Sunday Snippet: Table of Lies

Welcome, December! I'm truly not sure what this month will bring. I'm at a weird place where I feel kind of stuck and a little buried under the weight of needing to get things done … but I have no idea where to start.

Work slowed down a little, which isn't a great thing. But it did give me some time to spend with my daughter when she came home for Thanksgiving break. I'm so grateful for that time. And December still looks to be booked with projects for the most part.

The temperature did drop but didn't quite dip into the teens. I'm really not ready for the arctic blast yet. But it does help get me in a mood for the holidays.

Had a semi-decent week of viewing. My sleep schedule is all over the place again and that doesn't always make for a good attention span.

Watched the season two premiere episode of London Kills. Nice to see Billie back in action. I'm interested in the ongoing arc from season one. This cast is stellar, and I love the changing dynamics between them.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm starting to find some redeeming value in Neville. I liked the way he kind of helped Florance. Really not sure about Marlon.

Enjoyed part one of Silent Witness. Loving some inside looks at Jack and Nikki and the mystery is kind of amazing. I have no idea where things are going and that's always fun.

Watched another episode of Elementary. Mycroft is an ass and maybe that's a good thing. He definitely has some explaining to do. I do give him kudos for being able to manipulate Sherlock even if I hate that he could. And I'm going to be really pissed if Sherlock decides Joan is his weakness and starts acting like a bigger ass than Mycroft.

Caught an episode of The Batman and it's one I don't remember watching previously. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Having a team that is completely opposite of Batman and Robin was fun.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. I think it's the final one where the whole episode is one story. I kind of wish there were more of those.

And that's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Table of Lies, a novella that features one of my favorite tropes of meeting the wrong brother first.

Here's the miniblurb:

Nichelle Stohl finally has her life on course—she's an instructor at the coveted academy of military science and she's testing the relationship waters for the first time since a truly horrible break up. Then she meets Garth Fillion—her boyfriend's brother—and her world tilts sideways.

And a sneaky peek…

Garth Fillion returned from a lunch meeting and grinned when he noticed the message light flashing on his computer. "Hope that's Quint getting back to me." His brother's concept of time didn't always reflect reality.

But Garth wouldn't trade his younger brother for anything on the planet. They might be opposites in almost everything, but Quint never failed to brighten things up wherever he went. Before their parents got divorced, Quint made life bearable when the arguments got out of hand by using humor to drown out the yelling and shouting from both adults. Garth tried to be the one to ease the strife, and usually got caught in the middle. Quint would usually come down and drag Garth away with a lame excuse—like Quint needed help with his homework—then get into his stash of snack foods to share before regaling Garth with bad jokes.

Garth shook his head. "Those jokes haven't improved since grade school." And if he sometimes wished Quint would dial back the antics, Garth rarely expressed that hope.

Because Quint used humor as a release valve and deserved to cope however he wanted to … especially after their turbulent childhood.

Pressing the icon on his monitor, Garth listened to his brother's message.

"Yo, G-man. Can't wait to see you, even if I have to share you with the ministry defoffs."

Garth snorted at the nickname his brother gave to the defense officers on base next to the military academy.

The one their dad and Garth each graduated from and where Quint currently spent his days. Garth had to monitor an inspection of a newly launched program for the ministry. One of the new responsibilities he'd inherited when he'd accepted his position in the ministry of defense.

Quint added a parting shot. "Also, I won't be on campus. I crash at my girlfriend's place on the weekends. Stop by after six for dinner. We'll catch up then." He rattled off the address then signed off.

Garth's eyes widened. "Girlfriend. Huh." A new development since they'd spoken last?

Or … one of Quint's practical jokes? With Quint, Garth didn't know for sure. He could end up in the middle of nowhere with Quint laughing his ass off.

Garth jotted the address down. "Not in a neighborhood I'm familiar with." He'd double-check the mapping program before heading out this weekend.

I love exploring different variations on a theme. Meeting the wrong brother first opens up a lot of possibilities. Garth and Quint are fun to write and throwing Nichelle into the mix is a lot of fun.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye