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Friday, June 24, 2011

Fiction Friday- Rom Com

Brandi, you won!!
Check your email for info on your prize from Lisa Lickel. =)

Here is last week's story (credits at the end):

***
Dana H. Strauss reached out and grabbed a handful of little Tyler's shirt sleeve, successfully bringing the boy's department store antics to a halt. His sister Tina, on the other hand, still roamed free. And finding her amidst all the clothes racks would take some doing. Why she ever agreed to watch the little monsters for her old school chum was beyond her imagination. But here she was.

She stooped down digging through the rounders muttering, "When I get my hands on you..."

A throat cleared from behind her. She twisted her head and looked up at the linebacker in a suit. Not her best moment.

"Are you looking for something?"

She blinked and smiled. "A red dress. All I see is brown."

He grinned as his eyebrows twitched upward. "Is that right?" He pulled the other little terror out from behind the curtain, also known as his back. Tina's cheesy grin punched her in the stomach.

"She says she belongs to you."

Dana jumped to her feet and smoothed out her shirt. "Well, not technically. Just for today. I'm single." Heat flushed her cheeks. She did not just say that.

His mouth tipped up at the corner. "And I'm now officially late." He nudged the Tina toward her and scowled.

Dana eyed the green tie in his hand and saw his open collar. Last minute shopping. She could relate.

Only he didn't have to do it with the poster child for contraception. Ugh! If only she had as good a handle on the word 'no' as Tina did.

"Sorry you had to corral her for me, I--" Dana's words were cut short as the little girl stomped on her foot and ran in the other direction.

Dana, quickly shoved Tyler into the "hunk" and took off running in her high heels after the brat. Yes, brat, just like her mother was when she was young. Poetic justice to Dana's way of thinking. Her mad turned quickly into fear as she saw Tina exit the store's front door.

"Tina! Stop!" Dana sprinted as fast as she could in those accursed heels but the front door seemed a mile away.

A green tie floated to her feet as the man whooshed by her in a blur. Within seconds he reappeared, dragging Tina with a solid clasp of her hand.

"Th-thank you. Again."

"Don't mention it. Just uh... get these little escape artists home to their mother ASAP." He winked.

I picked up the tie from the floor and handed it to him. "Yes. I'm dropping them off right now. I'm sorry you're late for ... wherever you're going."

"Speaking of, I have to go. Job interview, big one. Sorry if I snapped at you, I'm kinda nervous."
The linebacker in JC Penney's version of Armani gave a final wave and disappeared. Dana whispered a quick prayer for her hero, limited by the kids and a ringing cell phone.

"Dana, how are the kids? Never mind, I can only imagine. I need one more big favor from you." Dana's friend rushed her words, most likely from her habitual three coffee a day habit.

"I don't know how it can get any bigger but go ahead, what do you need?"

"My boss just threw a last minute interview at me. He was supposed to give it but his daughter is in labor and this is the first grandbaby. He's on his way to get his wife and go to the hospital. I should only be a few minutes, the candidate's resume looks amazing. Can you pretty please give me a few more minutes and then bring Tyler and Tina to me at work?" Dana glanced down at the two making funny noises with their armpits and sighed.

"You owe me big, my friend."

She clicked her phone off. "Well good luck, Mr...?"

"Campbell. Mike Campbell. Thanks." He smiled at her before trotting off toward the cashier.

Dana watched him go, then strengthened her grip on each of the kids' hands and headed for the car.

Once she'd wrestled them into their seats, buckled them in, and got the doors locked, she pulled out of the lot just in time to see one Mr. Mike Campbell slide into the driver's side of a shiny, black Camry and roll up right behind her. She turned on her right blinker at the light. So did he.

Her heart quickened as his car trailed her down Rivertown. Was he following her?

The answer came all too quickly when she turned into the Golden Arches. His Camry flew by without so much as a wave. Of course. Disappointment dropped its weight onto her stomach.

Screams erupted from the backseat. No way she was going inside with those two. She pulled into the drive-thru and ordered two chocolate shakes and fries along with her Coke. That should buy her some quiet time. She needed it to work her thoughts of Mike Campbell out of her mind.

Couldn't she have met him any other day?

A sigh escaped. Today was yet another example of her infamously bad luck with men. Her friends would love this story. She'd settle for one with a happy ending. Whatever that was.

"Okay, Lord, I know you have a plan...maybe someday you'll whack me upside the head with it..."
***

written by: Jessica Patch, Susan, Jo, Julie Arduini, and myself

I don't know about you, but I want to read more of this! Was he going to the interview with her friend? Would he ask her to coffee afterwards? AHHH, it ended too soon. Ah well, time for the next story. Let's try another Rom Com. Jump in to play:

Brenda hoisted a bag over her shoulder, picked up her suitcase in one hand, laptop case in the other, and skittered down the aisle toward her gate. Why had she worn these accursed wedge heels instead of her comfy sneakers? She needed to be there five minutes ago. If she missed her connecting flight, she'd be stuck in new Jersey overnight. With him. . .

8 comments:

Marji Laine - Faith Driven Fiction said...

I want to read more too! I was hoping it was a preview chapter or something! You guys are just stinkin' talented!

Jessica R. Patch said...

And after last night's fiasco, she wasn't staying another minute in Jersey. Forgeddaboutit. She giggled then winced at the pain in her feet. A voice barked behind her. "What you're going to leave? Just like that?"

Oh for the love.

Claudia said...

"Seriously Jake, I just need some space. I'm already running late and we have been over this about a million times."

What would a million and one hurt, she thought to herself. She was so crazy about him, but she was also worn out by him at the same time.

Gary L. Wade said...

"Well, don't forget your coffee and change." Jake's left hand held her tall house blend, his right an assorted set of coins, and his face the appearance of a whipped puppy.

What do I have in common with an airport coffee shop barista, even if he used to be...

"This is the final call for flight 237 to Omaha. Shortly after this announcement...."

No time for coffee, change, or love.

Jessica R. Patch said...

Brenda frowned and stared at the change in Jake's hands. What was he talking about? She didn't buy a coffee.

She heard the boarding call once more and it dawned on her. "You brought my change...for the coffee...last night?"

He shrugged and turned the corner of his mouth up. "Would you believe me if I said, 'yes'?"

She juggled the bag weighing her down and snatched the sixty-four cents from his hand. "Not even a little bit. I gotta go."

Jake took the bag from her shoulder. "What if I said, 'stay.'"

"Last call for Omaha."

Julie Arduini said...

Brenda was thankful for the window seat. She stared at the puffy clouds so close she wished she could touch them. Focusing on the flight took her mind off her reality.

Omaha called for painful heels but it also promised if all went well a nice promotion and her own office.

New Jersey kept her in a comfort zone that felt like a chokehold. Her position at work needed a lift. Jake, the ultimate in comfort zone, needed a heave go.

By leaving him at the airport gate to take this flight, Brenda was pretty sure she just executed a huge leap out of the comfort zone.

Gary L. Wade said...

The call beep broke her reverie. "If you are up and about, please take your seats and fasten your seat belts," the flight attendant said. "The captain has reported we'll be experiencing some turbulence for the remainder of the flight."

I hate turbulence, thought Brenda.

"Due to safety issues, we'll be discontinuing in-flight service at this time."

Discontinued service. When is service ever not continued? Brenda shut her eyes and balled her fists.

Brandi Boddie said...

Yay, thanks Michelle! I'll be looking for the email!