Cary pushed Ann off the precipice. “What does your Buddhism tell you about this?” he yelled. Then the ground gave way beneath him.
Tag: relationship
#quikfic 124
Andrew couldn’t believe how lucky he was to be bedding this beautiful woman. She hadn’t told him about her praying mantis fetish.
#quikfic 121
“Kyle, I’m leaving you for another man.” Kyle pondered. “I hope his name isn’t Wyatt, because he’s the guy I’m leaving you for.”
#quikfic 67
Jana’s new boyfriend said that he was the Son of God. She thought a simple test was in order. Three days later, he was still dead.
#quikfic 63
She slammed the door, and her mom’s rosebud vase fell from its shelf. For a split second, he thought of catching it, but didn’t.
Fiction: Acceptable Risks
I agreed to meet her in the relative quiet of station night.
A space station never sleeps; the same work goes on all the time. But in a nod to our animal selves, some of the station’s lights dim at a certain hour, and business tends to be done more quietly while not quite half the people sleep.
I knew why she wanted to see me. We had a history. It was almost businesslike; we would make an exchange, and then I wouldn’t see her again until she wanted to make another exchange.
I walked slowly down the twilit corridor toward her apartment. Station personnel like me have quarters; civilians have apartments. It’s a nice distinction. Someday I’d like to have an apartment, but what would I do on Outreach Four if I weren’t in Spacefleet?
At her door, I paused. If I got caught, I’d be cashiered and sent back to Earth. Worse, her part of the exchange…
Fiction: Play the Game
As they walked from the car toward the restaurant, David hummed a few notes and fondly patted Laura’s right back pocket a few times.
“Got a song in your head?” she asked.
“One of Queen’s.” Before he could tell her which song, Laura spoke.
“If it’s Fat Bottomed Girls, you are a dead man.”
They stopped and he looked at her. The silence continued seven seconds longer than it should have before he replied, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”
“That’s nice.”
They walked on to the restaurant. David opened the door for Laura and switched his mental soundtrack to We Are the Champions.
Fiction: Pajamas
Darla hung her bra on the closet doorknob. She put her arms into her cotton nightshirt, raised it above her head and let it fall down her body.
She paused briefly as she turned back the covers on her side of the bed. Stephen’s pajamas were folded neatly on his side of the bed, not quite touching his pillow. She had washed the bedding a few times since that day when he walked out, but she had been careful to replace his pajamas where he had left them.
Fiction: Pants on Fire
A quick, gentle tattoo sounded on Don’s hotel door. He left off icing the champagne and all but danced across the room. He pulled on the handle.
“You’re early, my dear Mel— Erin!” A flash of surprise crossed his face, but he kept his smile in place. “Erin! Why, I’m so glad to see you, honey!”
“The hell you are,” she spat. “You’re expecting Melanie, here, even though you told me you were flying to Calgary for a meeting this weekend.”
“Well, it was canceled, but my colleague at work, Melanie, and I decided that we could go ahead and prepare…”
“Shut up! I’ve had enough of your lies. You’ve lied to me from day one. We’re finished.” She started to walk away.
“But, Erin, I love you!”
Erin stopped to glare at him. “How appropriate: your first and last lies are the same.” She turned and walked quickly to the stairway, which offered a more immediate exit than waiting for the elevator.
Don closed the door and went back to icing the champagne. “It’s all right,” he told himself. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t miss her.” He picked up two champagne glasses and swirled some crushed ice in them. He watched it spin. “It’s all right. Really it is.”
Moments later, another knock came at the door. Don opened it cautiously.
There was Melanie, all smiles, and Don smiled too.
“Hello, my dear Melanie!”
“Hello.” She hugged him. “Anything wrong?”
“Nothing at all. What could possibly be wrong? We’re here together and … I love you.”