Sunday Snippet: A Kiss is Just a Kiss

Memorial Day weekend, which doubles as graduation weekend in my little burg, is my signal that summer will be arriving soon. Looking forward to outside activities and longer nights.

Watched some great season finales this week. Gotham pulled out all the stops and I'm really looking forward to seeing what next season has in store for the characters.

The Flash kind of left me reeling. I'm really not sure how I feel about Barry's final move or how it's going to impact the upcoming season. With Supergirl moving to the CW in the fall, it'll be interesting to see what kind of crossover action is in store for the DC shows.

Arrow did not disappoint. This is probably my favorite season finale to date. I'm definitely interested in seeing the next season and hope to touch on Oliver's time in Russia for the flashbacks. Absolutely looking forward to what I hope won't be the final season for Arrow, but who knows.

Orphan Black's episode came across as very chaotic and I kind of loved it. It reminded me of someone shaking a bottle of something fizzy then letting go to watch the contents spill out all over the place. I love how gray and blurry all the lines are and how dark the layers get with this show.

Wynonna Earp continues to make me happy. Need to watch this week's episode but I've been distracted by marathons of NCIS: LA and The X-Files this weekend.

Banshee's series finale actually turned out to be exactly what I hoped for. I mean exactly what I hoped for. I had a gut feeling about who killed Rebecca and the writers did not disappoint me in the least with how that aspect turned out. I'm also completely down with how Proctor's story ended, letting viewers kind of imagine his fate. I loved Kurt's resolution with Calvin and, honestly, for being such a late arrival as a character, I fell in love with his story. Brock's new attitude about being sheriff is awesome and, of course, Sugar's retirement is well-earned and thanks to Job. And speaking of the sassy transvestite, his sunset strut ended up being perfect and spot on. And I'm thrilled with where things are left with Hood and Carrie. Seriously, I loved, loved, loved the ending. A satisfying four seasons of a kick ass show.

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from A Kiss is Just a Kiss, a novella based on a prompt where on the Fourth of July weekend, one character teases the other about a spontaneous kiss shared when the other returned home from a stint in the military. The other character goes a little alpha on the first.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A kiss is just a kiss… except when it’s not. Betsy Roarke shares a brief lip-lock with Wash Mulligan and can't stop thinking about it. He's got her all twisted up and turned sideways and she aims to make him feel the same.

And a snippety peek…

Betsy Roarke closed the email and tilted her head to one side. "Wash is coming home." Her heart kicked hard in her chest and she rolled her eyes. "Geez, Bets, get a grip. It's been ten years. Your teenage crush might not be the prime specimen of hotness he was at twenty." Then again, he could be even more lethal in the looks department.

She wondered if she should tell Butch his son's flight would arrive in about three hours. "Yeah, probably not."

Wash's tersely worded message providing the details of his arrival time along with zero expectation of being met at the airport counted as a courtesy and nothing else. Betsy didn't have the heart to slash open a new wound in the relationship between Washburn and Butch Mulligan. The prodigal son coming home after a stint in the navy might just make life interesting if nothing else.

Betsy blew out a nervous breath and made a quick decision. Wash didn't expect his dad to pick him up from the airport, but she could certainly run out to get him. Grabbing her keys and phone case, which had her license and other essentials in it, she dashed to the door before she could change her mind. After ten years, Betsy needed to know why Wash, once the poster boy for following in his dad's footsteps, shocked everyone by running off without so much as a word.

Sliding behind the wheel of her car, she started the engine. Ten years. When Wash left, she'd been an awkward sixteen, stuck with raging hormones and unrequited feelings for Butch's son. Didn't help she'd moved in with them after her dad died and her mom skipped town for bigger and better things. Betsy wanted to hate the woman, but Marlene Roarke sent regular support checks until Betsy turned twenty-one. After that, Marlene asked Betsy to have a great life and forget she had a mom.

Nice one, Marlene.

Of course, Butch stepped up, just like he had when Betsy needed a home. Family didn't always mean blood and Betsy would never be in want for a place to stay or wonder if she had anyone to care about her. And for five years, she hadn't. Her mom might not want her, but Butch treated her like the daughter he never had. And Wash had no idea Betsy filled the void left when he joined the military, acting as Butch's right hand in running the business.

But Wash would find out soon.

Betsy couldn't resist sticking her nose in Mulligan family drama. Only this time, she had a much higher stake than before.

Backing out of the drive, she headed toward the airport. "Be ready, Wash. You're going to get quite the welcome home."

I'm excited about how this one is coming together. Betsy and Wash are so much fun to write.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin