Sunday Snippet: XO on the Warpath

It's the weekend of trying to keep my doggos from losing their minds. I love fireworks, don't get me wrong, but I feel for all the pets out there that freak out over them.

I continued with the great cleanout stuff this week. Honestly, I did more organizing than cleaning but being organized helps make cleaning and clearing a little easier.

I'm finally at a manageable level of projects. I have a few odds and ends to finish on a couple of them but they're with the authors or the designer and I'm waiting in the wings to review revisions.

Had another decent viewing week. Having a lighter workload does help. And I'm not as scattered on the attention span side of things.

Started out with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I'm finding new things in the episodes, which is one of the reasons I love to rewatch a series I've seen before.

Watched another episode of Art Detectives and I'm enjoying this show. I'm very interested in the backstory of Mack's dad. I'm also hoping for more backstory with his partner.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. Good to see the commissioner's daughter again. The mystery also ended up being intriguing.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. Very fun to not have a big murder to solve and see how Poirot uses his skill to ferret out what's going on.

Watched another episode of Elementary and, wow, season three ended on a big downer. I'm still trying to decide if Sherlock ended up relapsing or if he's just horribly distraught from Oscar's machinations. Oscar needs to die in a fire. Just saying.

Caught another episode of Batman Beyond and it's one I remembered. Loved the spin on an urban legend that had a grain of truth in it.

Started a new to me series with The Lower Decks. Enjoyed the first episode and ended up being happy I clocked the relationship between the captain and the know-it-all crew member. I'll enjoy watching more of this one.

Ended the week on an episode of Peak Practice. A lot going on in this one. And the tragic leap Will's patient made kind of surprised me. Kerry finding out the truth about her parentage kind of bummed me out, but I'm also seriously irritated by her parents being such ninnies about the whole thing. Definitely feel bad for Sam.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from XO on the Warpath, a novella about a couple who have to survive a series of mistakes that set one of them off.

Here's the miniblurb:

Garrick Mellark, executive officer of the Methone, is on the warpath. His crew is bucking orders and he's not going to deal with it anymore. Shay Vamper gets elected to soothe the snarly XO into his usual jovial self, which shouldn't be hard considering she's his current flame.

And a sneaky peek…

Garrick left the ship commander's quarters after briefing him on Garrick's zero tolerance policy. "Can't say he's thrilled with me right now." He didn't often cross swords with his superior officer, but he didn't mince words today.

Moving down the corridor to his quarters, he undogged the hatch … and found Shay pacing back and forth inside.

Heaving a sigh, he shut the door. "I can't right now, Shay." He crossed to his duty locker and yanked the latch.

Shay paused with a hand on her hip. "Can't what? Talk? Listen? Or hear what I have to say?" Crossing her arms over her chest, she arched her brows.

Garrick closed his eyes. "All of the above. I'm done talking. I just listened to Warff disagree with my strategy, and you're not going to say anything I'm ready to hear yet." His fingers undid the buttons on his shirt, and he shrugged out of it.

Shay flicked her tongue against her teeth. "So, you're still pissed off and cranky. Got it." She turned to exit his quarters.

Garrick shook his head. "Don't go. Please." He moved and wrapped his arms around her. "Stay with me." His lingering anger drained but exhaustion filled him. "My head hasn't stopped spinning and I'm terrible company, but I'm not mad at you. I'm really not."

Shay turned and rested her forehead against his. "When was the last time you got at least three or four hours of sleep?"

He huffed out a breath. "I don't know. A week ago?" More like a month.

She nudged him toward his berth. "I think you're off by about ninety days, Garrick." Patting the mattress, she waited until he got stretched out then slid in beside him.

Had it really been three months since he'd had a full eight hours of sleep or even half that? He shuffled through his memory. Damn. Pretty much.

Biting back a yawn, he sighed. "Geez. I need a vacation." He tucked on arm behind his head and wrapped the other one around Shay.

She chuckled. "Don't we all? But you … definitely need it the most." She lifted the cover of his shelving unit and set an alarm. "Get some rest. I'll run interference if anyone comes looking for you." Putting her head on his shoulder, she burrowed closer to his side.

Garrick didn't respond. His eyes drifted shut and sleep claimed him.

This story is a fun exploration of how reaching a breaking point can lead to good and not so good things.

 

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

ML Skye