Wednesday Briefs: Rose and Thorne 6 #12 (3.2)

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.  

Ethan and his uncle Benny have a joyous reunion, and he introduces the love of his life to his uncle. See how things are going in this week's chapter of Rose and Thorne 6. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers to see what's up with them! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Rose and Thorne 6 #12 (3.2)

Beautiful blue eyes certainly ran in this family. As did good looks. And killer smiles. Okay, not Joe Junior, but all the rest were good-looking people. At least from the outside.

I hung back as uncle and nephew hugged it out. Deciding I should make myself at least somewhat useful, I retrieved our suitcase and set it on the floor.

“It’s so good to see you, Ethan,” his uncle was saying. “You’ve become quite the looker, you have. Breaking all the hearts?” He laughed at his own joke even as his curious glance took me in. I remained silent, not sure what to say. Hello might have been nice, but words had apparently deserted me.

His next comment startled me, as he set Ethan on his feet, still glancing at me. “And this must be Vinnie, yes? Your Vinnie? Please tell me I haven’t made some horrible mistake and this man’s going to shoot me where I stand.” He laughed again, a most pleasant sound. How similar to Ethan he sounded at that moment.

“How did you know?” Ethan sounded surprised himself. “I mean yes, that is my Vinnie. My fiancé, as well as my partner.”

“You have great taste in men, Ethan,” Benny replied before grabbing me in a big bear hug of my own. He placed me back on my feet before he turned to Ethan and answered his question. “Your mother. She and I have been in touch recently, playing catch-up, and she told me how happy you are, and how you got engaged and everything. I’m so tickled for you both!”

As if suddenly remembering his manners, he waved us farther into the room, which turned out to be a pretty decent suite. “Here I am running off at the mouth. Shame on me. Would you like a drink? We can order up some dinner. No, too early for that. How about lunch? Have you eaten?”

We ended up declining the drink, as we were on duty, but agreed to burgers and fries. Ethan and I sat together on the couch, with Benny facing us in a comfortable-looking armchair. I’d mistakenly tried to call him Mr. Tyler, and he’d immediately corrected me with a no-nonsense “Call me Benny, please.”

I agreed, but it still seemed strange, when normally Benny referred to our little law-breaking Pekingese. The one with the bad habit of stealing purses.

“So, tell me all about yourselves,” he encouraged us. “I want to know everything. And don’t forget about my namesake. I’ve heard about him too.”

He didn’t seem offended that we’d named our dog Benny, and when Ethan pulled out his phone and showed him pictures of the little rascal, he smiled. Having met Ethan’s uncle now, I understood better how he’d decided on that name.

I left most of the storytelling to Ethan, because that’s just how I am, and he understands that. Of course, he exaggerated some details, mostly about me and how great he thought I was, and I couldn’t keep from blushing. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t an ego boost to hear him talk that way. No doubt about it, Ethan Thorne was very good for me, in every way.

Of course we had to show off our matching engagement rings. Benny admired the princess cut sapphires flanked by small diamonds on a platinum band. “Those are so beautiful,” he said before turning thoughtful. "Things have come a long way, haven’t they? Guys like us can get married now. We don’t have to hide who we love anymore.”

“We’ve still got a long ways to go,” Ethan said. “Not everyone approves of the new marriage laws, and some are more vocal about it than others.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Benny let out a soft snort. “How did your father take the news of your engagement?” He glanced between us, but I let Ethan respond. His father, his answer.

“Surprisingly well,” Ethan said. “All things considered.”

He’d already told the story of how I posed as his girlfriend when we flew to Georgia after Ethan’s mother’s stroke, including how Joseph Thorne had blown up when he learned the truth.

“He’s coming around, I think. Which is more than I can say for my brother.” If Joe Junior’s continued bad attitude disturbed Ethan, he didn’t show it. His voice was calm and cool as ever.

“Well, I suspect your brother has issues of his own,” Benny said mysteriously. What did that even mean? If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect he meant the strange triangle between Joe Jr, his wife, and his father. But I didn’t see how Benny could know about that, not having been around. Was there something going on that we didn’t know about?

Or maybe I was just being my usual paranoid self.

After we’d eaten, we settled down to coffee and dessert. And then Benny cleared his throat.

“I guess it’s time I tell you my story,” he said.

 to be continued

Now see what's up with the other Briefers!

Cia Nordwell

J Ray Lamb

 

Wednesday Briefs: Super Trooper #57 (13.3)

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. 

Chan thinks things might be looking up when Evan proposes taking the kids to the park to play. See what's going on with them in this week's chapter of Super Trooper. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Super Trooper #57 (13.3)

The park was within walking distance of the house. Chan had gone there with his family many times, and had often taken his siblings there on his own as well. Used primarily by children from nearby neighborhoods, it was filled with  everything a child could hope for in a playground—swings and seesaws, equipment to climb on, a merry-go-round, and even small playhouses for sitting inside quietly with a book. Benches for the parents, of course.  Shady trees dotted the park, inhabited by friendly squirrels whose antics were often amusing, and whose broad leaves provided relief from the sometimes harsh Texas sun. And of course picnic tables and bbq pits for those who enjoyed eating outdoors.

There had never been any trouble at the park. Chan knew his parents trusted Laksha enough to take her brother and sister there to play under her supervision. Kamal and his friends frequently played there after school and on weekends. Altogether a familiar place. One Chan hoped would provide a much-needed feeling of familiarity.

How much he loved Evan for having made the suggestion.

 The kids readily agreed to the plan, of course. Although Chan thought they could have been more appreciative of Evan, since it was his idea. Laksha did say thank you, but Kamal acted as though it was his right, but Chan let it pass rather than spoil a day which held so much promise.

While the children got ready, Evan made a trip to a nearby deli and brought back an assortment of sandwiches and chips and bottled water. Chan’s mother had always discouraged them from drinking coke, as Texans referred to any brand of soda. He was more than happy to follow her direction in this as in anything else. He knew she would have wanted it that way.

Once they reached the park, Kamal spotted some of his friends and immediately became immersed in a game of tag.

Chan started to ask Laksha if she wanted to join them, but one glance told him she was not interested. Naturally not. She was four years older than the boys, and not given to the physical pursuits they frequently enjoyed.

Even Madhu seemed happy to be there. She obviously had her favorite spots in the park, tugging at Laksha’s hand just as she opened her book. “Want to swing,” Madhu said.

“We’ll take her,” Chan quickly volunteered. He glanced at Evan, who nodded his approval, to Chan’s relief.  Reaching for Madhu, he swept her up into his arms.

“Okay,” Laksha agreed, immersing herself in her book. Something about genetics, he noticed. He was always amazed at how advanced she was for her age. Sometimes he forgot she was only eleven.

Besides a full-sized set, the park contained swings that were designed with younger children in mind, and that is where they directed their steps. Such a beautiful day. He couldn’t have asked for nicer weather. Not a cloud in the sky, a gentle breeze. Life was good.

He carefully set his sister into one of the swings, making sure she was carefully locked in place before he began to push her. She squealed with joy and kicked her feet.

 The swing beside her was occupied by a small boy, who was being pushed by his mother. She turned toward Chan and smiled.  “You have a beautiful daughter,” she said.

“Sister,” Chan replied. “And thank you. Your son is very handsome.” The mother beamed at him in return.

Chan and Evan took turns pushing Madhu until she decided she was done. Chan released her from the swing and she immediately began to run off. Not that she could get far on her fat baby legs. Apparently she just wanted to stretch them. They easily strolled behind her in her wake as she zigzagged about the park on a random course.

Chan noticed that Evan hovered like a worried mother hen, and the sight warmed his heart. Maybe everyone was adjusting to the new situation and all would be well. He certainly hoped so.

Just then, he noticed Madhu stumble on something. She fell face first into the soft grass with an indignant wail. Evan was at her side in an instant. He reached for her, but she wouldn’t let him pick her up, struggling against his efforts. She reached out for Chan instead.

“Chan!” she cried insistently until he took her into his arms and cradled her, after making sure she wasn’t injured, just shaken up.

He glanced at Evan, not sure what to say to soften her rejection. He thought he saw pain reflected in Evan’s eyes and his heart went out to him. “She’s just used to me,” he said. “It’s nothing against you. She was just scared.”

But he wasn’t sure Evan believed that any more than he did. Chan stifled a sigh, as they headed back toward the picnic table they had staked out earlier, where Laksha sat.

 to be continued

Now go see what's up with the other Briefers!

Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp

J Ray Lamb

 

Wednesday Briefs: Super Trooper #41 (9.3)

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.

The morning after the tragedy, Chan's siblings are doing pretty well, all things considered. What will happen to them now? Did their parents make any provision for their future? See what's going on in this week's chapter of Super Trooper. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Super Trooper #41 (9.3)

Evan thought Chan’s siblings were remarkably well behaved under the circumstances. Perhaps that was because everything was still so new to them. The reality of the situation hadn’t really struck them full force yet. Even as seasoned as he was in handling death, he found himself thinking how surreal this all felt, as though it was happening to someone else. Small wonder the children hadn’t fully grasped what had happened. Or how their world had just drastically been altered.

They ate their breakfast with a minimum of bickering, which sounded perfunctory at best. Something done out of habit, more than anything. Laksha was polite to Evan, but most of her conversation was directed toward Chan when she did choose to speak. For his part, when he wasn’t fussing at Laksha, Kamal ate his meal in silence, his small brow furrowed, as if he were trying to make sense of what was happening. Madhu alternated between wanting her sister and seeking Chan’s attention, which he freely gave, letting his own breakfast go cold while he took care of the small child. She never even gave Evan a second glance, as if he did not exist. He wasn’t surprised. She barely knew him, after all.

So, what was going to happen to them now?

Evan hoped Chan’s parents had left a will. Or some other documentation to guide them. Assuming they had even made arrangements for an event such as this. They were still young, and had many years ahead of them. Who could have anticipated such a tragedy?

Once everyone had eaten their fill, Evan rose to clear the table, but Chan was ahead of him,  already removing the dirty dishes.

“I can help,” Laksha offered. “I do this all the time.” She took Madhu’s dishes and set them in the sink, then moistened a cloth and wiped the little girl’s face before helping her down from her booster chair. Evan watched as she gave her little brother a no-nonsense look, glancing between him and his dishes. He got the message and carried them to the sink without much complaint.

“I want to go play with Cam,” Kamal grumbled once that task was done. He already had his phone in his hand, as if prepared to contact his friend immediately.

“Not now,” Laksha said. When the boy pouted, she ruffled his hair. “Stay home with us,” she encouraged him. “I’ll play a game with you, if you like.”

“Really?” he asked, his pout beginning to fade.

“Really.”Laksha nodded. She set Madhu on her hip, looking like a little mother. “Go pick something out and take it to the living room.” She glanced at her older brother, almost apprehensively. “I mean, if that’s okay with Chan?”

“Of course. That’s a great idea,” Chan praised her. She seemed to glow a little at his words. “We’re going to see what we can find in… in their room. Thank you.”

Kamal hadn’t waited to learn if they received permission or not, running off as soon as his sister made her suggestion. They could hear him rummaging in his room, as Laksha carried her sister into the next room. Chan turned to Evan, releasing a long breath.

“They’re doing pretty good so far,” he said. “But I don’t know how long that will last.” His words echoed Evan’s own thoughts. “Guess we should prepare for some bad times ahead. Want to look through whatever papers we can find?”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Evan agreed. As Chan turned to go, he touched his arm gently, stopping him mid-stride. “I think you’re doing very well yourself,” he said. “I think you’re very brave.”

Chan gave him a tired smile. “That’s because I have you,” he admitted.

“And you always will,” Evan assured him.

to be continued

Now go visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them!

Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp

 

 

Wednesday Briefs: Super Trooper #34 (8.1)

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.

Evan and Chan were at Partners, hanging out with Roy and Dustin, when Chan received a call from the hospital, informing him of the death of his parents. Can it be true?Evan has to hold it together for himself and Chan as they head to the hospital to learn the truth. See what's going on in this week's chapter of Super Trooper. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Super Trooper #34 (8.1)

Evan stared at his lover in disbelief. He couldn’t believe what he thought he’d heard. Surely he’d misinterpreted what Chan had said. Something about an accident. His parents… dead?

One glance at Chan’s stricken face, and Evan knew he was in a state of shock. He took a deep breath. He had to remain calm, not let his emotions get the better of him. Chan needed him now, in a way he never had before. Evan could not, would not fail him. He’d had to deliver messages such as Chan had just received during the course of his career as a state trooper, but he’d never been the recipient of such news. His heart ached for Chan.

For a brief moment, he wondered if maybe the hospital was wrong. Maybe Chan’s parents were severely injured, in critical condition, but alive. That would be the first place to begin. Most importantly, Evan knew he had to take the lead in this, judging by the way Chan was shaking.

He pulled Chan into his arms and for a long moment simply held him, willing him to calm down through the warmth of his body, the strength of his love. If the news were true, Chan was at the beginning of a terrible ordeal. No matter what, though, Evan would stay with him.

Chan raised his head and regarded Evan with glistening eyes. His lower lip trembled helplessly.

“We’ll go to the hospital,” Evan said. Tucker Falls only had one, and he knew exactly where it was, having been there far too many times in the course of his job. Chan nodded.

Evan rose and reached for Chan. Chan latched on to Evan’s arm, slowly standing. Evan didn’t rush him.

“You ready?” Evan asked. Chan seemed a little unsteady, not surprisingly.

Chan nodded again, clinging tightly to Evan. Just as they turned toward the exit, Roy and Dustin came back from the dance floor, laughing and cutting up. Evan had forgotten about them, his focus entirely on Chan.

Roy’s grin disappeared when he caught sight of them. He glanced between them before addressing Evan. “Something wrong?”

“I’m afraid we have to go. There’s been an accident. We have to get to the hospital.”

He felt the shudder that coursed through Chan, wished there was some way he could ease the pain of what was about to happen.

“I’m so sorry,” Roy said. “Go on, do what you need to do. Let us know if you need anything, okay?”

“Yeah, definitely,” Evan said, touched by the concern in Roy’s voice. He considered Roy a friend, one of the few he had. His words only confirmed that. “I’ll call you later, not sure when.”

“Any time, day or night, doesn’t matter,” Roy said, and Dustin echoed his sentiments.

Dustin reached out and gently patted Chan’s arm, his brows furrowed in concern.

“Thanks,” Evan said, before he ushered Chan out of Partners.

The night felt ominously silent after the continuous background noise and music inside the bar. Evan took a moment to pull Chan to him and just hold him. “It’ll be all right,” he whispered into his ear, over and over. Truth be told, he was far from sure of that, but it felt like the thing to say. At least until they were forced to face whatever the truth of the matter was.

“How can it be? H-how can it be?” Chan murmured in obvious disbelief.

Evan understood just how he felt. An air of unreality surrounded them, as if they were caught in the middle of a nightmare. And just maybe they were.  Whatever it was, Evan knew he could handle it. Death was no stranger in his line of work, and he’d had to face it more than once. But he also realized that, other than the death of his father which had happened when Chan was very young, Chan had never had to deal with such loss.

“Don’t worry, I’m here.” He hoped he sounded reassuring. Kissing Chan softly, he ushered him toward his patrol car, opened the passenger door and waited for him to buckle up before he rounded the car and claimed his own seat.

The drive to the hospital was a silent one. Evan focused on the Friday night traffic which surged about them. The last thing they needed was to get into an accident themselves. Luckily, most people, on seeing his cruiser, avoided driving too closely.

Arriving at the hospital, Evan parked around back, near the emergency room entrance. He managed to get a spot not too far from the door, before turning to Chan, who’d never uttered a sound for the duration of the drive. Evan wasn’t sure just what Chan was feeling. His expression gave nothing away. At least he’d stopped trembling. Evan had been afraid he’d go into shock.

As Evan helped Chan out of the car, he murmured to him, “Remember, I’m right here. I’ll always be right here, no matter what. We’re in this together.” Whatever this was.

Chan nodded his understanding and held tightly to Evan’s hand as they made their way to the emergency room.

to be continued

now go see what's up with the other Briefers!

Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp

Virtual Book Blast: Everything Changes by Melanie Hansen

Good morning! Please welcome author Melanie Hansen to Full Moon Dreaming. She is here to tell us about her new release, Everything Changes. Melanie will be awarding a $25   Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

EVERYTHING CHANGES

by Melanie Hansen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:  M/M Contemporary Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Two battle buddies. One fateful deployment. Two vastly different sets of wounds. One friendship changed forever.

A childhood in foster care taught Carey Everett to hold tight to what he has. Enlisting in the Marines gave him purpose, but a life-threatening injury ended his career—and took his leg. Now fully recovered, Carey’s happier than he’s ever been. He has a fulfilling job, a chosen family and, best of all, a cherished friendship with Jase DeSantis, the platoon medic who saved his life.

Despite Jase’s heroism in combat, he’s haunted by his actions overseas. Playing music with his band keeps the demons at bay, but it’s a battle he’s starting to lose.

After a week of sun and fun in San Diego, Jase and Carey’s connection takes an unexpected turn. With change comes a new set of challenges. For Jase, it means letting someone else into his deepest pain. For Carey, it’s realizing love doesn’t always equal loss. In order to make their relationship work, they’ll have to come to terms with their pasts…

…or risk walking away from each other for good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

“Mmm.” Jase wrapped his arms around Carey’s waist, his chin resting on his shoulder. “That was pretty darn good. No. Better than good. Beautiful. Sexy.”

“Ha. I think you have beer goggles on, my friend.”

“You…are…so…” Jase punctuated each word with a brush of his lips to Carey’s cheek, “…beautiful it hurts.” Then he took Carey’s earlobe between his teeth, worrying it lightly. “And you’ve got me twisted in all kinds of knots.”

“You’re not the only one,” Carey rasped. “Knot city, here.”

“Mmm, I can tell.” Jase splayed his palm over Carey’s chest. “Your heart’s beating like a drum.”

Carey couldn’t help the tiny sound of protest that escaped when Jase let go of him, but all he did was grab the audio remote and change the song to a slow, poignant country ballad. Then he held out his hand. “Dance with me?”

Time slowed down as Carey gazed at him, the sands of change shifting precariously beneath his feet. Fear and uncertainty welled up in his throat, but the patient understanding in Jase’s eyes and the steadiness of his hand made Carey reach out and place his fingers in his.

His lips trembling, Carey took a tiny step closer. “I don’t want to lose you,” he whispered.

“Never.”

“I’m a little scared.” He took another step. “A lot scared, actually.”

“I know.”

One more step, until Jase’s chest was just inches from his. Carey sucked in a breath. “Jase, I—”

“Hey. It’s only a dance, okay? Nothing more. Just dance with me.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Melanie Hansen doesn’t get nearly enough sleep. She loves all things coffee-related, including collecting mugs from every place she’s visited. After spending eighteen years as a military spouse, Melanie definitely considers herself a moving expert. She has lived and worked all over the country, and hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to the love stories she gets up in the wee hours to write. On her off-time, you can find Melanie watching baseball, reading or spending time with her husband and two teenage sons.

Everything Changes Buy Link:

https://amzn.to/2Y7nf07

Website:

https://melaniehansenbooks.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009084006829

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/MelJoyAZ

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13505006.Melanie_Hansen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday Briefs: Super Trooper #14 (3.0)

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.

After a night filled with lovemaking, Evan and Chan have had to part, since Evan has to work. But before he goes, he asks Chan to dinner at his place that night! How exciting is that? See what's happening in this week's chapter of Super Trooper. Don't forget to see what the other Briefers are up to! Their links follow my tale!  Enjoy!

Super Trooper #14 (3.0)

Chan was disappointed that Evan had to leave him, but he understood the man had a job that required him to work unusual hours, including weekends. He himself worked two Saturdays a month at the S&L. These were only half days, as they closed earlier on that day than they did during the week, and he received an entire day off in recompense which made that arrangement a lot easier to take. Knowing Evan wanted to see him again so soon made him very happy.

And more than that, Evan had invited him to his own home. Chan was almost giddy at the thought of seeing Evan’s personal space. Did he want Chan to sleep over? He hadn’t said anything, and Chan didn’t want to assume.

A guy could hope, right?

Chan didn’t get up immediately once Evan had gone, intending to get a little more sleep before he started his day, to make up for not getting much last night. But he found he couldn’t stop thinking about Evan—how he looked, how he felt, the time they’d spent making love.  He stretched out in his bed, trying to get comfortable, but the bed felt emptier now, the other side cold where just a short time ago Evan had lain. He hugged his extra pillow to him, the one Evan had used. He could still smell him on it, and his scent alone was driving Chan mad with desire.

He sighed deeply. This wasn’t going to work. He was too wide awake now, might as well get up. He had an apartment to clean, and clothes to pick out for tonight. He wanted to look his best for Evan, even if they were staying in. That alone would take some thinking. At least that was something he could consider while he cleaned.

A ding broke the silence of his bedroom, drawing his attention to his phone on the bedside table. Surely, it couldn’t be…  His heart beat rapidly as he reached for his cel, but the message wasn’t from Evan. The text was from his little brother, Kamal.

Can we go to the park today? Please, Chan? You promised, remember? And can we have fried chicken for our picnic?

The message was followed by three happy face emojis and a puppy emoji. Chan couldn’t help but smile at the impatience of his little brother. Chan had just made that promise to him the day before, and he hadn’t given him any sort of timeframe for when it would happen. He was happy to know his brother enjoyed spending time with him.  And his request for fried chicken was no surprise. He asked for it every chance he got.

Chan knew his mother served a lot of traditional Hindu food in their home, and had showed him how to prepare many of their favorites, but she was Americanized enough that she served dishes from other cultures as well. She’d grown up here, as had her parents before her. None of them had ever been to India. That was a long and expensive journey. Texas was their home. They were Americans and proud to be so.  Chan’s siblings had wholeheartedly embraced the American way of eating. Including the consumption of beef. Hard to live in Texas and not eat beef in some form.

Chan loved his brother and sisters very much. He enjoyed being with them, and he liked to take them places, to be their big brother. Besides, that gave his mother and her husband an opportunity to have some alone-time of their own. Chan understood how important that must be for any couple. Hopefully someday he would know that through his own experience. But for now, he could make his mother happy and also spend time with the young ones. A true win-win situation.

Evan wasn’t getting off until eight that night and he said he’d call as he was going home. Perfect. Chan could visit with his family, take his siblings out for a little while, and still come home with time to spare before his date.

He texted a swift reply to his brother. That sounds perfect, if it’s okay with Maa.  He could just imagine the reception his message would receive from Kamal, one that would involve a great deal of bouncing and squealing. Such noise would draw the attention of their mother, who would of course ask for the cause of the commotion and Kamal would tell her about the picnic—not ask her, most likely, interpreting Chan’s assent as law, disregarding his admonition regarding permission. Then his mother would call, not text, as she was not one to type when she could talk. Wait for it… wait for it…

Less than two minutes later, Chan’s phone rang. “Good morning, Maa,” he greeted her with a grin she couldn’t possibly see.

“Your brother tells me you are taking him and his sisters to the park? Something about a picnic? Is this true, Chan?”

“Yes, it is very true. With your permission, of course,” he said, knowing very well she would give it to him. And she did.

“You are a good big brother,” she praised him. “Will we see you soon?”

“About an hour,” he replied. “I want to clean here first. I will see you soon.”

Chan was smiling as he hung up. Today would be a good day indeed.

to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!

Cia Nordwell

Jim Dunaway

Sarah Hayes

Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Briefs: The Sheriff #4 (2.2)

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 briefs.

In this week's episode of The Sheriff, Dustin runs into a customer who is pretty easy on the eyes, but does that mean he should go for it? Does trouble just seem to follow him around? See what's up with him! Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's going on with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

The Sheriff #4 (2.2)

Dustin cleared his throat. He must have misheard what the man said. His luck didn’t run that way, and he sure as hell didn’t need any more misunderstandings with hot men. He’d had enough of those to last a while. “I’m sorry, what game system were you interested in?”

The man addressed as Jordy cocked his head and regarded Dustin with what could only be regarded as a smoldering look. “What kind of games do you play?”

That wasn’t helping any, depending on what this guy meant by games.

The longer Dustin stared at his customer’s lips, the more he wished he could taste them—at least once. He shook his head to clear the inappropriate image, trying to remember what actual games he did play, but that didn’t help.  His mind had just gone blank.

“Anything, pretty much,” he said, wishing he didn’t sound so much like an idiot. Make up something, try to make the sale! Kenny was probably watching his every move. It wouldn’t take much for Kenny to recommend the manager fire him, and Dustin knew it.

“I don’t have any favorites,” the other man admitted. “I like to try… different things.”

Damn, this conversation was going in a whole other direction from what he’d anticipated it would when he offered to help this guy’s mother. What had she called her son?  Jordy? What kind of name was that for a grown man? Probably short for Jordan.

Jordan’s eyes seemed to absorb Dustin, beginning with his lips and moving south. He was making Dustin horny without even touching him. If this kept up, Dustin would have to excuse himself and find some private relief, or risk embarrassment.

“Well, what game system do you have now?” He tried to steer the conversation back into safe waters.

“I prefer pc games.”

“Then why was your mother standing in this aisle?” Dustin blurted out without thinking.

“She doesn’t know any better.” Jordan smiled.

Dustin’s cheeks heated. If Kenny heard him talk like that, he’d be out the door in record time.  

“Sorry,” he mumbled. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“No harm done. Tell you what, though, you can make it up to me.”

“How do you mean?” Dustin glanced at him suspiciously. Jordan’s angelic expression gave away nothing, but Dustin just knew whatever he wanted, it had nothing to do with computers.

“You ever hear of a place called Partners?”

“Yeah,” Dustin said cautiously. “I’ve been there before. Why do you ask?”

“Meet me there tonight. We can have a little fun. What do you say”—he glanced at Dustin’s name tag, pinned to his chest—“Dustin?”

His brain told him to say no, but his lips had let out a “Yes” before he had time to think about it too much. Jordan’s smile grew even wider. Damn, he was good looking.

“I’ll meet you there at eight,” Jordan said.

Before Dustin had a chance to tell him he’d changed his mind, or list the reasons why this wasn’t a good idea, Jordan’s mother had returned.

“Did you find what you wanted?” she asked her son.

“I did. Now I’m going to look at some computer games.” He winked at Dustin, before he took his mother’s arm. “Why don’t you show me everything that’s new?”

“Yes, sir. Right this way.” Dustin was attempting to take control of the situation, but he had a feeling he was failing miserable as he led them to the appropriate aisle. He wondered just what he’d gotten himself into…even as he was looking forward to the night.

to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers have been up to!

Johayan

Jon Keys

Ravon Silvius

Cia Nordwell

Carol Pedroso

Jim Dunaway

Wednesday Briefs: The Sheriff #3 (2.1)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, 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.

As The Sheriff continues, we find that Dustin isn't particularly happy with the job his cousin got for him. But beggars can't be choosers, so he hangs on to it. See how well that works out for him in today's episode. And don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they're up to! Their links follow my tale!  Enjoy!

The Sheriff #3 (2.1)

Dustin couldn’t decide which was worse—having a customer or not having one. He wasn’t all that computer literate himself, but he knew enough to get by. The real reason he even had this job was because of Denver. And frankly, he didn’t care for it. He couldn’t see doing this for the rest of his life. Or anything else related to sales. And most definitely not fast food.

He wanted to do something more interesting, maybe even exciting. Like law enforcement. But he had no idea how to go about that, which was why he’d wanted to talk to Roy. He was a sheriff, surely he could give Dustin pointers on how to get into the field.

But Sheriff Landry had been less than helpful. What crawled up his ass and died? You’d think he would have been in a good mood, after just seeing his best friends get married. It seemed as though the man had deliberately avoided Dustin after that. Whenever Dustin tried to approach him, he flat out moved the other way.  Finally, Dustin gave up and told Denver he’d wait for him in the car. He exited the house in a huff and sat waiting for Denver until his cousin was ready to go.

An  annoying buzz echoed loudly through the store. Dustin knew that what meant—a customer had just crossed over the threshold. If he had a choice in the matter, he would prefer to see some nerdy guy walk through the door. That kind generally didn’t require assistance. They knew what they wanted, and they were happy to find it for themselves.

Damn. This one was a woman, somewhere between middle age and senility. Guess he should offer to help her. He’d been sitting on a stool behind the counter, counting the minutes until time to go. Not much else to do. He slowly unfolded himself from the seat and slowly moved in the direction of the sales floor. He heard a sharp voice behind him, coming from the doorway that led into the back room.

“Customer!”

Like Dustin didn’t know.

“I can hear,” he mumbled under his breath, never looking back toward Kenny, his immediate supervisor. Kenny was one of those guys who still lived in their parents’ basement even after he turned thirty. Fat and stupid, that was Kenny. He always looked down his nose at Dustin, like Dustin wasn’t good enough to breathe the same air as him, ‘cause Dustin came from a town a whole lot smaller than Tucker Falls. Dustin spent half his day fighting the urge to punch Kenny in his big fat nose.

“Can I help you, ma’am?” Dustin politely asked. She was standing in the aisle which contained various game systems. Nintendos and Xboxes and Playstations. The store offered the latest version of each.

“I’m looking for something for my son,” she said. “A gift for his birthday.”

Dustin refrained from rolling his eyes. Probably some entitled brat who had every electronic gadget known to man, and then some. “Maybe an Xbox?”Dustin suggested. “Or do you think he’d prefer one of the new PS4s? We have the latest model. There are certain advantages to having one,” he recited his standard litany.

The woman frowned, as if the terms confused her.  Dustin stifled a sigh and cast a surreptitious glance at his watch. With any luck, he could make this sale and get out of here without too much effort.

“I don’t know much about these things,” the woman confessed.

Then how do you plan to pick one?

Dustin held his tongue, though. “Well, what kind of games does he like to play? Maybe we can start there.”

The woman looked even more clueless than ever. Dustin knew this would not be easy.

“Oh, here he comes now,” she chirped, brightening as she gazed past Dustin just as he heard the buzzer go off again.

So this wasn’t a surprise. Good. Let the kid pick out what he wanted and see what games he could talk him into.

Dustin turned just as the newcomer joined them. Rather than being the nerdy teenager Dustin had imagined, this young man was maybe nineteen or twenty, stood a few inches taller than Dustin, was built for days, and possessed incredibly blue eyes and very kissable lips.

Dustin’s mouth dropped open at the sight.

The dark-haired god gave Dustin a bemused look. “I was parking the car,” he explained.

“Tell him what you want, Jordy,” the woman said. “I’m going to the ladies’ room, be right back.”

“Sure, Ma,” Jordy said good-naturedly.

Dustin didn’t know what to say, trying to gather his scattered thoughts. What had the mother said? Oh yeah, ask the son… so not a kid… what he wants.

“Um, yeah, so what did you want?” he managed to get out, cursing himself for sounding so stupid.

In reply, Jordan leaned down, as if to give something on the shelf a closer look. But Dustin heard what he said very clearly.

“What if I said I wanted you?” came the unbelievable question.

Holy shit, was this guy really hitting on him?

to be continued

Now go visit the other Briefers and see what's going on in their world!

Cia Nordwell

Johayan

Jim Dunaway

Carol Pedroso