Saturday Snippet

This week, we're looking at setting. A character's surroundings can, at times, play a very important part in a story. In Any Given Sunday, it was a move to a new house that set the entire conflict of the story into motion!

Snippet:

"Nice house."

Lauren turned around and spotted Sean's sister, Riley, and her husband Aaron coming in with more boxes. "When did you two get here?" Lauren asked.

"Just now. Thought we'd grab some stuff off the truck and start helping." Riley turned around and put her box on top of the heavy one Aaron was already carrying. "These say books, so I'm assuming they go in the office we just passed."

Lauren nodded, confirming Riley's assumption.

"Put those in there, sugar, while Lauren gives me the tour."

Aaron groaned. "If I fucking pull a muscle, Riley, you'll be sorry. Probably be laid up for weeks. No boom-boom."

Lauren laughed at Aaron's taunt as Riley started to grab her box back. Aaron chuckled and moved away before she could retrieve it.

"Gotcha," he teased as he walked to the office.

"Asswipe," Riley muttered, though her face betrayed the truth. Lauren didn't think the honeymoon would ever end for those two. They'd eloped in Vegas over two years earlier, but they still only had eyes—and hands—for each other.

"Thanks for coming over to help, Riley. I really do appreciate it. Actually, I don't know how we could have moved all this stuff if it weren't for your family."

Riley took her arm and propelled her up the stairs. "Gotta be some perks to having four overgrown, overbearing brothers. Top of that list is that they can move all the heavy shit. So we'll start the tour upstairs. What are the sleeping arrangements?"

Lauren led her toward the first room at the top of the stairs. "Sean and I have the master bedroom and until the guys finish building the basement apartment for Chad, he'll be in the guest room."

"Mmm hmm," Riley hummed.

Lauren tried to figure out what was going on in the woman's head. She'd been making odd comments about this move ever since they'd announced it to Sean's family. Lauren suddenly wondered if she hadn't been as good at hiding her secret lust for Chad as she'd thought.

"This is the master bedroom. It has a great bathroom through those doors—big-ass Jacuzzi tub and everything." Then she sighed at the pile of boxes lining the walls, the dismantled king-sized bed and the drawer-less dressers. God only knew where the drawers had ended up. "Jeez. It's gonna take ages to get this place put together."

Riley was standing at the doorway, looking down the hall. "Where is Chad sleeping again?"

"A little farther down the hallway, on the right. The guest bathroom is toward the end. What's the obsession with sleeping arrangements, Riley? You know as well as I do it makes sense for Chad to move in with us until he and I graduate."

In addition to being Sean's sister, Riley had become one of Lauren's dearest friends over the past few years. Despite that fact, sometimes Lauren struggled with Riley's unusual view of the world and life in general.

"All I'm saying is, are you sure you don't want to share a room with Sean and Chad? Let's face it. You've got the hots for both of them. There's a lot of pent-up lust hovering in the air whenever the three of you get together. It's sort of stifling really."

Lauren sat down on a box, resting her elbows on her knees. "I'm committed to Sean, Riley. We've been together over two years. I'm not about to make a pass at his best friend."

Riley claimed the box next to her. "I'm not saying you should throw Sean over for Chad. Just add another man to the mix."

"Jesus. You know, we're not all as crazy as the Collins'. Most of us mere mortal beings just get through the days living normal lives, either alone or in pairs. Besides, I'm attending school to become a doctor. Of psychology. Not sure how living in a ménage would go over with my patients when I open a practice."

"I don't see anything weird about living in a threesome. Look at my brother Killian. He's been happily shacked up with Lily and Justin for years. I've always thought you, Sean and Chad were destined for the same."

Lauren shook her head. "Killian's deal is the exception, not the rule. I don't know of another person in the world living in that kind of setup."

"So that means no one else is? Pardon me, babe, but you don't know that many damn people. I bet there are loads of threesomes out there making it work."

"Why am I having this conversation with you? How do I let you drag me into stuff like this? The point is moot. I'm in love with Sean. We're eventually getting married and living happily ever after. The end."

Riley refused to be deterred. "And Chad?"

"Chad will hopefully be what he's always been. Our best friend. And God willing, he and I will achieve our dreams and open a practice together. This move hasn't changed anything except our address."

"I don't buy it."

Lauren rolled her eyes. "What don't you buy?"

"If you and Sean are so committed that you've decided to buy this house together and start shacking up, if this is just the first step toward marriage, then why bring Chad into the mix?"

"I'll admit the timing wasn't ideal, life-wise, but look at this house, Riley. It's gorgeous. Sean was helping Killian and Justin do some construction work on it so the former owner could sell. Sean took one look and knew it was our dream home. It's an easy commute to the pub for Sean and close to the university. When he brought me here to look at it, we knew we wanted it."

"It is beautiful. I guess I'm just worried you're both rushing things a bit."

Lauren sighed. She'd been feeling the same way lately. Sean hadn't exactly pushed her into buying the house, but he'd been so excited when he'd shown it to her. His enthusiasm had been infectious. Now that she was here, the reality of what she'd committed to was hitting her.

"Like I said, we weren't looking to buy a house until after I graduated in the spring. We couldn't leave Chad high and dry with just two more semesters to go. With Chad and me only working part-time while we finish grad school, having him rent the basement apartment helps us make the mortgage until I find a job. Besides, Chad couldn't afford the college apartment without a roommate, and while I know he wouldn't have minded advertising for one, it didn't seem fair to put him in that situation. He and Sean have lived together since high-school graduation."

"So this house-sharing deal is definitely a short-time thing?"

Lauren nodded. "Yep. Just untilChadand I earn our doctorates and find jobs."

Riley reached over and grasped Lauren's hand. "I'm really happy for you, Lauren."

Riley's words and her kind touch proved to be too much. Suddenly Lauren heard things falling from her lips that she hadn't meant to share. "When Sean brought me to see this house, he had a picnic basket with wine and bread and cheese. After taking me through the whole house, we sat on the floor in the living room. He pulled out the food, poured us some wine and told me he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me."

Riley laughed. "God, that's sappy. Sounds just like my baby brother."

"It was completely romantic. I looked at him and I knew. God, Riley, I knew all the way to my soul I wanted to live this lifetime with him."

"And now you are," Riley said.

Lauren looked down, tried to find a way to explain. "I made a choice. Part of being an adult means you have to make difficult decisions."

Riley's eyes narrowed. "You chose Sean."

"And I don't regret that. Not for a minute," Lauren interjected.

"But you still want Chad."

Any Given Sunday is available at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo and All Romance Ebooks.

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