Chrissy Munder's Blog, page 80
December 9, 2010
Excerpt Thursday! The Reason for the Season
My second entry in the Dreamspinner Press 2010 Advent Calendar is The Reason for the Season. Now available for individual sale: here
The Reason for the Season
: All college student Adam Everett is trying to do is get to his sister's house for holiday break. First his car breaks down, then his ride takes off to Vegas with his gas money, forcing Adam to come up with a Plan C. His last hope is a campus ride exchange, where he ends up with the reluctant Michael Brennan. When a "snowpocalypse" forces them to share a motel room, they soon find out there's more than one reason for the chance happenings of the season.
Excerpt:
"DON'T do this to me, man." Adam Everett stood in the lobby of his dorm, a small duffel bag at his feet, and stared at his cell phone in disbelief. Ridiculous as he couldn't see the face of his friend in the matte black surface, but sometimes instinct won out over sense. "I've been waiting for almost an hour."
"Sorry." Jim's laughter after the apology proved the words false. "But she gave me an offer I couldn't refuse, or at least one hell of a blow job."
"Don't tell him that!"
Adam heard the indignant squeal in the background, the faint slaps and giggles audible over the crappy college radio station Jim listened to and thought made him cool. Enough to grasp that Jim's girlfriend didn't appreciate the comment. But he found it hard to be concerned about Lori's injured feelings when not only would he bet the statement true, but he ended up being the one left hanging.
"What am I supposed to do now?" Adam didn't know which made him madder: himself for whining, or Jim for screwing him over once again. He kicked his duffel to the side, trying to stay out of the way as the few remaining residents rushed around him, eager to head out and away from the grind of the semester.
"You can get a ride with someone else. Everybody goes home for Christmas break." Jim's voice sounded slow and lazy. Probably stoned again, and he had promised Adam he wouldn't get messed up and drive.
"Yeah, and everybody's already left." Adam paced, his boots scuffing across the tile floor, and struggled to keep his anger from bleeding through into his voice. He should have known better than to count on Jim. They were the last ones out of their circle of friends still on campus, all because Jim had promised to pick Lori up after work. Mentioned how this would be his only chance to see her for two weeks, and she didn't care to drive in the snow. Well, then why did she choose a college in Michigan's Upper Peninsula?
"S'not a big deal, just offer to pay for gas like you did me."
A trio of girls pushed past him, bundled against the weather in colorful skiwear and talking a mile a minute. The blonde on the end hit Adam with her bag, knocking him in the shoulder as she passed, and she waved rather than stopped. "Sorry," she called out, pulling a knit cap down over her curls. They climbed into the SUV waiting in the front circle and drove off. The vehicle's tracks were quickly erased by a fresh powdering of snow.
"That's the problem, asshole." Frustrated, Adam ran his hand through his hair. Easy for Jim to act like this was no big deal. "I paid you already. I need my money back."
"You snooze, you lose." Jim laughed again, overpowering Lori's voice, faint and questioning over the fragile connection. "The tank's full and we're on the road."
"The car's big enough for all three of us." Adam hated having to ask, and didn't want to be a passenger when the driver was under the influence, but he had promised his older sister, Sherry, he'd be home this holiday, and he couldn't disappoint her. Of course, that had been before the transmission on his car had gone out, and he'd had to scramble for a ride. Maybe he'd be able to talk Jim in to letting him drive, at least until he came down. "Come pick me up."
"Not happening. I'm a one-woman man, not a one-man man like you. Aren't I, baby?" Adam fumed, forced to listen while Jim and Lori exchanged sloppy kisses. "Besides, change of plans. We're heading west, not south. Leaving all this winter wonderland crap behind."
"Vegas, here we come," Lori yelled enthusiastically into the phone. "Woohoo."
"Jim," Adam had to shout over her voice. "Don't you hang up on me. Jim?" Lori kept hollering even as Jim disconnected and left him hanging on to dead air. "You asshole."
Special note to readers: Be sure to take advantage of the 20% Holiday Discount from Dreamspinner Press available now through the end of the year. Enter the following code at checkout: HolidayDreams (without the cool colors).
The Reason for the Season by Chrissy Munder
Available from Dreamspinner Press individually and as part of the Naughty or Nice 2010 Advent Calendar
Buy Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=55_128&products_id=2092
To learn more about my work:
Website: http://www.chrissymunder.com
Blog: http://chrissymunder.livejournal.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chrissymunder
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ChrissyMunder
The Reason for the Season
: All college student Adam Everett is trying to do is get to his sister's house for holiday break. First his car breaks down, then his ride takes off to Vegas with his gas money, forcing Adam to come up with a Plan C. His last hope is a campus ride exchange, where he ends up with the reluctant Michael Brennan. When a "snowpocalypse" forces them to share a motel room, they soon find out there's more than one reason for the chance happenings of the season.Excerpt:
"DON'T do this to me, man." Adam Everett stood in the lobby of his dorm, a small duffel bag at his feet, and stared at his cell phone in disbelief. Ridiculous as he couldn't see the face of his friend in the matte black surface, but sometimes instinct won out over sense. "I've been waiting for almost an hour."
"Sorry." Jim's laughter after the apology proved the words false. "But she gave me an offer I couldn't refuse, or at least one hell of a blow job."
"Don't tell him that!"
Adam heard the indignant squeal in the background, the faint slaps and giggles audible over the crappy college radio station Jim listened to and thought made him cool. Enough to grasp that Jim's girlfriend didn't appreciate the comment. But he found it hard to be concerned about Lori's injured feelings when not only would he bet the statement true, but he ended up being the one left hanging.
"What am I supposed to do now?" Adam didn't know which made him madder: himself for whining, or Jim for screwing him over once again. He kicked his duffel to the side, trying to stay out of the way as the few remaining residents rushed around him, eager to head out and away from the grind of the semester.
"You can get a ride with someone else. Everybody goes home for Christmas break." Jim's voice sounded slow and lazy. Probably stoned again, and he had promised Adam he wouldn't get messed up and drive.
"Yeah, and everybody's already left." Adam paced, his boots scuffing across the tile floor, and struggled to keep his anger from bleeding through into his voice. He should have known better than to count on Jim. They were the last ones out of their circle of friends still on campus, all because Jim had promised to pick Lori up after work. Mentioned how this would be his only chance to see her for two weeks, and she didn't care to drive in the snow. Well, then why did she choose a college in Michigan's Upper Peninsula?
"S'not a big deal, just offer to pay for gas like you did me."
A trio of girls pushed past him, bundled against the weather in colorful skiwear and talking a mile a minute. The blonde on the end hit Adam with her bag, knocking him in the shoulder as she passed, and she waved rather than stopped. "Sorry," she called out, pulling a knit cap down over her curls. They climbed into the SUV waiting in the front circle and drove off. The vehicle's tracks were quickly erased by a fresh powdering of snow.
"That's the problem, asshole." Frustrated, Adam ran his hand through his hair. Easy for Jim to act like this was no big deal. "I paid you already. I need my money back."
"You snooze, you lose." Jim laughed again, overpowering Lori's voice, faint and questioning over the fragile connection. "The tank's full and we're on the road."
"The car's big enough for all three of us." Adam hated having to ask, and didn't want to be a passenger when the driver was under the influence, but he had promised his older sister, Sherry, he'd be home this holiday, and he couldn't disappoint her. Of course, that had been before the transmission on his car had gone out, and he'd had to scramble for a ride. Maybe he'd be able to talk Jim in to letting him drive, at least until he came down. "Come pick me up."
"Not happening. I'm a one-woman man, not a one-man man like you. Aren't I, baby?" Adam fumed, forced to listen while Jim and Lori exchanged sloppy kisses. "Besides, change of plans. We're heading west, not south. Leaving all this winter wonderland crap behind."
"Vegas, here we come," Lori yelled enthusiastically into the phone. "Woohoo."
"Jim," Adam had to shout over her voice. "Don't you hang up on me. Jim?" Lori kept hollering even as Jim disconnected and left him hanging on to dead air. "You asshole."
Special note to readers: Be sure to take advantage of the 20% Holiday Discount from Dreamspinner Press available now through the end of the year. Enter the following code at checkout: HolidayDreams (without the cool colors).
The Reason for the Season by Chrissy Munder
Available from Dreamspinner Press individually and as part of the Naughty or Nice 2010 Advent Calendar
Buy Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=55_128&products_id=2092
To learn more about my work:
Website: http://www.chrissymunder.com
Blog: http://chrissymunder.livejournal.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chrissymunder
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ChrissyMunder
Last Minute Gift Ideas from the Fine State of Michigan
While reading the National Conference of State Legislatures Unemployment Report as of November 23, 2010 I came across this interesting statement:
"Michigan continues to experience the second highest unemployment rate, at 12.8%. After leading the states with the highest unemployment rate for 50 straight months,..." While the article then tries to offer up encouragment as to how this is an improvement over June 2009's 15.2% rate of unemployment it's still not what I would call good news.
So I'm offering up Michigan Product links to those still looking for holiday gift ideas. Most will ship your choice of items across the U.S. in time for the holidays. Buy Michigan and help support our local economy.
-- Vollwerth Fine Meats. Family owned business started in 1915. Seriously the best hot dogs, ring bologna and other meat products EVER. Don't believe me? Try them yourself.
-- Frankenmuth Fudge Kitchen. Established in 1964 with mutiple locations (including Fudge du Locke in Sault St. Marie). Made with all natural ingredients, you have your choice of over 21 different flavors. One is sure to be your personal favorite.
-- Holly Candle Shoppe. Featuring soy candles with over 500 fragrance products. Buy a "Hope" candle and all proceeds are donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
-- Pasty.com. Pasties made in the Upper Penninsula. Your choice of U.P., Cornish or Veggy! Gift Certificates are available!
Not sure what gift you are looking for?
Visit Michigan-made.com or Pasty Central and browse their selection of Michigan Vendors and Products.
"Michigan continues to experience the second highest unemployment rate, at 12.8%. After leading the states with the highest unemployment rate for 50 straight months,..." While the article then tries to offer up encouragment as to how this is an improvement over June 2009's 15.2% rate of unemployment it's still not what I would call good news.
So I'm offering up Michigan Product links to those still looking for holiday gift ideas. Most will ship your choice of items across the U.S. in time for the holidays. Buy Michigan and help support our local economy.
-- Vollwerth Fine Meats. Family owned business started in 1915. Seriously the best hot dogs, ring bologna and other meat products EVER. Don't believe me? Try them yourself.
-- Frankenmuth Fudge Kitchen. Established in 1964 with mutiple locations (including Fudge du Locke in Sault St. Marie). Made with all natural ingredients, you have your choice of over 21 different flavors. One is sure to be your personal favorite.
-- Holly Candle Shoppe. Featuring soy candles with over 500 fragrance products. Buy a "Hope" candle and all proceeds are donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
-- Pasty.com. Pasties made in the Upper Penninsula. Your choice of U.P., Cornish or Veggy! Gift Certificates are available!
Not sure what gift you are looking for?
Visit Michigan-made.com or Pasty Central and browse their selection of Michigan Vendors and Products.
December 2, 2010
Looking for Excerpt Thursday?
How about joining the Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar Authors over at the Literary Nymphs Chat Yahoo Group for an all day chat! More excerpts! More discounts! And free book giveaways. How can you resist?
December 1, 2010
New Releases! Discount Sale! Chat Reminder! Snow! Advent Extravaganza!
How about those exclamation points? It's snowing outside today - perfect for December 1st and the release of the Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar! Didn't buy the set? Don't worry! Each story is available for individual sale and Dreamspinner is offering a 20% Holiday Discount now through the end of the year. The code to enter at checkout is: HolidayDreams (without the cool colors).
We now have buy links!
Better with Sprinkles
: College student Tom Molina isn't too interested when his roommate Derek tries to convince him to leave his books and help out with the campus LGBTA Center's annual Christmas cookie sale. But Derek has an ace in the hole to score the center Tom's grandmother's sugar cookie recipe: fellow volunteer Jeanette's cousin just happens to be the organic chemistry T.A. Tom's been dreaming about. Now Tom just has to hope Isaac is as interested in baking cookies as he is in chemistry and HIV awareness.
and
The Reason for the Season
: All college student Adam Everett is trying to do is get to his sister's house for holiday break. First his car breaks down, then his ride takes off to Vegas with his gas money, forcing Adam to come up with a Plan C. His last hope is a campus ride exchange, where he ends up with the reluctant Michael Brennan. When a "snowpocalypse" forces them to share a motel room, they soon find out there's more than one reason for the chance happenings of the season.
Want even more Advent Calendar Fun? Tomorrow - Thursday, December 2nd - visit Literary Nymphs Chat Yahoo Group for an all day chat with 2010 Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar Authors. More excerpts! More discounts! And even some free book giveaways.
We now have buy links!
Better with Sprinkles
: College student Tom Molina isn't too interested when his roommate Derek tries to convince him to leave his books and help out with the campus LGBTA Center's annual Christmas cookie sale. But Derek has an ace in the hole to score the center Tom's grandmother's sugar cookie recipe: fellow volunteer Jeanette's cousin just happens to be the organic chemistry T.A. Tom's been dreaming about. Now Tom just has to hope Isaac is as interested in baking cookies as he is in chemistry and HIV awareness.and
The Reason for the Season
: All college student Adam Everett is trying to do is get to his sister's house for holiday break. First his car breaks down, then his ride takes off to Vegas with his gas money, forcing Adam to come up with a Plan C. His last hope is a campus ride exchange, where he ends up with the reluctant Michael Brennan. When a "snowpocalypse" forces them to share a motel room, they soon find out there's more than one reason for the chance happenings of the season.Want even more Advent Calendar Fun? Tomorrow - Thursday, December 2nd - visit Literary Nymphs Chat Yahoo Group for an all day chat with 2010 Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar Authors. More excerpts! More discounts! And even some free book giveaways.
November 28, 2010
Sunday morning bliss
This morning's entertainment to savor with our coffee: 3 squirrels, 4 bluejays, 6 finches, 2 doves, and a real-live red-headed woodpecker. The cat was in heaven.
November 25, 2010
Why did the turkey end up in the crockpot?
Because at 5:00 this morning we discovered the heating element in the oven was broken - in more than two places. Thankfully, most of the other oven-needing goods had already been prepared in advance. But for those that love a yeasty roll with their mashed potatoes? No go.
Tomorrow's adventure? Finding a heating element for a stove that was new in 1971.
Tomorrow's adventure? Finding a heating element for a stove that was new in 1971.
November 22, 2010
Discounts at DSP and Chats! Oh My!
Busy making your plans for the next couple of weeks? Here's a few items you'll want to add to your calendar. (trust me, have I steered you wrong yet?)
-- First up - A 20% Holiday Discount from Dreamspinner Press! That's right. I just love it when they do this. Available now through the end of the year and each customer can use it twice!! Definitely worthy of an overuse of exclamation points. The code to enter at checkout is: HolidayDreams (without the cool colors).
( This may be a good time to remind buyers that my two Holiday shorts are available for individual sale starting December 1st and, can you say Chrissy's Backlist?)
-- What to do when you've had enough family and turkey (or tofurkey) to last a lifetime? Swing over to the Literary Nymphs Chat Yahoo Group for another amazing Thanksgiving Day Weekend M/M only Chat and feast on excerpts galore. This is shaping up to be their biggest chat ever! Starts Friday, November 26th and runs through Sunday, November 28th! I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to show, but I'll be there with bells on.
-- Sunday, November 28th is also the Dreamspinner Authors Chat Day at Talking Two Lips Reviews Yahoo Group . Come watch crazy authors bounce back and forth between the two chats. Warning: Insanity is catching.
-- Still looking for more distractions from Holiday Stress? On Thursday, December 2nd head back over to the Literary Nymphs Chat Yahoo Group for an all day chat with 2010 Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar Authors. More excerpts! More discounts! And even some free book giveaways.
-- Don't forget to check back here on Wednesday, December 15th for the December Edition of The Clare and Chrissy Show.
Hope to see you soon!
-- First up - A 20% Holiday Discount from Dreamspinner Press! That's right. I just love it when they do this. Available now through the end of the year and each customer can use it twice!! Definitely worthy of an overuse of exclamation points. The code to enter at checkout is: HolidayDreams (without the cool colors).
( This may be a good time to remind buyers that my two Holiday shorts are available for individual sale starting December 1st and, can you say Chrissy's Backlist?)
-- What to do when you've had enough family and turkey (or tofurkey) to last a lifetime? Swing over to the Literary Nymphs Chat Yahoo Group for another amazing Thanksgiving Day Weekend M/M only Chat and feast on excerpts galore. This is shaping up to be their biggest chat ever! Starts Friday, November 26th and runs through Sunday, November 28th! I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to show, but I'll be there with bells on.
-- Sunday, November 28th is also the Dreamspinner Authors Chat Day at Talking Two Lips Reviews Yahoo Group . Come watch crazy authors bounce back and forth between the two chats. Warning: Insanity is catching.
-- Still looking for more distractions from Holiday Stress? On Thursday, December 2nd head back over to the Literary Nymphs Chat Yahoo Group for an all day chat with 2010 Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar Authors. More excerpts! More discounts! And even some free book giveaways.
-- Don't forget to check back here on Wednesday, December 15th for the December Edition of The Clare and Chrissy Show.
Hope to see you soon!
Review for Stormy Weather by Dark Diva Reviews
Busy in the midst of clean-up and organizing for ye olde end of 2010 and realized that I missed posting a link to this delightful review from Dark Diva Reviews. Filing this under the "not very organized heading".
I really liked Grant and Craig in this story - another two of my characters that don't seem to get much time to come out and play, and I'm glad Jaime found them appealing as well.
Stormy Weather by Chrissy Munder - available in the Make Me a Match Vol. 2 Anthology from Dreamspinner Press.
Summary: Meteorologist Grant Singer is sick of dates who only want to bed the TV "weather guy". But the matches from the online dating service he signs up with are even worse. In fact, the only thing that makes the endless dinner dates bearable is Craig, the cute waiter at his favorite restaurant. Luckily for Grant, Craig never misses one of his forecasts….
Jaime's Review:
This was a lovely tale of two guys who manage to find one another through the crowd, even though they don't quite know right away what they're looking at. I rather liked Craig and his simple resolve to be content with his life. He has a certain surety that he will meet the right guy, eventually, even if he hasn't, yet. Maybe that's the optimism of youth, but I think it's also about his personality, being open to chance. Grant's not so sure Mr. Right exists after his recent dating fiascos, but he's willing to try, and that's always a plus.
This really is a sweet story despite the sex scenes, which generally tend to push any story from sweet to at least sensual. In this case, they are well done and somehow manage to retain the sense established in the story of honest, uncomplicated love. The characters are easy to like, their situations are easy to sympathise with, and you just want them to see each other and more importantly, recognize each other. I like the way the story closes with them still being just who they are, honest and tender, and you just know it's all worked out for the best.
Jaime also reviewed the rest of the stories in the anthology. Click on the link here to read more.
I really liked Grant and Craig in this story - another two of my characters that don't seem to get much time to come out and play, and I'm glad Jaime found them appealing as well.
Stormy Weather by Chrissy Munder - available in the Make Me a Match Vol. 2 Anthology from Dreamspinner Press.
Summary: Meteorologist Grant Singer is sick of dates who only want to bed the TV "weather guy". But the matches from the online dating service he signs up with are even worse. In fact, the only thing that makes the endless dinner dates bearable is Craig, the cute waiter at his favorite restaurant. Luckily for Grant, Craig never misses one of his forecasts….
Jaime's Review:
This was a lovely tale of two guys who manage to find one another through the crowd, even though they don't quite know right away what they're looking at. I rather liked Craig and his simple resolve to be content with his life. He has a certain surety that he will meet the right guy, eventually, even if he hasn't, yet. Maybe that's the optimism of youth, but I think it's also about his personality, being open to chance. Grant's not so sure Mr. Right exists after his recent dating fiascos, but he's willing to try, and that's always a plus.
This really is a sweet story despite the sex scenes, which generally tend to push any story from sweet to at least sensual. In this case, they are well done and somehow manage to retain the sense established in the story of honest, uncomplicated love. The characters are easy to like, their situations are easy to sympathise with, and you just want them to see each other and more importantly, recognize each other. I like the way the story closes with them still being just who they are, honest and tender, and you just know it's all worked out for the best.
Jaime also reviewed the rest of the stories in the anthology. Click on the link here to read more.
November 19, 2010
Lists, oh wonderful lists!
Are you a list person? I am. Not only do voluminous lists give me a practical use for all that stationery I can't resist (*T-shirt wearing member of office supply lovers anonymous*), but it lulls me into mistakenly thinking I have things under control.
Lists made so far today in between everything else:
-- menu for next week
-- which then led to the grocery list
-- which led to the bulk store list
-- holiday plans list for November/December including timing for gifts and cards
-- which led to the gift list for said holidays
-- and, of course, the card giving list
-- appts to get out of the way before end of year
-- exercise plan for December
-- shutting down the cottage list (needed for this weekend)
-- tools needed for various projects and plans involved in shutting down the cottage
and the lists go on.
Lists made so far today in between everything else:
-- menu for next week
-- which then led to the grocery list
-- which led to the bulk store list
-- holiday plans list for November/December including timing for gifts and cards
-- which led to the gift list for said holidays
-- and, of course, the card giving list
-- appts to get out of the way before end of year
-- exercise plan for December
-- shutting down the cottage list (needed for this weekend)
-- tools needed for various projects and plans involved in shutting down the cottage
and the lists go on.
November 18, 2010
Excerpt Thursday! Better with Sprinkles
Normally I'm woefully late in finding my Holiday Spirit, but I'm excited to share an excerpt from Better with Sprinkles, one of two releases I have in this year's Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar.
Better with Sprinkles
:Better with Sprinkles: College student Tom Molina isn't too interested when his roommate Derek tries to convince him to leave his books and help out with the campus LGBTA Center's annual Christmas cookie sale. But Derek has an ace in the hole to score the center Tom's grandmother's sugar cookie recipe: fellow volunteer Jeanette's cousin just happens to be the organic chemistry T.A. Tom's been dreaming about. Now Tom just has to hope Isaac is as interested in baking cookies as he is in chemistry and HIV awareness.
Excerpt:
"Help me, oh great roommate. You're my only hope."
Tom grunted, eyes flying open as Derek's full weight fell across his legs, trapping them against the couch and knocking his textbook onto the floor. He had been so wrapped up in his crisis, he hadn't noticed Derek's key in the front door.
"What the hell?" Tom swallowed, suddenly doubting the wisdom of revisiting last night's three-meat special for breakfast. "Get off me before I vomit."
"Promise you'll help me, first." Derek wrapped his arms tighter around Tom's legs and the cushion beneath.
"I'm serious," Tom said. "I swear I'm going to hurl."
"So am I." Derek buried his head between Tom's knees, leaving the stubby, blond ponytail at the back of his neck exposed. "Do your worst. This is bigger than puke."
Tom pushed at Derek's heavy bulk. He might be short, but the guy was built like a fireplug. Well, at least the wave of nausea had thankfully receded.
"Man, I have two words for you: Organic Chemistry and Professor McCafferty."
"That's five words." Tom had to strain to hear Derek's voice muffled against his thigh.
"No, that's two words used twice and a joiner word thingy." Tom nudged Derek with his knee. "And get your face out from between my legs."
"Joiner word thingy?" Apparently realizing the danger had past, Derek dared to raise his head. "Besides, I'm the best thing you've had between your legs in months, if not the only."
Tom shrugged off his roommate's mocking. It was hard to take Derek seriously. His face was all red and sweaty and escaping chunks of blond hair helped him resemble a deranged cherub. So what if Tom's tired and overworked brain refused to spit out the correct grammatical term. He wasn't an English major. Or had a lot of time to spend dating. He had plans.
"Whatever. My entire future is riding on this test." He wiggled his legs in another effort to free himself. "So you go back to doing whatever you were doing, and let me keep studying."
The two men stared at each other. Brown eyes and blue met across the distance in a silent battle of wills.
"Alone," Tom emphasized when Derek showed no signs of obeying.
"I will. But, first, you know how to make Christmas cookies, right?" Derek shoved Tom's legs out of the way and took their place on the couch. "I remember those ones you made when you were dating that one guy."
"What one guy?" Exasperated, Tom ran his hand through his hair before he reached for his glasses.
"You know, the cookie-eater guy?"
Oh yeah, Mike. Tom's brain automatically filled in the details of the redhead who went along with the name. Nice butt in the plus column, but an overdone tribal tattoo and his distinct lack of bicep definition in the minus. They had dated for a couple of months last semester, and Tom would now confess to making a batch or two of his grandmother's special sugar cookies to aid his efforts to get into Mike's pants. Unfortunately, Mike turned out to be too unfocused for Tom's tastes.
Tom wondered if being able to actually understand Derek's convoluted thought process was a sign he really did have a tumor pressing on his brain and causing his migraines. No wonder he couldn't make any sense of the last three chapters. Right. Chapters. Test. Studying. Tom stood up slowly, surprised to find his headache had fled in the face of the disaster that was Derek. "Fine. I'll go to the library. You can have the apartment."
"You can't," Derek said. "I need you and your mad, cookie-making skills."
Tom pushed aside Derek's coat, and picked up his favorite wool scarf discarded just as carelessly. "Did I say you could borrow this? I think I would remember if I told you it was okay to borrow this."
He poked through the mess of footwear kicked to the side of the front door for his boots. Only two of them lived there, where did they get so many shoes? "I need to study."
"And I need to get into Jeanette Carlson's pants. It's vital. Otherwise, I don't know, something's going to fall off. Which would totally suck and be all your fault."
"Derek, I love you, man. I do. But nobody believes that crap." Giving up the search for his boots, Tom shoved his feet into a pair of tennis shoes he thought were his, and walked over to the kitchen table for his wallet and keys. He put off grabbing his backpack and books from the floor, unwilling to move back within Derek's reach.
"You did when Jimmy Francisco told you that's what would happen if you didn't blow him." Derek folded his arms across his chest and stared at Tom.
"I was thirteen. So was he."
"You still owe me for saving your ass. We're talking teen-geek abuse or something. You would have been scarred for life."
"Fine. My delicate psyche thanks you." Tom glared at his friend. "Now will you please let me live down yet another embarrassing life moment and allow me to study?"
"And how about in high school? I played lookout so you and what's-his-name the football player could make out in the locker room?"
Tom pulled out one of the chairs at the kitchen table and sat down, facing his friend with a deep exhalation. "Why do I live with you when all you do is bring up my sordid, sexual history every time you want something?"
Buy Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=62_359. This story is part of the Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar for 2010. While this, and the other stories are available for individual sale as of December 1st, there is still time to purchase the entire set for the discounted price of $49.99.
Better with Sprinkles
:Better with Sprinkles: College student Tom Molina isn't too interested when his roommate Derek tries to convince him to leave his books and help out with the campus LGBTA Center's annual Christmas cookie sale. But Derek has an ace in the hole to score the center Tom's grandmother's sugar cookie recipe: fellow volunteer Jeanette's cousin just happens to be the organic chemistry T.A. Tom's been dreaming about. Now Tom just has to hope Isaac is as interested in baking cookies as he is in chemistry and HIV awareness.Excerpt:
"Help me, oh great roommate. You're my only hope."
Tom grunted, eyes flying open as Derek's full weight fell across his legs, trapping them against the couch and knocking his textbook onto the floor. He had been so wrapped up in his crisis, he hadn't noticed Derek's key in the front door.
"What the hell?" Tom swallowed, suddenly doubting the wisdom of revisiting last night's three-meat special for breakfast. "Get off me before I vomit."
"Promise you'll help me, first." Derek wrapped his arms tighter around Tom's legs and the cushion beneath.
"I'm serious," Tom said. "I swear I'm going to hurl."
"So am I." Derek buried his head between Tom's knees, leaving the stubby, blond ponytail at the back of his neck exposed. "Do your worst. This is bigger than puke."
Tom pushed at Derek's heavy bulk. He might be short, but the guy was built like a fireplug. Well, at least the wave of nausea had thankfully receded.
"Man, I have two words for you: Organic Chemistry and Professor McCafferty."
"That's five words." Tom had to strain to hear Derek's voice muffled against his thigh.
"No, that's two words used twice and a joiner word thingy." Tom nudged Derek with his knee. "And get your face out from between my legs."
"Joiner word thingy?" Apparently realizing the danger had past, Derek dared to raise his head. "Besides, I'm the best thing you've had between your legs in months, if not the only."
Tom shrugged off his roommate's mocking. It was hard to take Derek seriously. His face was all red and sweaty and escaping chunks of blond hair helped him resemble a deranged cherub. So what if Tom's tired and overworked brain refused to spit out the correct grammatical term. He wasn't an English major. Or had a lot of time to spend dating. He had plans.
"Whatever. My entire future is riding on this test." He wiggled his legs in another effort to free himself. "So you go back to doing whatever you were doing, and let me keep studying."
The two men stared at each other. Brown eyes and blue met across the distance in a silent battle of wills.
"Alone," Tom emphasized when Derek showed no signs of obeying.
"I will. But, first, you know how to make Christmas cookies, right?" Derek shoved Tom's legs out of the way and took their place on the couch. "I remember those ones you made when you were dating that one guy."
"What one guy?" Exasperated, Tom ran his hand through his hair before he reached for his glasses.
"You know, the cookie-eater guy?"
Oh yeah, Mike. Tom's brain automatically filled in the details of the redhead who went along with the name. Nice butt in the plus column, but an overdone tribal tattoo and his distinct lack of bicep definition in the minus. They had dated for a couple of months last semester, and Tom would now confess to making a batch or two of his grandmother's special sugar cookies to aid his efforts to get into Mike's pants. Unfortunately, Mike turned out to be too unfocused for Tom's tastes.
Tom wondered if being able to actually understand Derek's convoluted thought process was a sign he really did have a tumor pressing on his brain and causing his migraines. No wonder he couldn't make any sense of the last three chapters. Right. Chapters. Test. Studying. Tom stood up slowly, surprised to find his headache had fled in the face of the disaster that was Derek. "Fine. I'll go to the library. You can have the apartment."
"You can't," Derek said. "I need you and your mad, cookie-making skills."
Tom pushed aside Derek's coat, and picked up his favorite wool scarf discarded just as carelessly. "Did I say you could borrow this? I think I would remember if I told you it was okay to borrow this."
He poked through the mess of footwear kicked to the side of the front door for his boots. Only two of them lived there, where did they get so many shoes? "I need to study."
"And I need to get into Jeanette Carlson's pants. It's vital. Otherwise, I don't know, something's going to fall off. Which would totally suck and be all your fault."
"Derek, I love you, man. I do. But nobody believes that crap." Giving up the search for his boots, Tom shoved his feet into a pair of tennis shoes he thought were his, and walked over to the kitchen table for his wallet and keys. He put off grabbing his backpack and books from the floor, unwilling to move back within Derek's reach.
"You did when Jimmy Francisco told you that's what would happen if you didn't blow him." Derek folded his arms across his chest and stared at Tom.
"I was thirteen. So was he."
"You still owe me for saving your ass. We're talking teen-geek abuse or something. You would have been scarred for life."
"Fine. My delicate psyche thanks you." Tom glared at his friend. "Now will you please let me live down yet another embarrassing life moment and allow me to study?"
"And how about in high school? I played lookout so you and what's-his-name the football player could make out in the locker room?"
Tom pulled out one of the chairs at the kitchen table and sat down, facing his friend with a deep exhalation. "Why do I live with you when all you do is bring up my sordid, sexual history every time you want something?"
Buy Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=62_359. This story is part of the Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar for 2010. While this, and the other stories are available for individual sale as of December 1st, there is still time to purchase the entire set for the discounted price of $49.99.
