“Fly low! Stay safe!” I call from the porch as Jessie scooches into her Honda civic. She waves back, probably wanting to give me a one-finger salute but manages not to. Jessie is ordinarily a rule follower, especially at school, but there are exceptions and speed laws are one of those exceptions. Honestly, I don’t know why she hasn’t racked up a string of tickets.…
Okay, so I’m wrong. I did sleep. More or less. Hopefully I stayed in my lane this time, no matter where my dreams went, and Wow did they go places! I can’t tell for sure because when I woke up, Savannah was already gone. She did leave a note though, which I see on the nightstand once I sit up. Unfolding it, I run my…
“Welcome to your humble abode away from your… abode.” Savannah pushes open the door to her bedroom with a grin worthy of an Invisalign commercial and a flourish to match. After what we heard at the hospital, you’d expect she’d be down. Instead, she’s been nothing but sweetness and light. Is it because her mom’s beaten this before? Or she’s naturally that resilient? Nothing about…
I can’t believe how easy it is to talk to Erin—how soothing it is to be with her. Before, I was holding on by my fingernails, but now—despite knowing exactly what we’re heading into—I’m not feeling so overwhelmed and it’s all because of her. We’re chatting like we’ve known each for years and years, and when she sasses me, it’s like we’ve been BFFs forever.…
I’m finally getting back to Raine with a new chapter! Can I admit it’s one of my favs? 😄 I hope you enjoy!
Since I’ve posted up to Ch.20 on Substack, it made more sense to post all of these to get caught up. Enjoy!
It’s 3 o’clock and I’m sitting at my desk with my head in both hands. I sucked at the meeting and Manny—that is, Mr. Tedros, as I’d better be careful to call him—gave me stink-eye when we broke for lunch. I can’t say I didn’t deserve it. First, we are behind and while that’s mainly due to factors beyond our control, I was so scattered…
I walk into our apartment after dropping Erin off and grabbing a quick breakfast at my favorite café to find Amie on the couch, looking like something dragged in by a not very picky cat. Her sleek black hair is across her face in a messed-up tangle, she’s wearing her old Winnie the Pooh T-shirt and I think that’s it. The shirt’s long but not…
The sound of a door opening, followed by giggling and a couple of dull thumps, jerks me awake. Great. Savannah’s roommate is back. And she’s not alone. No matter how tired I am, I never sleep deeply in strange surroundings and now my ears are hyper-attuned as I hear footsteps and a muffled whisper. “Careful. Savannah’s sleeping.” “Oops,” a very femme, rather tipsy sounding voice…
Six flights of stairs are a lot. Growing up in Colorado, snowboarding was my winter workout and I mountain biked in summer but since I moved here, it’s had to be the gym and with my job lately, it hasn’t even been that. So I’m not in the shape I’d like to be. After five flights, my thighs are burning and I’m regretting my aversion…
Tap. Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap, tappity-tap… TAP. That’s the sound of my index finger against the steering wheel of my jeep. Yeah, I tap my finger like a mad woman when I’m anxious, worried, or angry and right now I’m all three. Worried about what Erin’s gonna walk into. Anxious if I’m doing the right thing. Angry that anyone should be in this…
“Hey? How are you doing? Okay?” I look up. She’s waiting there, Savannah, a worried look still on her face. Her teeth catch the corner of her lips for a moment, drawing my focus there. It’s disconcerting. I hate that I worried her. I also should not be staring at her lips. “Yeah. I’m doing… fine,” I lie. And not well. I have no idea…
A Work in Progress! Sapphic age-gap, fake-GF romance. Ch’s 1 & 2