Sunday Snippet: Ringside Seats

Ugh. So many small irritants combined to make the week rather challenging. Car problems, house problems, and too many things hitting at once. I'll get through it all, but I'm stressing out, which isn't fun.

The great news is we didn't lose power even with the wild back and forth temperatures. I have a feeling April won't be much better than March when it comes to stabilizing the weather patterns. If only the world could figure out what's causing all the bizarre weather. Yes, that's sarcasm. The world knows what the problem is.

Got a lot of work completed over the week. I have four main projects on my schedule and I'm plugging away at all of them. Finishing up two but have two more waiting in the wings. I also have a couple of backburner projects that I'll be dipping into again.

Had a semi-decent viewing week. Two of my projects involve some tedious cleanup and it's nice to have something on in the background to keep things interesting. I made it through most of my usual shows.

I started with Foyle's War and enjoyed the episode. Kind of sad to see his female counterpart moved to the sidelines again. Lovely to see Sam help her husband get elected as an MP.

Caught another episode of Return to Paradise. I remembered most of this one and enjoyed seeing some familiar faces from other shows I've watched set in Australia.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. Really fun to see a couple of very young costars in this one. Also thoroughly enjoyed the mystery.

Elementary had a great episode. I didn't quite make it all the way through because I got distracted, but I enjoyed it.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and I'm about two episodes from the end of the series and I need to decide what I'll be watching next. Maybe a Justice League series.

Caught another episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks and very much enjoyed watching Boimler lose his mind. Very fun!

I also had a chance to use my library membership to watch a Stevie Nicks concert via the Kanopy app. I'm going to work hard to make sure I'm taking advantage of everything my local libraries offer. The concert was so good!

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Ringside Seats, a novella where a couple battles it out in paranormal cage fight during finals week.

Here's the miniblurb:

An unclaimed attraction leads to some aggressive score settling in the apprentice's ring, when Vita Morj and Keb Pennyson are challenged to see who'd win in a magical bout. It may end up a draw, because neither opponent plans to give quarter.

And a preview snippet…

Keb had enough of sparring with his mom and dad.

He heaved a sigh and scooted away from the battle. "Vita, since my parents are being insufferable, why don't we have dinner in town?" He turned toward her spot at the table and blinked. "Where the hell did she go?" How did I miss her leaving?

Mathers rolled the dinner cart inside the room. "The young lady left … about ten minutes ago." He started serving the food with a bland expression.

Keb cursed and left the dining room. He grabbed his coat and checked for his keys. He had to catch up with Vita.

His mother darted after him. "Where do you think you're going?" Her voice rose to a shrill peak.

Keb didn't break stride before yanking the door open. "It's a long walk back to town and, since we're in the academy, we're still under restriction. She can't use a teleport to get home." He left both parents sputtering.

Shocked and surprised by the turn of events, he slid behind the wheel of his car and spun out exiting the drive.

He shook his head. "I can't believe she left." Shame washed over him. "First time a date has walked out on me." He kind of admired her for doing it.

He caught up with her halfway down the and rolled his window down. "You don't have to walk. I'll take you back." He slowed to a crawl.

She snorted and continued walking. "Not. A. Chance." She kept her gaze straight ahead, not even bothering to glance in his direction.

His eyes widened. "You're refusing to go with me? It's a long way back, and you're not dressed for a hike." A fissure of guilt twisted in his gut.

She paused and gave him a hard look. "No. Apparently, I dressed for your rebellion." She clicked her tongue against her teeth. "To be perfectly clear, I'm not here for that kind of bullshit. No one uses me and gets away with it." She blinked watery eyes, turned, and started walking again.

As far as scathing setdowns went, she unloaded with both barrels. She also kicked serious ass. Respect for her went up another notch.

He threw the car in park and hopped out, running to catch up with her. "Look, you're right. And I apologize." He grasped her shoulder.

Vita rolled her eyes. "Too little, too late, Keb." She started forward again but stopped and faced him. "Out of curiosity … how did you see this ending? After you fucked with your parents? We'd what? Leave together, have dinner somewhere else, and you'd offer some consolation sex?" Her voice caught and she swallowed hard.

He flushed because she'd literally called his planned evening.

She tsked. "That's really too bad. If you'd been honest and hadn't pretended you were interested in me, I might have enjoyed being part of your little show." Her lips twisted in a sad smile. "As for the rest of your planned evening … it's definitely your loss. Because I would've rocked your world." She shook her head. "You'll never know how much now." She met his gaze. "It's sad, too. I should've known better. I mean, what could someone like you possibly see in me?" She inhaled deeply. "But I really liked you, so I fell hook, line, and sinker." A

Keb reached out. "Shit. Let me make it up to you. I pulled a dick move, and you got hurt in the crossfire." He cupped her face with one hand, swiping his thumb over an errant teardrop.

Vita jerked away from him. "Your dick move is barely a blip on my radar, and I'll be fine. You have no idea how strong I've had to be my whole life." She arched her brows. "But you? You have to live with the consequences … which means you'll be on my bad side from now on." A dark shadow entered her gaze. "And that's not going to be fun for you." She took off, casting an invisibility cloak so he couldn't follow her.

Keb returned home with the sinking knowledge he'd underestimated Vita Morj in the worst possible way…

And with the absolute certainty he'd just blown something that could have been terrific.

I have so much love for this story. Vita has some scathing sass and Keb definitely lands on the wrong side of her, which makes this a lot of fun to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye