Sunday Snippet: The Ex Files

It's been a long week with a lot going on. My dad turned eighty last Sunday and my oldest turned thirty-two. Yep. They have the same birthday. My brothers always give me a bunch a grief over getting my dad a grandson for his birthday.

We had a nice reception for my dad, and I got to reconnect with a lot of people I hadn't seen in a long time. So nice to catch up.

Work projects continue to keep me busy. I'm making good progress but often feel like I'm spinning my wheels because they're big projects that take a lot of back and forth. This isn't a complaint; it's more an observation.

Had a slow viewing week but did manage to get through my main group of shows. The backburner ones didn't make the cut this week.

Started out with Batman Beyond and enjoyed it. I have memories of this one where Terry's secret is exposed and he finally has something of an ally.

Watched another Classic Rugrats and both were new-to-me vignettes. Thoroughly enjoyed the shopping one and the one with the snow was fun also.

Enjoyed another episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. As a comfort show, the amazing cast is always ready to help me slide into a happy place. Even if there's a murder to solve.

Caught the season twelve finale of Death in Paradise. Good to see Neville's team work hard to clear him of the professor's death. Nice to see the dangling plot threads tied up also. Looking forward to starting thirteen this week.

Watched another episode of Poirot and rather enjoyed the mystery. A lot gets packed into the hour-long episodes and sometimes feels a little rushed.

Really enjoyed the episode of Elementary with the dual mysteries and some insight into the captain's daughter and how she operates.

Also watched what I think is the first season finale of Return to Paradise. I'm really enjoying this show.

I think I found the new show I'm going to start this week, but I'm not absolutely set. Stay tuned.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from The Ex Files, a novella that brings a couple together when they help each other out with their exes.

Here's the miniblurb:

Effie Stone helps Reed Rettos avoid an ugly scene with his ex-girlfriend and halfway falls for him over coffee. When an old flame contacts Effie, she asks Reed to return the favor. Reed hesitates, not sure he wants to get tangled up in more drama, but he's very smitten with Effie and agrees to make it clear she's got a new man in her life … even if only for a night.

And a snippety peek…

Effie made it halfway up the block before she groaned. "Way to go, Effie. Put a hot man on the spot, why don't you?" Then again, why stray from her standard modus operandi. "I see something or someone I like and go for it." John entered her life the exact same way.

And she could handle him, but he'd become more persistent and aggressive the last two times he'd dropped by. She didn't think he'd go off the rails, not completely. He had his team to think about, and bad press could end his career.

But … if she convinced John she'd moved on, maybe he'd finally jump back into the dating waters and forget about her.

She glanced upward to the sky. "Is that too much to ask for?" Sending out a query to the universe couldn't hurt either, right?

She didn't plan to look for anyone new after her breakup with John. Her commission work kept her busy and she might end up teaching a second art class next year. John seemed to want her to bend to his schedule and only his schedule.

She snorted. "Which doesn't work when I have projects to grade or murals to paint." Especially when she got in a groove and worked all night.

When John got a little too cranky about her commitments, she'd ended things. They'd kind of run their course anyway. They didn't have a lot in common—even if she did love hockey—and she wanted more than good sex.

She took the turn toward campus. "Would have been nice if he'd shown any kind of interest in what I do." But he hadn't.

And maybe the smokin' firefighter would end up being the same, taking her for granted. But her gut said he wouldn't. He didn't have a self-absorbed vibe.

And he didn't trash his ex-girlfriend when he had the opportunity. 

She could see herself falling for Reed. "It would very easy." Even being exhausted from lack of sleep didn't diminish his handsomeness.

Reaching the art building, she trotted up the steps, feeling a little better about putting her interest out there. And she didn't ignore the kernel of hope that he would call…

I'm having so much fun writing this one. Effie goes after what she wants but she also second-guesses herself a lot.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin