Sunday Snippet: Indecision

I'm happy to say I managed to pull off a surprise birthday celebration for my husband with the help of our daughter and a few other very good and awesome friends. I held it at the elementary school where he works as a custodian and surprisingly got everything and everyone in to the cafeteria without him finding out. I'm so happy we surprised him!

That party capped off a very busy week between trying to figure out what the weather is going to do from one moment to the next and work projects dropping from the sky to not feeling the greatest because of said weather. We're gearing up for some additional snow so that should be fun.

As mentioned, work projects are piling up and I'm happy to be busy. I have a good mix of genres at the moment and I enjoy the variety. I should have two finished up this week and two more starting. I'm excited and hope this trend continues!

Had an okay week of viewing. I managed to get through my usual schedule of shows and caught a little more of the Olympics. I'm not a rabid fan, but I do enjoy amazing athletes compete for their countries.

Started the week with Midsomer Murders and finished up season 25. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this season. The writing kind of blew me away and the humorous moments made me happy. More of this please!

Caught the premiere episode of Foyle's War season seven and it's one I remembered. I do miss the sergeant and kind of hope he ends up showing up again.

Finished season twenty-eight of Silent Witness and I love ending on the wedding on Jack and Nikki with the hint of where they'll be going in the next season. The new team is amazing, and I'm thrilled they'll be sticking around.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot and loved how Hastings and Poirot were concerned about Miss Lemon but ended up not having to be because of a cat.

Elementary had another great episode. Kind of fun to see Sherlock wake Joan up with a violin. I also think Sherlock nudging Gregson to get married actually made sense. Sherlock's awkwardness always makes me smile.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and it isn't the last one of the series. I have several more to watch before having to decide which show to pick up next.

Caught another episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks and rather enjoyed the new vibe between the characters. I have to admit, I'm kind of meh about the Ransom character. We'll see if he grows on me the way Beckett did.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Indecision, a new adult novella that explores making new friends and potentially more in college.

Here's the miniblurb:

Shandi Rhobles meets Forrest Cox during her first semester of college. By their second week in, they're flirty friends but Shandi shies away from a relationship. When their semester ends, Forrest is tired of waiting in the wings and Shandi realizes her indecision comes with a price.

And a snippety peek…

Forrest ended up in Finney and found his room without too much trouble. "Number 209." He pushed the door open and discovered it empty. "Wonder if I'll have a roommate?" He'd checked no preference when he'd filled out the living accommodation form.

The two beds and desks along with two dressers suggested he would be sharing.

Dumping his backpack on one of the beds, he nodded. He liked the space. Finney hall had a recent renovation, and the dorm rooms didn't completely look like prison cells. With five stories, he appreciated being on the second level. Based on the welcome packet, this coed hall had single-sex bathrooms with showers on alternating floors … with the exception of the third that had the student lounge equipped with televisions, game tables, and microwave stations.

Glancing at the door, his gaze narrowed. Two index-card sized nameplates were attached to the inside. One had Forrest's name and the other had Benji Sutton.

He nodded. "Guess I do have a roommate." Should he wait until the guy showed up or just pick a side and start unpacking?

He opted to at least get all his stuff and drag it up and into the space.

Of course, everyone else had to do the same thing, which meant utter chaos in the hallways. At least most of his fellow dormmates were in good spirits and cooperating with each other. He made his way down the stairs and jogged out to his car to start on the first load.

An hour later, after three treks up and down the steps, he had the last of his car unloaded and pondered whether he should make one or two trips.

He huffed out a breath. "Ugh. Gonna do it in one. Can't deal with fighting my way up the steps two more times." He thought about taking the elevator, but the line put that idea out of his head.

He grabbed the set of plastic drawers that would fit under his bed and balanced the laundry basket filled with towels and bedding on top. He had two bags filled with toiletries in one and a six pack of soda with snacks in the other. He put the bags over his wrists then picked up the other two items. The basket listed a little to the left and he adjusted his grip and started forward. A horn beeped and he stopped short, the basket sliding precariously close to the edge.

He quickly backed up. "Shit." He moved too fast and started to lose his hold on the drawers.

"Whoa! I got you." Two hands snagged the laundry bin and removed it before it fell. "Oh! Hi again."

Forrest blinked in surprise, happy to see the girl he'd collided with earlier. "Hey … Shandi, right?" He got a better handle on the drawers. "Thanks for the assist. Are you in Finney also?" He fell into step beside her and they crossed the parking lot.

She nodded. "Yeah, fourth floor. Which is a haul today, but the view is actually pretty great. I can see most of the campus from my window." Holding the door open, she waited for him to walk through before following him up the steps.

He gave a low whistle. "Glad to say I'm on the next level up. Did you wait in line for the elevators?" He nudged past another student on their way down the stairs.

Shandi laughed. "No way. I brought the bare essentials up for now. I plan to wait until it's almost dark before I start dragging the rest of my stuff up." Her eyebrows arched. "Which room are you in?"

He tilted his chin toward the left. "Two oh nine. Door should be unlocked." He'd brought his tech stuff—television, laptop, charging station, and minifridge—up on the first trip.

Shandi twisted the knob but paused. "Should I knock? Do you have a roommate?"

Forrest shook his head. "I'm supposed to, but they haven't arrived yet." He guessed Benji could've come while he'd been out, but kind of doubted it.

Shandi pushed the heavy wood slab open and held it for Forrest. He ducked inside the room and quickly set the drawers down and got rid of the bags. He reached for the basket. Shandi handed it over and glanced around the space.

One side looked like a bomb went off and the other still had the pristine shine of being unoccupied.

Shandi's lips curved. "Looks a lot like mine … except I have a single." She met his gaze. "I'm not sure if that means I'm lucky or not."

Forrest shrugged. "I didn't really have a preference. I have siblings so I'm used to sharing space." He wouldn't mind having the solitude but figured anyone aside from his brothers could be fun to have around.

Shandi laughed. "Same. Not sure I'll know what to do with all the quiet time I'll have."

Forrest liked her sense of humor and hoped to get to know her better. She had striking features, something his mom always said when classic beauty didn't fit but the attractiveness level pinged hard. And it wailed like a siren for him right now.

Scrambling around for something to say, an idea popped into his head. "Can you use some help bringing your stuff in later?"

Her eyes widened. "Oh, you don't have to do that."

He grinned. "I know. But stop by if you can use some … or if you just want some company while trekking back and forth."

She tilted her head to one side. "I just might do that." Turning, she headed for the door. "No worries if you're not here, though." Stepping out into the hallway, she gave him a quick wave.

He lifted his chin. "Okay."

He would definitely be around for sure.

This one is in the beginning stages and I'm excited to see where it goes. I love these characters.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Hot Water

Happy Solstice season! I did start to get in the spirit last week and I'm kind of feeling better about things in general. We're very low-key for holiday celebrations anyway. The good news is because I finally got some shopping done, I had to do a cleanout of my space, which is a very good thing. Got those urges started again and I also did more clearing and decluttering in other areas. Yay!

Ohio is still trying to figure out what it wants to do with the weather. We got a little more snow and a bunch of rain then plummeting temps. Thankfully, we also had a ton of wind before the drop, so we didn't have icy conditions. Whew!

Had a decent work week. I finished up some last-minute changes on a proofread, completed a copy edit, and had a client meeting over Zoom. I'm getting into some deep edits on the memoir and getting ready to start a new proofread and developmental edit over the holiday break.

I had an okay viewing week. I didn't make it through the bulk of my shows, but I'm kind of needing a brief break. I'm changing things up a little for the holiday season.

I did start over with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the rewatch. There aren't many episodes left before I'll be moving on to a new show.

I also got a partial episode of Foyle's War in. Since this season's episodes run a little longer, I might break them up into two parts. The Americans have finally arrived in England and it's going about as good as can be expected … which isn't great.

I started a new season of Silent Witness and part one ended up being very interesting. I really wish we got a little more info on where the other characters ended up going. Jack's niece in particular. The new head of the Lylle is kind of different and I like that. And it's always good to see Sean Pertwee show up in any show.

Watched another episode of Poirot and enjoyed the intrigue. Also fun to see super young actors that have gone on to starring roles in their own series. In a weird twist of fate, the actor playing Japp had a guest starring role in the episode of Foyle's War.

Also did a minimarathon of the holiday episodes of Death in Paradise. Both featured Neville. I might dive back into the new inspector's episode this week.

I also plan to watch Madame Blanc's holiday special this week. Stay tuned for more on that one.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Hot Water, a novella that brings a couple together over the lack of hot water.

Here's the miniblurb:

When Demi Strange and Nathan Jordan work together at a summer camp, things get heated. The campers use up the water ration, leaving Demi to borrow Nathan's shower and it lands her in more than hot water.

And a snippety peek…

Demi spent the night reliving the lip-lock with Nate. "For a short kiss … it packed a punch." Which didn't really surprise her.

He hadn't earned his reputation based off nothing.

By morning, she waffled between jumping in with both feet and holding back a little to test the waters. She smirked because he'd offered the use of his shower and didn't that fit the theme running in her head and heart right now? What did she want?

Heading for the craft shack, she let her imagination run wild. "I want a chance at something great." But if they only had a fling, would it hurt to have a spectacular memory if they didn't pursue a full relationship?

She weighed the idea in her heart because her brain kept dancing a jig in favor of whatever happened.

Entering the craft shack, she found Nate sitting at a table with popsicle sticks and chenille stems. He held two of the sticks down while one of the boys glued green fuzzy stems to them. Nate glanced up and sent her a wide smile.

Demi grinned and strolled over to the table. "What're you making, Jones?"

The kid didn't look up from his creation. "A monster. It's going to be green and yellow with big red eyes and a black tail." He spread another line of glue on two more sticks.

Nate scrunched his face up. "Are you going for scary or cute?"

Jones shrugged. "I'm going for whatever it wants to be." He lifted his gaze to Nate. "You gotta trust the process, you know?" He added another stick placed vertically and squeezed more glue out.

Nate laughed. "Sage words. Trust the process." He wiped his hands on a wet rag. "You good here? I wanna go check out the others."

Jones bobbed his head. "Yeah. Thanks for getting me started." Grabbing several more stems and sticks, he kept on creating.

Nate got up and met Demi on the other side of the table. "It's fun to see what they come up with when they don't have a kit or instructions to follow." He nodded toward the tables in the back. "Let's see what everyone else is doing."

Demi fell into step beside him and they did a quick tour around the room. By the time they finished, two other counselors came back from their break and took over supervision. Nate grabbed two bottles of water and headed out the back exit.

He settled on a bench behind the building and twisted off the cap of his water. Demi sat beside him and followed suit. Once they'd drained the liquid, they stashed the bottles in the recycling bin.

Nate kicked back, leaning against the siding. "Would I be an ass to assume you came to find me?" His brows arched.

Demi shook her head. "I could say yes, but I did come to find you. So, no." Her lips quirked.

Nate's face lit up. "Okay. Good. That's good." He chuckled. "I'm making this weird, and I don't want to." He lifted one shoulder. "I'm not usually this awkward."

Oddly touched, Demi grabbed his hand. "Awkward isn't bad if it's an honest thing." She laced their fingers together. "It's actually kind of nice." Did that make her sound stupid?

Nate shifted his position and draped an arm around her shoulders. "Nice. I like that." He tilted her chin up. "I want to kiss you again. Is that okay?"

Instead of answering, she meshed her lips with his. A groan escaped him when she slid her tongue past his teeth and took the embrace deeper. Her fingers inched under his camp polo shirt and brushed along his abdomen.

Nate hauled her close, urging her to straddle his thighs. She complied and … holy wow … his arousal became very evident. She moaned against his mouth, and he brought his hands up to cup her breasts through her T-shirt.

Her nipples responded, perking up when his thumbs brushed over them. She rocked against his hard-on, tingling awareness coursing through her veins. She wanted to get closer, but an insistent vibration in her back pocket pulled her back to reality.

Easing away from Nate, she dragged her phone out and silenced the alarm notification.

Resting her forehead against his, she apologized. "Terrible timing. I have to head back to get the girls from their swimming session." She brushed her lips over his again.

Nate huffed out a breath. "Right. Yeah. You shouldn't make them wait." He let go of her hips and let her slide off his lap.

She met his gaze. "This…" Waving between them, she smiled. "Was kind of amazing." Turning, she glanced back. "See you later."

She fanned herself on the way to meet with her girls. Hopefully, she'd cool down before she gathered them for their afternoon hike. If not, a cold shower might not be a bad thing later.

I'm having a lot of fun with this one. I love Nate and Demi and the vibe they have.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Gone Fishing

Hello October and welcome spooky season! I love this month for a lot of reasons. The spooky vibe being close to the top of the list, but it's quickly followed by cooler weather—usually—and that means it's soup weather! I love making soup on a cool day and savoring it with crusty breads, grilled cheese, and other creative toppings.

I'm through the worst of the yuck and back to almost normal. Of course, that means something else went sideways. In my case, our older doggo ended up with an emergency trip to the vet because her congestion got so bad her eye swelled up. She's on a steroid and broad-spectrum antibiotic and already seems to be much better already.

I'm slowly getting caught up on my work projects. I need to review the details of two new ones now that my brain isn't in sludge mode. I'm pretty excited about my last quarter of work projects for 2025.

Had an okay viewing week. I didn't quite make it through the whole slate of shows. Lower Decks and Reacher didn't make this week's window.

I did watch another episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I'm working my way through season two and I'm enjoying the conflict and tension because it's a real-life quandary. I love Mac for being a voice of reason.

Caught another Foyle's War episode and this is one I'd forgotten. It's so weird how a lot of the themes of this show, which is twenty-some odd years old, are so very prevalent today. Humans are slow learners sometimes.

Death in Paradise ended up being very enjoyable. I'm really not sure about this new police commissioner other than he's way too smarmy and utter unlikable.

Poirot entertained with a way back episode showing how Hastings and Poirot kind of got their start together. Very much enjoyed this one.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed the twisty turns it took. Also loved Joan solving the neighbor issue. Love to see that kind of stuff.

Caught another Batman Beyond and it's one I didn't really remember either. Quite enjoyed the rewatch.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Gone Fishing, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

A year after college graduation, Quaille Ramsey and Franz Herman get together with a group of their friends for a summer vacation at a state park. Quaille recently broke up with a long-time boyfriend and Franz is ready to make a move, something he never took a chance on during school. Quaille isn't quite ready for something serious but she definitely sees possibilities for the future with Franz.

And a snippety peek…

Franz walked out to the dock and dove into the clear water of the lake. With a lazy crawl, he swam to the floating pier and pulled himself up onto the boarded surface. Swiping a hand over his eyes, he gazed back toward the cabins.

"I can't believe Quaille decided to come this year." About damn time.

Having her here made him happy. She needed to find her groove again, and hopefully he'd get to make his move. Finally.

After too many years of waiting and wondering from afar.

Their friend group had been doing the state park summer vacation thing for all four years of undergrad. Quaille missed the first year due to a job commitment and the last three because her boyfriend didn't see the appeal of bonding with anyone but Quaille.

Franz snorted. "His loss." Franz couldn't ask for a better group of friends.

Especially Caitlyn Mitchell, who came through by talking Quaille into—okay, more like insisting—joining them for a fun-filled extravaganza before heading off for after-grad careers. So far, none of their group of eight had anything set in stone. Franz had two interviews scheduled with local news organizations. Caitlyn had a trial offer with a hospital. Quaille would be headed for a local theater before deciding if she wanted to pursue a master's. Trey and Wayne were going to try their luck in a neighboring state for news radio. Jazz and Miranda had contracts for costuming three plays through the end of the year. Last but not least, Chet decided to go the per diem route with a family practice until he decided what he wanted to get into.

All in all, eight people on the cusp of the next step of life.

Leaning back on his elbows, Franz chuckled. "And we're all equal parts confident and clueless." Not the best combination … but having friends to keep each other honest helped.

Trey and Caitlyn were the ringleaders—or instigators, depending on one's point of view. They organized group events, set up study sessions for finals, and always had two teams for quiz nights on campus. Supposedly, they had some kind of camp games planned for their two-week vacation at the state park.

Franz gently kicked his feet in the water. "Should be interesting if we include water battles." Fishing, swimming, and maybe kayaking … a mix of all three would keep all of them on their toes.

Did Quaille do any of the trio? Franz honestly didn't know. She could end up being a secret weapon. He could build on her fish go comment earlier. Find out if she could hold her own with a rod and reel.

He nodded. "If she's terrible at fishing, I can bolster the team." He grinned. "But if she's good … we'll trounce the competition."

Either way, it would be fun to find out.

I only have two scenes written for this one, but I'm excited to see where things go with Franz and Quaille.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Academic Challenge

Well, had a better week than the last one. Still not completely tip-top but feeling way better with the worst of the cold finally over. We got more snow this week, but warmer temperatures are around the corner. At least for a few days.

I got caught up on my work projects and lined up a potential new one. I'll be starting a new copy edit on one of my favorite mystery series and continuing my read through on the nonfiction project.

I'm setting up a storefront for Tip Jar Shorts. I'm kind of doing things a bit backward, but the more I thought about it, the more I figured a storefront would lend legitimacy to this endeavor. I wanted to keep things super simple and offer various methods of payment and I might still be able to do that, but I also thought it would be best to have immediate access to a downloadable file instead of waiting on a delivery to an inbox. We'll see which version works out the best.

Had an okay week of viewing. I didn't make a full cycle through of my shows, but I did get the back half watched. And I might be adding one additional show to the roster. I'll let everyone know if that happens.

Watched another episode of Elementary and rather enjoyed this one. Sherlock's dynamic with Joan is different and getting more settled. And Kitty is fitting in with both in ways I didn't expect.

Also caught an episode of Batman Beyond. I remembered this one and enjoyed it. I did forget the interaction with Terry and his brother so that was a nice reminder.

Enjoyed another new-to-me episode of Classic Rugrats. I sometimes wish Nickelodeon had continued with the plans for the pre-school show and added more of All Grown Up. The nostalgia is strong with this franchise. Instead, Spongebob and other weird stuff took off.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Academic Challenge, a novella where the characters probably shouldn't try to date but end up doing so.

Here's the miniblurb:

Holly Patz, the newest TA for Professor Sam Ingali, wants to enjoy the experience. But when rumors start swirling about her relationship with the handsome instructor, she has to decide whether to stick around and become his latest conquest or turn the odds in her favor.

And a snippety peek…

Sam spied Holly enter the auditorium toward the end of his lecture.

He didn't break his speech even when his ire sparked. She had his laptop tucked under her arm while she hurried to the front row, taking a seat at the far end. He barely spared her a glance and continued speaking to finish his final point.

He ended with a nod toward the class. "That's it for today. Finish up your assignments and have them uploaded for grading before our next session." He waited until the students started for the exit then pinned Holly with a hard glare. "My office. Now." Not waiting for a response, he left the podium and left through the side door leading to the corridor.

He gave full rein to his anger. And let disappointment crowd in also. He couldn't believe she strolled into class during the last ten minutes.

Unlocking his door, he left it cracked then crossed to his desk.

Holly entered and set his laptop on the desk. "What's your problem?" Her eyes were narrowed and her head tilted to one side.

Sam snarled. "You wander in late—with my notes—and you're asking me what my problem is?" He flung a hand out. "Just because we're having sex and you're not a morning person, you can't just skip the class, especially when you're supposed to have everything ready to go for me."

Holly arched her brows. "Just because we're having sex?" She glanced toward the desk and reached out, snagging his phone from the right side. "If you bothered to check your voice mail and your texts, you'd know why I couldn't be here to have everything ready to go." She unlocked his phone, found the voice mail icon, and played the message she left about the accident she got stuck behind.

Then she showed him the string of texts she'd sent.

Sam closed his eyes. "Damn."

Holly shoved the phone at him. "Why you think I'd pick now to start pulling the sex card, I have no idea. But … if your opinion of me is really that low, last night can be the final time we ever hook up." She shook her head. "I won't put up with that kind of bullshit. I'm a TA, Sam, not a slave." With a last look in his direction, she exited his office, slamming the door behind her.

Sam's shoulders slumped. "Fuck. I'm an asshole." He definitely owed her an apology.

And an explanation. Except … he couldn't say exactly why he'd got so pissed off at her.

Okay, not completely true. He'd come to rely on her, and she fit so well with him, understanding his quirks and idiosyncrasies. Almost too much so and sometimes he wondered if they were too good together to be true.

Snorting, he ran a hand through his hair. "And now I've gotta figure out how to fix this." Starting with not acting like a dickhead anymore.

Pulling his chair out, he settled behind the desk and opened his laptop. She had an art history class for the next two hours. Time enough for him to get his shit together and hope like hell she'd let him apologize and explain his asinine behavior.

Which meant hitting pause for a moment to examine why he jumped to a stupid conclusion. The answer didn't take long to find. His past mistakes mixing professional and personal with colleagues manifested in a big way and he took the easy road and blamed Holly.

He closed his eyes. "Shit. This is a me problem." One he needed to resolve if he wanted a chance with her. "And I do."

He also had the beginnings of an idea how he wanted to make amends…

I like how this story is coming together. Sam is tricky to get a handle on sometimes, but he's fun to write.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: We Shouldn't

It's been a wild week. Between work and other commitments, I've been frazzled. My sleep schedule is all over the map and I'm not enjoying the fits and starts of trying to get rest. But … I'll adjust. Hopefully soon.

Our weather has been all over the place. We had a sixty-degree day followed by snow and thirty-four degrees. The day after Thanksgiving is supposed to be in the upper teens for the high. I'm side-eyeing Mother Nature right now.

Work projects are coming in and I think I'm booked through the end of the year. I'm pleased because December can be a sketchy month sometimes. I don't mind downtime, but I'm definitely not prepared to have limited income this year.

Had a terrible week of viewing. Too many distractions and said lack of sleep kept me from getting much watched.

I did catch an episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder and kind of enjoyed it. Some familiar faces as guest stars this week. The mystery was a little lackluster but a good episode nonetheless.

I also caught some marathons of Midsomer Murders. I kind of love the streaming twenty-four hours of one show channels. It's fun to set a favorite and have a go-to comfort watch whenever I want.

I'm also looking at a few new shows but haven't decided which ones I want to pick up. I'm also hoping to get back to my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. My viewing partner will help determine if that's going to happen. So much more fun to watch with someone else who loves the show as much as I do.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from We Shouldn't, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

Sutton Perry and Lyle McCormack collide during an off-campus party, overindulge with too much partying, and end up back at Sutton's dorm. When they wake up the next day, Sutton swears off alcohol and the weird but promising start with Lyle ends pretty much before it begins … but a series of misadventures keeps them in orbit around each other and Lyle soon pulls out all the stops to win Sutton over.

And a snippety peek…

Sutton Perry let her roommate drag her up the steps to the Library Rave. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this." She didn't really do the rave scene.

But two years of college and zero parties made her feel like she missed out on something important.

Haley Jacobs turned and gave Sutton a smirk. "Trust me, Sutts, you're going to have a good time." She shimmied her hips and pranced into the building.

Sutton rolled her eyes. "You're calling me Sutts again? I'm not down with that nickname." Then again, Haley shortened everyone's name.

Or she came up with something cutesie if the name couldn't be chopped down.

Sutton entered the dark foyer of the old library. Neon-bright lights flickered and flashed, lighting the path to the main room. Thumping bass lines and electronic beats burst out in loud volume when Haley opened the double doors. She put her arms over her head and waved them back and forth, found the beat, and literally danced over to a table surrounded by a bunch of guys.

Sutton followed, her chin bobbing along to the beat of the music. She didn't sashay around the floor, mainly because it took her eyes a few moments to adjust to the strobe effect of the lights. Except they didn't really get used to the rapid pulse…

Evidenced by Sutton falling up against one of the guys at the high-top. Mortified, she opened her mouth to apologize, but the words died in her throat. The guy took her breath away. Dreamy dark eyes, tousled hair that could use a trim, and at least a day of scruff on his face.

He wrapped an arm around her and hauled her closer to the table. "Hey. Here. Hold on to the edge. The strobes are sick on this song." Snagging a shot glass and filling it with flavored vodka, he put the drink in front of her. "Name's Lyle. Nice to meet you." He lifted his chin toward Haley. "You're with Haley?" He poured a shot for himself.

Sutton gave a nod. "I'm Sutton. Yeah, I came with Haley." Did her roommate know everyone on campus?

Lyle clinked his glass to hers. "Not sure if I should congratulate you or offer my condolences. Haley's a force to reckon with." He tilted the glass and downed the alcohol.

Sutton laughed. "She's my roommate. Better go with congratulations." She picked the shot up and quickly drank it down.

Lyle flashed a grin. "Welcome to the Tuesday night shenanigans, Sutton. You're in for a fun time." He topped her glass up again.

Sutton lifted her shot. "Cheers!" She caught Haley's eye, and her roommate gave Sutton a wide smile and a thumbs-up.

Sutton's lips quirked and she chugged the vodka. The smooth burn traveled down her throat and warm heat spread outward, relaxing the tension from her shoulders. Squinting a little, she read the label of the bottle. Whipped cream. No wonder it tasted so good.

She might have found her new favorite drink along with a very hot new friend.

Exactly what she'd been looking for.

I have no idea where this one is going but I do have a rough outline. My main characters are kind of rolling their eyes right now so who knows if they'll stick to the planned itinerary.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Transference

Man. Whatever alignment the planets are in has been wrecking things in my house lately. After the washing machine saga, our coffeemaker took a crap. It's less than a year old. Seriously … not the norm. But the good news is a new washer and coffeemaker should arrive sometime this week barring any other global server outages.

Had a super busy work week. Finished the holiday manuscript and received a mystery and a romance for copy edit. Picked back up with a novella I've been working on with an author for a while now and enjoying getting back into the groove of the book. Also had an author reach out about a new twist on a previous project. Really fun week!

I didn't get a lot of screentime this week, but I watched a few shows. I'm in a weird place with viewing. I want to watch stuff, but my brain isn't settled on exactly what. Kind of want to binge something with a lot of seasons for a while to see if that will reset the needle.

I loved the episode of My Life Is Murder. Actually really twisty with an interesting outcome. Once again, Madison shined. I love that character.

Caught another Best in Paradise. This one featured the farewell to Martha, which ended up being so funny and sad at the same time. Excellent episode.

Watched another Death in Paradise with the introduction of the new DS. Not completely sure if I like her or not. Stay tuned.

Started an episode of Elementary but struggled to stay focused so I'll finish it up this week.

And that's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Transference, a novella that explores what might have been in a different way.

Here's the miniblurb:

Leslie Karr is packing her meager belongings to move out of her college apartment and finds a letter from Granger Unger explaining why their night of shared grief over the loss of his brother can't go anywhere. After three years, Leslie still wonders if he may have been wrong and decides to test the waters by looking him up before she leaves town.

And a snippety peek…

Leslie tamped down on the burst of nervous energy coursing through her. "This is a cute cape cod." She loved the house and she definitely loved Granger inviting her.

Granger angled his head toward her. "It's obviously a work in progress. Haven't had the time I need to really make any big changes." He held up the mayonnaise and arched his brows.

She gave a nod. "Yep. Still the only thing I like on sandwiches." Thad used to tease her because he'd been a mustard man all the way.

The thought tugged a little hard. The entire reason she'd wanted to see Granger … to address the past and possible start over for the future. At least as friends if nothing more.

Granger carried two plates to the table and went back to grab two glasses of water then sat perpendicular to her. "Mayo on both sides, right?" He picked his sandwich up and took a large bite.

 Leslie grinned, touched he'd remembered. "Absolutely." She bit into the roast beef and cheddar and had a flashback to the kiss they shared after her fight with Thad.

Granger had been eating roast beef when she'd stopped at his apartment off campus, wrecked after the nasty fight with Thad. Granger took one look at her tear-streaked face and dragged her inside. Over sandwiches, she unloaded. About the issues between her and his brother. About loving him but wondering if that would be enough to see them through the rough patches. As usual, Granger listened until she stopped talking then offered to drive her back to the dorm. He'd always been easy to confide in and she appreciated how he didn't judge or take sides even when it involved his brother.

Probably why she initiated the kiss before they left Granger's apartment. A wild, crazy impulse. A safe play because she trusted Granger. And even then … even though she loved Thad with her whole heart, she'd been drawn to Granger.

And the embrace rocked her foundation. So different from Thad. By the end of the lip-lock, Granger's hands had threaded through her hair and hers found their way to cup his cheeks. But they didn't want this. To become a cliché by hurting the one person they each cared so much for.

By silent agreement, they left the apartment and Granger drove her home. Thankfully, he didn't make small talk or become awkward when they saw each other again. But something had shifted between them. An awareness of what they could have been.

And when Thad died? Her instinct had her turning to Granger. He'd been a rock during the month that followed … and she had hope they might … well, become more.

Then he wrote the letter and left.

Granger set his sandwich aside. "You're thinking about the letter, aren't you?" He let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry. I should've had the guts to talk face-to-face with you." He met and held her gaze.

Leslie shook her head. "Actually, I was remembering the kiss, then losing Thad, and then the letter." Her lips quirked. "Might as well roll all the way back to the beginning of when things got weird." A flurry of relief hit her because she needed to hash this out with Granger.

He settled back in his chair and put his palms on the table. "If we're going down memory lane, I have to stroll a little further." His eyes closed. "I started falling for you way before you kissed me. That's why I didn't bring it up or mention it afterward." He blinked and focused on her. "Then Thad died and my feelings for you got really tangled up with my grief over him." His fingers flexed on the smooth surface of the table. "Would've been easy to take advantage of losing him and I didn't want to be that guy. Not with my brother's girl." He looked away then back to her again. "The letter was a dick move and I really am sorry."

Leslie swallowed her shock over Granger's admission of falling for her, needing to both savor the idea and sit with it for a moment.

But she quickly absolved him over leaving the letter. "It's okay. Time and distance gave me a lot of perspective. And you're not wrong about how easy it would've been to shift what I felt for Thad over to you." Now she had a confession to make. "But it wouldn't have just been a transference. Things changed for me a little after I kissed you." When his eyes widened, she quickly continued. "I didn't love Thad less, but you took up space in my head. And I sometimes wondered, you know, what if?" A weight lifted from her heart. "I had no idea you were wondering the same thing. But you made the right call by leaving. It made me put my head down and focus on finishing my degree. And I'm not sure I would have done as well as I did if you were there as a reminder of Thad." She truly understood that now. "But … finding your letter? Hit a little sideways and I really wanted to at least see you and maybe … I don't know…" She trailed off because she sounded completely off the rails.

Granger's lips twisted in a wry grin. "Start fresh? I mean we can't forget our history or our connection to Thad, but we can forge ahead, right?" His voice turned hopeful.

Leslie nodded. "I'd like that."

I'm happy with how this one is going. Sibling rivalry is a favorite of mine, even if the sibling is no longer in the picture.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Just Skip Dessert

Finally have a little bit of spring weather, which is a nice change from the cold and dreary yuck of last week. Taking the doggos out won't be as much of a chore and they like it when the temperatures are mild.

Super, super busy work week. I dropped a quick copy edit in for a healthcare workbook and managed to get the revisions reviewed and back to the author in record time. Might have a few tweaks left, but otherwise that project is in the books.

Also completed a clean copy return for a romance novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I've been lucky enough to edit the whole series and I'm excited for more!

Finished up a full copy edit on a novel and have the file ready for author review. I'll be forwarding it later today and I'm excited to finish book one so we can jump into book two. This is a fun series to work on.

Also finished up a manuscript evaluation for a new adult novel and I can't wait to work on this series with the author. I love the concept and the characters are messy and fun, which is what I like in the new adult genre.

All those projects didn't leave a lot of time for television this week, which I'm actually okay with. When projects are fun and interesting, I fall right into work mode and enjoy what I do so much!

I did finish up The Mandalorian. This episode ended up being terrific. Ahsoka's introduction and her interaction with Grogu topped my favorite moments. Having the Mandalorian and Jedi working together also made things interesting. I love this show.

I started the next episode of Only Murders in the Building but didn't get to finish. I'll probably watch the rest later tonight.

Also missed my weekly rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. We're doing a double-header for the last two episodes of season one and I didn't have the chunk of time needed to do that this week. Bummer.

My daughter also finished up this semester of college and came home this weekend. She'll be here about a month before heading off to Michigan for a paid internship in a summer stock theater. So excited for her!

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Just Skip Dessert, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Wanda Craig and Dewey Pearson are the two newest teachers at Cheltenson Academy, a private school, and they hit it off right away. When a family emergency calls Wanda away right before the end of semester dinner for the new academic advisors, Dewey gets to deal with an inappropriate advance from the headmaster's wife. When Wanda returns, she takes steps to give Dewey a better experience.

And a snippety peek…

"Welcome to Cheltenson, Ms. Craig and Mr. Pearson. It's wonderful to have two new educators to bring new insight and ideas to our institution." Headmaster Chalmers Grove ushered Wanda into his office first, then waved the other new recruit inside.

Wanda slid her gaze toward the other newb, Dewey Pearson. His six-foot-plus height and lean, chiseled frame would keep most comments about the name behind closed lips. Or maybe not. She had to get used to the idea they weren't in a public-school setting and repercussions could be different here.

Dewey lifted his chin in greeting. "Ms. Craig. You're heading up the drama program?" Interest, instead of derision, filled his tone.

Which made her happy because she almost expected the latter, especially since she'd received bored disinterest from her mom and brother when she'd graduated with honors in both of her majors—theater and media production. Both decided she'd be living at home for the rest of her natural life because what kind of job could she get with a theater degree? Part of the reason she'd accepted the position at Cheltenson had been to break away from the mold they put her in because living accommodations came with the job.

She smiled. "Yes. And you're taking over for the librarian?" The females of the school would be spending a lot of time in the stacks.

Dewey gave a nod. "I am. With a name like mine, I fit right in." His lips turned upward in a grin.

Headmaster Grove laughed. "You'll both be quite at home here. We go out of our way to make our new educators feel welcome." He moved around his desk and pulled out two hefty envelopes. "I have your residence assignments here. You'll be neighbors in the woodland quad." Handing over the packets, he moved back to the front of his desk. "We'll walk over now so you can get settled in. Classes start next week." He headed for the door.

Wanda blinked and shook her head. Grove continued talking, nattering on about the welcome brunch scheduled for the next day. Wanda slid her gaze toward her new colleague.

Dewey shrugged and sent her another smile. "After you." He caught up and fell into step beside her.

Following Grove through the main campus oval, she glanced at the map on her information packet. A group of eight bungalows formed a square around a small courtyard not far from the archery range. The layout of the bungalow showed an open concept living-dining-kitchen area with a tiny study and half bath were tucked into one corner of the back of the house along with a bedroom and full bath on the other side. All in all, more space than she'd ever had to herself.

Dewey nudged her shoulder. "We're going this way." He pointed down a narrow walking path edged with greenery on either side.

Wanda winced in embarrassment, adjusting her direction. "Thanks. Got caught up in the…" She waved the envelope.

Dewey flashed another grin. "Understandable. And I think Headmaster Grove forgets we've never been here and don't have the lay of the land yet." He nodded toward the still rambling man.

Wanda chuckled. "Quite right." She paused when they came to the arched brick entryway to the bungalows. "Wow."

Dewey huffed out a breath. "Um, yeah. This is … well, amazing." He followed Grove when the man took a right and started down the stone sidewalk but glanced over his shoulder to meet her gaze.

Wanda held it a moment longer than necessary, silently asking the question, can you believe this?

Dewey lifted his chin and smirked a little in answer. Kind of a, oh, we're going to like it here thing.

Wanda strolled along behind Dewey, admiring the view. Yep. She definitely liked everything about Cheltenson so far.

This story is in the beginning stages and I'm excited to see where things go.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Just Do It Already

Well, April still feels like a mix of winter and summer but not spring. We have hot days then plummet back to cold. I’m hoping May evens it out and we hold steady for a while.

Had a crazy-busy week with work. More projects coming in hot and needing immediate attention. I’m so happy that all of them are absolutely fun and exciting to work on. I love them!

I did have very limited time for viewing this week. I don’t mind the trade off, because I usually have an old standby on in the background like Perry Mason, Columbo, or Murder, She Wrote.

I did finish up Strangest Things and I ended up enjoying the episode.

I also caught another episode in my great rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. This upcoming week, we’re going with a double header to round out season one.

I’ll be starting a new episode of The Mandalorian later tonight.

I also got to listen to my daughter’s radio show. It’s finals week and they get to choose their music. My daughter and her co-DJ picked seventies hits for their time slot. And they made great choices if I do say so. And I do.

That’s pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight’s post is from Just Do It Already, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here’s the mini-blurb:

On an annual get together with a group of friends, Minnie Roberts gets her chance to test the waters with Reuben Harper who's had a string of bad luck with the dating pool. Reuben is blind to Minnie's interest, and she catches him off guard when she suggests a strings-free weekend with each other.

And a snippety peek…

Minnie decided to pull Reuben out of his shell—kicking and screaming if necessary. "Give me two shots of lemon vodka." Something sour to match his disposition.

The bartender deftly poured two glasses and slid them over.

She smiled her thanks, grabbed the glasses, and headed for the table where Reuben sat alone, still sulking the night away.

She placed the shot in front of him. "Drink up. My treat." She settled onto the chair next to him.

Reuben gave her a startled look. "Thought you were meeting the crew outside." His finger traced the rim of the glass.

Minnie shrugged. "I'll make it out there at some point. Right now, you and I are going to do these"—she picked up her tumbler and raised her brows—"and you're not going to leave me hanging."

Reuben's lips quirked. "Fine. But just the one." He raised his shot and tossed it back then sputtered when the tangy lemon hit his taste buds.

Minnie drank hers down with a chuckle.

Reuben's mouth puckered. "You could've warned me." He shook his head then grabbed his water, diluting the lemon taste.

Minnie nodded. "True. But you kind of needed a taste of your own medicine. You've been a true downer since you walked in the door of the rental." Not that she didn't understand, but his vibe had everyone on a downturn.

Reuben narrowed his gaze. "You're not gonna start, too, are you?" He shoved the glass to the middle of the table.

Minnie held up a hand. "Not really. This isn't about ribbing you. More like offering some friendly advice." She might get slapped back, but she'd make an effort.

The timing would never be this good again.

Reuben put his forearms on the table. "Okay, let's hear it."

She slid her gaze sideways, then leaned in closer to him. "Get some, Rueb. You need it." She patted his shoulder.

He huffed out a breath. "Oh really? What makes you say that?" His brows arched.

Minnie rolled her eyes. "You're kidding, right? You're cranky and driving everyone crazy." She pitched her voice lower. "Get laid. It'll make everyone happy. Believe me." Okay, everyone but her, depending on how things went.

Reuben schooled his features. "I'll think about it." He leaned back and folded his arms over his chest.

Minnie blinked. "What's to think about? This bar is full of exciting prospects. All you have to do is choose one." She waved her hand toward the main floor.

Reuben cast his gaze in the direction she indicated then grunted. "I have standards, Minn."

She bit her cheek, a flutter of hope sparking in her veins. "You're missing the point." And at least two blondes, a brunette, and a cute girl with a blue pixie cut.

Reuben met her gaze. "Not really. I don't have to overthink it, but I do have to be attracted to someone before making a move." He glanced away and toyed with the napkin.

Minnie tilted her head. "Hmm. Okay then." She debated for less than a second before she put herself out there. "What about me?"

Reuben's head snapped back up. "What about you?"

She straightened and squared her shoulders. "Am I not up to your standards?" Her heart hammered a little because his answer could sting.

He blinked. "Wait. What? Are you suggesting…" He motioned between them.

Minnie lifted her chin. "I'm putting it out there." And really hoping not to get stomped on.

Reuben cocked his head. "Okay, why?"

He didn't sound disinterested or freaked out. A good sign. But how to answer?

The truth usually worked well. "Look, I've always found you hot. But we've been friends for a long time, and you've never expressed an interest."

His eyebrows shot up. "I could say the same about you."

Her lips twitched. "The hot part or the interested part?"

His lips curled. "Let's go with both." He sobered. "But the whole friends thing could get complicated."

She wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. "Look, it doesn't have to be anything more than a hookup. You know, helping a friend out…" And hopefully not getting wrecked in the process.

I love how Minnie is willing to go for it even if she fears having her heart slightly bruised. Reuben better tread carefully…

 

That’s it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin