Dev looked down at the sand before dropping onto his towel with a giggle. "I heart you. Did you write that?"

"Hmm?"

"This." Dev looked at the message in the sand. "Did you do it?"

"No idea what you're talking about."

"It had to be you. There's no one else here."

"So why ask me if I wrote it?"

Dev laughed. "Because you made it clear you're not interested in falling in love with me. You just want to have a good time."

Dev's companion opened his eyes and smiled up at the younger man. "Guess I changed my mind."

"I'm dying of thirst," Dev said, walking into the condo and dramatically collapsing face first onto the sofa.

"Too hot for you, baby?" Tom asked with a laugh.

"Yes. Beer me," Dev said, his voice muffled by a cushion.

"Water might be better for you, you know," Tom teased.

"Don't make me hurt you, husband," Dev said with a growl, flipping over onto his back. "I'll withhold sexual favors from you if I don't have a Stella Artois in my hand in the next five seconds."

"I'm fairly sure that's an idle threat."

Dev pursed his lips. "Yeah, it is."

Dev stretches lazily and wraps a leg around Dean. "That was an awesome homecoming," he murmurs.

Dean nuzzles Dev's neck. "Considering how we left things, I'm surprised you were so accommodating."

"Bygones, sweetheart," Dev whispers into his ear. "Now, let's go for a swim. The Pacific's calling my name."

Dean raises his head from the beach chair. "Really? I swear it's telling you to stay right here with me."

"I can't stay," Dev says, slowly getting up. "After a swim, I've got to go get ready for a date." He touches Dean's cheek. "But I'll be back tonight. I promise."

"Hey, Mr. Hall, mind if I use your pool? Ours is being cleaned."

Dev's neighbor smiles at him from his lounge chair. "No, go right ahead."

"Thanks," Dev says, stripping off his clothes.

"Whoa, aren't you wearing trunks?"

Dev grins at him. "Nah, I'm going skinny dipping. That's okay, isn't it?"

"Uh...yeah...it's fine..."

There it is. That look Dev's been seeing in men's eyes since he was eleven and had that unexpected growth spurt. Six years later and he's an expert at manipulating men to get what he wants from them. He knows Hall's as good as his.

"She's gorgeous. And I love that dress."

Dev smirks at his friend, Carly, as they watch the red carpet coverage. "She's a beard."

"No, she's not. They're engaged."

"Oh, and gay actors never do things like get married," Dev snorts softly. "Trust me."

"How do you know? You didn't..."

Dev nods. "At one of Dean's parties. We ended up in a guest room. The man loves dick. Though I'm sure he was thinking of his pretty fiancee the whole time."

Carly's face falls. "Damn. How come all the hot ones are gay?"

"It's just the way of the world, sweetie."