First week of August down and in the books. Next weekend we move my daughter to her dorm and pray for the best. They're doing a shortened semester, very similar to what a college quarter used to be. She'll be moving back right before Thanksgiving and won't return to campus until January.
Busy week with projects and random things that needed attention. I did get more of my desk cleared off for the big overhaul organization.
Limited viewing time this week but I got a few things watched. I did start Gabriel's Inferno part two and have about half of it finished. I actually decided to dedicate actual time to watching and not do anything else while it's playing. Hence the reason I'm only halfway through.
I watched another episode of Danger Man and also started a new episode of Blue Heelers. Like I said, busy week where I couldn’t spend the time I wanted to catching up on television.
I did have Ovation's morning mysteries on as background noise during the day. Murdoch Mysteries, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, and Midsomer Murders for the win. I also caught a block of Numb3rs on Friday.
That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Game of One, a sexy short that got a start as a writing community prompt.
Here's the mini-blurb:
Lacie Brooks' annual Valentine's Day tradition of getting laid and letting off steam is cut short when she shoots her mouth off to the wrong superior officer. Stuck on base, she finds a way to pass her restricted time with Ren Blankenship by playing a Game of One. Too bad for Lacie, Ren decides to turn the tables on her and win for a change.
And a sneaky peek…
"Blankenship, why is it every year you're working when you should be out giving some hot woman a taste of your swizzle stick on Valentine's Day?"
Ren glanced up from the mass of papers he'd spread out over several tables. The unit CO, a grizzled, old-school colonel, propped his shoulder on the open hatch. His bushy eyebrows arched over his pale blue gaze.
Ren shrugged. "You know the drill, colonel. Someone has to stay behind and keep an eye on the ship." The less "Iron Gut" Grassi knew about Ren the better.
The colonel chatted up Ren's old man a little too often for Ren's comfort.
Grassi grunted and shoved away from the hatch. "True enough." He started to walk away. "At least you'll have a friend onboard."
Ren tilted his head to one side. "Who's staying behind?" A small contingent always remained aboard the ship, but no one Ren considered a close pal.
The colonel didn't stop. "You'll find out soon enough, Blankenship. Don't worry."
Ren snorted. Grassi must be yanking Ren's chain. The guy gave Ren a hard time about the lack of carousing he did. Holiday or not, Ren liked his private life to be, well, private.
And he always volunteered for duty on Valentine's weekend. Why not give the members of his unit a chance to spend some quality time with their spouses, significant others, and partners? He didn't have a current long-term relationship at the moment.
"Don't want one, either. Especially with a civilian."
He'd spent his childhood watching the ups and downs of his parents' marriage. They followed a routine, always the same. Two or three days of behaving like newlyweds then knockdown, drag out fights for the rest of his father's leave.
Ren escaped to his best friend's house. Chuck Ashford had the life Ren wanted. Steady and grounded, Chuck's parents always welcomed Ren and gave him a small taste of normal. Even now, he stayed in touch with them more frequently than with his own parents, who'd finally gotten divorced when Ren finished school.
He'd never be a substitute for the Ashfords's son, but the contact helped ease the loss for Monica and Doug. Monica kept a room ready for Ren's infrequent visits and he liked knowing he had a place to call home when he needed one. His mother traveled from place to place, letting her wanderlust dictate the destinations. Oren Senior had command of an outpost and rarely left duty long enough to engage in conversation.
Suited Ren fine. He'd never been close with his father, couldn't quite measure up to the man's expectations.
"If an almost spotless record and making rank at regular intervals doesn't hold water with my dad … why bother?"
Ren set his own goals and worked toward them. Celebrated his achievements on his own.
Not a perfect deal, but it worked.
And his mom? Miranda Cooper Blankenship-Conrad-Hooper-whatever the hell the new husband's name ended up being would probably never admit it, but she hadn't wanted children. The woman didn't possess a maternal bone. It bothered Ren until he realized she'd done what she could. He wouldn't fault her for not being what others considered a normal mom. It also helped put the shouting matches between his parents into perspective.
"And showed me what I don't want in a relationship."
His last one ended when his girlfriend, a civilian accountant, pulled a tactic from his mom's playbook. Celia did the I-miss-you mind-blowing sex followed by forty-eight hours of nitpicky bullshit fights. Nothing he said, did, or suggested made her happy. The whole weekend sealed it for Ren. Before he left for base, he cut ties, and made a clean break. He wouldn't, and couldn't, change his career plans and he had another dozen years before he'd consider mustering out.
Nope. No more civilian girlfriends.
Ren gathered up the duty reports from their slot on the watch desk. He might as well slog through at least some of them now.
He got settled and flipped through the day's fitreps. About halfway through a name jumped out. Lacie Brooks.
Ren chuckled. "So that's who the colonel meant." What had she done this time?
She'd either been busted for instigating one of her legendary stunts or tagged for insubordination. Lacie's notorious luck at the card table had her raking in cash or concocting crazy ass scenarios to put people in. He'd been a victim on more than one occasion and she usually came up with the most embarrassing things for him to do.
He folded back the rest of the file to read her sheet. He snorted. Lacie popped off at a superior officer again.
"Will the woman never learn to think about the consequences before she opens her mouth?"
A little longer preview this time. I'm hoping to finish this up and get it published in the near future, possibly early 2021.
That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.
ML Skye
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