Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.
A beautiful day in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and the boys have new swim suits and time to kill! Pool time! See what's going on with everyone in this week's chapter of In Pieces. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
In Pieces #65 (16.2)
The complimentary breakfast was actually pretty good, with
an assortment of hot food and cold, including make-your-own waffles and a
decent selection of fresh fruit. Everyone enjoyed their fill of the free food
as they exchanged the usual banter while they ate. Afterward they decided to
change and meet at the pool. Abby had checked the weather forecast and warned
them if they waited too long, they were taking a chance on being rained out.
By the time Ben and Ryan got out to the pool, carrying their
colorful new beach towels, the members of their group were already there, as
well as a few hotel guests. Ryan was reluctant to leave his laptop poolside
while they were in the water, but Ben came up with the perfect solution. Since
Marge wasn’t interested in swimming, they asked if she’d mind keeping an eye on
their stuff, including the laptop, and she cheerfully agreed.
Ben took Ryan’s hand
in his. Ryan noticed he was in great spirits, despite having been awakened in
the manner they had, his blue eyes shining. Not to mention, he looked fantastic in his
yellow swim trunks—sexy but not too revealing. “C’mon, let’s get in,” Ben said.
Ryan felt a qualm of guilt, thinking they should spend at
least a few minutes with Marge instead of just dumping their items on her and
running off. But when he offered, Marge just laughed and shook her head.
“Go on with you, have some fun.” She snorted a laugh. “I
remember what it’s like to be young and in love. We’ll have plenty of time to
talk afterward.”
“Thanks, Marge,
you’re the best. I do need to get some input from you for the book, too,” he
admitted.
“I’m not sure what I can tell you, but you’re welcome to ask
me anything. Now, shoo!”
Ben tugged on his hand, and Ryan gave in. The water looked
too good not to indulge. Besides, it would have been a shame not to get some
use out of the swim trunks Ben had insisted on buying for him, claiming he
could write them off as a business expense. He’d found a pair of aqua trunks
that appealed to him, somewhat similar to Ben’s. Leaving Marge to her own
devices and a cool drink, they found an unoccupied spot in the deep end of the
pool and jumped in.
Ryan couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun. They
played around in the water, challenging each other to races. Some of the guests even joined in. Laughter
filled the air as everyone enjoyed themselves. When they’d gone shopping, they’d found a
large inflatable raft, big enough to hold two people, and bought it. Now Ryan
and Ben floated together, hand in hand, until, after a while, they gave it up
so Deacon and Keanu could have a turn.
Ryan thought this would be a good time for him to talk to
Marge, see if she needed anything. “Want to come with?” he asked Ben.
“I’m just going to hang out here, I think,” Ben said. “Don’t
want to cramp your style.”
Although Ryan protested that would hardly be the case, Ben
was adamant, so Ryan kissed him and left him floating near Aiden and Abby.
Abby’s coral-colored swimsuit looked great on her. She’d drawn a little
attention from some of the guests, but nothing disrespectful. Nonetheless, Aiden was sticking close to her
side, very much in protective twin brother mode.
Marge was sipping on something fruity when Ryan reached her
table. “Pull up a chair,” she welcomed him and he complied.
“You guys look so cute together,” she said. “I’m glad he’s
got you, Ryan, you know? Now, when they make it big, he won’t have to worry
you’re just after him for the the fame or fortune or whatever.”
“I would never—” Ryan began to protest.
“I know, I know.” Marge held up one big hand as if to ward
off his arguments. “That’s what I’m saying. You’ve known Ben since you were
kids. You’ve loved him for a long time, am I right?”
Ryan nodded. “Yeah, a very long time. I thought I’d lost him
when his mother moved them away. And then to suddenly find him again…”
“Sounds like a plot from a romance novel.” Marge’s eyes
twinkled. “Maybe you should write it someday.”
Ryan laughed, a little self-consciously. “Let’s see how the
book about Salvation does before I worry about other books.”
Marge gave him a sharp look. “Honey, I don’t think it
matters about the book as much as he lets on it does. I think it was always
about you—about getting back with you.”
Ryan felt his cheeks go warm. “I… I don’t know,” he said. “I
mean, I want the book to do well and everything. I know it matters to him. To
all of them.”
“But you matter more.” Marge leaned toward him and patted
his cheek gently. “Ben’s a very talented young man, and I see great things
coming his way. But the greatest of them all will always be you.”
Ryan felt his eyes prickle with tears, his heart swelling at
Marge’s words. Everything was so right, life was perfect. He couldn’t ask for
anything more. But right now, he needed to focus on what he was doing before he
started crying. He busied himself with opening his laptop and pulling up a new
document.
“So, how long have you managed Salvation?” he asked.
“It’s been almost a year now, I think. Before they were
Salvation, they had this other band called Primary Wisdom. When they disbanded
that and formed Salvation, they hired me, and I’ve been with them ever since.”
“Didn’t they have a manager for that other band?” He wondered why they found a new manager if
they had one.
Marge took a long sip of her drink. “Yeah, they did. I never
met her, but I heard she’s Ben’s mother.”
to be continued
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