Sunday Snippet: Blurred Lines

Brrrrr!! It's crazypants cold in Ohio. We're having the standard bizarre weather. At the beginning of the week, we had an icy snow mix. My middle kidlet had his second spinout and almost took out a road sign. Luckily, the damage to his car is minimal and he didn't get a ticket. Thank you, Deputy H! On Thursday, it was almost sixty degrees. Friday started out around fifty-eight then steadily dropped over thirty degrees and dumped freezing rain and eight inches of snow. I'm at the point where I'm over the crappy driving conditions. I don't mind winter weather for the most part but I hate driving when ice is involved. Bleh.

The nice thing about the frigid temperatures is settling in with a good manuscript and watching movies or television. This week I got through the most of the back half of Chicago Fire. Some very emotional through lines, which I enjoyed. I'm liking the later season episodes much better than the first part of the season.

I'm hoping to start The Punisher this week. I've heard some terrific things about the season. Looking forward to more Frank Castle.

Also rewatching Hollywood Dirt on Passionflix. This steamy movie is so much fun. I'm a fan of the male lead anyway so I'm thrilled to have him in a hot and sexy role.

My regular shows return this week and I'm excited. Can't wait for more Arrow episodes. Also looking forward to the Black Lightning premiere.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Blurred Lines, a novella that started as a snippet in time alternate universe fanfiction for one of my favorite shows. I liked the story so much I wanted to make it original.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Becca and York. Finding their way back to each other is the ultimate achievement. Working out how they'll function together is the challenge. The lines are all blurry because they've crossed back and forth so many times.

And a preview snippet…

Penny would probably be better for him than Becca. But Penny didn't get him. Not truly, in the elemental way a perfect partner should understand their mate. Their most recent conversation more or less proved the point.

He'd slept in the guest room the night before. She had entered the kitchen, barely sparing him a glance before pouring a cup of coffee and sitting down to pick up her work unit, scanning the daily assignments. He'd expected the cold shoulder, and honestly, the chilly atmosphere gave him the resolve he needed to dig in his heels.

He grabbed his mug and carried it to the counter. "I think you and I need to face some hard truths."

Penny laid her device aside and lifted a brow. "And what would those be, York?" She tapped her fingernails on the pristine white surface of the bar.

He set his cup down. "I'm not what you really want. You love what you think I should be."

She flicked her gaze in his direction. "And what's that, York?"

He sighed. "An ideal. One I can't live up to."

Her lips thinned to a straight line. "Because you don't want to."

He met her gaze. "I've never wanted to. Can you not see that, Penny?" He placed his forearms on the counter, leaning in. "I'll never be what you picture in your head."

She rolled a shoulder and got up. "You have no idea what I imagine, York. And that's your choice, too." She gave him a sad smile.

Something she did a lot lately, not that anyone would ever know. She always put on a brave face and played happily ever after.

The act drove him mad sometimes.

He straightened. "I thought we could build something—a life—together." He pushed away from the bar, pacing back and forth. "But, Penny, the only thing we constructed is a carefully fabricated lie." He stopped and sighed. "And I have no idea how to find the truth anymore."

Penny got up and tilted her head to the side. "Yes, you do." She nodded, a resigned look settling across her face. "Yes. You do." She shook her head. "But you're right, York. I loved the man I thought you should be, and you're not that man."

He agreed. "No, I'm not."

Penny gave him a long considering look. "I won't expect you home tonight. You can send a moving service to get your things."

I'm having a lot of fun writing this one. The story hasn't quite made up its mind if it wants to be magickal fantasy or speculative romance, but I like the magickal elements. We'll see if the sages finally decide which way they want to go.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye