scarf near his throat. He lifted it and inhaled. "It's warm. And it smells like you."
    Their eyes locked, and Bob's blush darkened. His tongue felt caught in his throat, and he couldn't think of a single thing to say.
    "Green light," Jory added and then slipped around Bob and trotted across the street. Bob swallowed hard and followed.
    ****
    They banged on Alyssa's door. The apartment she shared with her boyfriend was in a more modern building, accessed through a keypad-triggered door at street level. Once upstairs, Bob fumbled in his pocket with the key. He wondered where Alyssa had gone, since she had not answered the buzzer. She hadn't been home earlier, either, when Bob had dropped off the cactus and borrowed one of Scott's old coats.
    "Anyone here?" Bob yelled as he opened the door. Silence greeted the question. "That's weird, they were—hey, it's gone."
    "What's gone?" Jory asked, looking around as if he hadn't seen the place before. Bob wondered how close Jory had been to Alyssa. Had they dated? It was a disturbing thought, but Bob liked to think Alyssa would have mentioned it. Plus she had been hung up on Scott for a long time.
    "The cactus. I put it right there when I came in before." Bob gestured toward the countertop.
    "So either she moved it or the boys took it," Jory replied. He dug a phone out of the front of his jeans, making Bob wonder if he had a special pocket to keep it from slipping out. Jory's slender finger skated across the screen and then his thumbs moved in a texting pattern.
    Bob wandered through the rest of the apartment to keep himself from staring at Jory. He checked the tabletops and bookshelves to see if Alyssa had moved the cactus, but it was nowhere to be found.
    "The boys are downstairs. Come on, Bobbin."
    Bob scowled at the name, but before he could comment, Jory was out the door. By the time Bob went out and locked it, Jory was down the hall standing before the elevators. The bell pinged and Jory got on, holding the door open with one hand. Bob hurried to join him.
    Jory grinned at him and pressed the button for the ground floor. Bob wished Jory wasn't so adorable. It was hard to be annoyed with him.
    "What's so special about the cactus, anyway?" Bob asked, feeling grouchy in contrast to Jory's cheerfulness.
    Jory shrugged and then lifted his hands to pull his hair back in a combing gesture. Bob gaped at him with a shock of recognition.
    "Oh my god. You're that barista!" Bob blurted out.
    Jory dropped his hair, which spilled back over his face again. He huffed it out of one eye with a puff of breath and cocked an eyebrow at Bob. " That barista?"
    "You always wear a hat, right? That's why I didn't recognize you."
    Jory grinned. "Yeah, they make us wear ugly hairnet things if we don't do something to keep our hair back. Mine isn't long enough to wear