Book III: A Snippet

I haven’t posted anything about Book III in a while. Since July to be exact. Nor have I posted here in a few days as I was suffering through a killer migraine. Do you get those? Good lord, they are something wicked. I haven’t had one in months and this baby was a doozie. One day I was fine, the next not so good.

And I felt it creeping up on me.

Fellow sufferers, you know what I’m talking about. That dull throb. Mine usually begins on my right eyebrow, ever so slight, but hella noticeable. So yeah, I felt it, but honestly, I had no idea it would turn into the beast it became, roiling my stomach while my head felt like a jackhammer was pounding it, day in and day out.

Thank goodness I was able to sit in my office with the lights out for a few days because otherwise, I would not have made it. Anyway, that’s the long version of explaining why I haven’t blogged or written much the last few days.

So I figured this morning, as I sat in my kitchen, drinking my coffee, listening to The Kid play Wii basketball, and thanking the lucky stars that fucking headache had relented, it was the perfect time to post a snippet.

I know, I know, it’s a lazy blog post, but at least it’s something.

So here you go…enjoy.

Dev started to speak but stopped as the front door shook with one loud bang and then opened. Asher, who had been sleeping peacefully on the living room couch, took off running down the hallway and seconds later, Ryker walked into the kitchen as if he owned the place, making a beeline for the coffee pot.

“Morning Clayworth,” he yawned as he rubbed Asher behind the ears, grabbed a coffee cup and glanced at Dev, “and good morning to you, Hot Stuff.”

“Good morning, Ryker,” Dev smiled, somewhat amused by Ryker’s nickname for her, always pleased by his presence. 

Taking a seat across the island, Ryker reached for the Sports section and flipped to the baseball rankings while Asher curled up on the floor at his feet. Wyatt shot Asher a dirty look as he passed, taking a seat next to Dev, watching Ryker for a second before grabbing the paper’s Metro section.

“Make yourself at home, why don’t you,” Wyatt smirked as he scanned the front page.

“This coffee is bangin’,” Ryker ignored Wyatt’s comment, catching his best friend’s eye and winking, “it’s gotta be Dev’s handiwork because we both know Clayworth’s coffee tastes like ass.”

Dev laughed. Wyatt’s coffee was undrinkable. 

“Ha, ha,” Wyatt chimed in, “keep it up and I’ll start locking the front door.”

Ryker’s head shot up, his eyes full of amused shock.

“You would not break my heart like that.”

“And stop flirting with the dog,” Wyatt replied, “he’s mine.”

Ryker laughed and glanced at Asher, fast asleep at his feet. “You sure about that, because he’s looking pretty pleased with me right about now.”

“Don’t mess with the dog, Ryker,” Dev shook her head, “he gets real funky about that dog.”

“Hey,” Wyatt protested, “that dog loved me when no one else would.”

Dev’s eyes shot wide open and she leaned back in shock, pushing Wyatt and laughing. “That is so not fair.”

“Don’t be lumping me in with her, Clayworth,” Ryker pointed at Dev, “I didn’t know you were alive.”

“Ryker!” Dev laughed, “shut up.”

“It’s true,” Ryker continued, “I already told him he should have fallen in love with me over you. Instead, he gets all caught up in the long hair and big eyes, the lips and whatnot.”

“The ‘whatnot’?” Dev asked, her brow raised.

“Yeah, you know,” Ryker started to explain, then hesitated when he caught sight of Wyatt warning him to stop while he was ahead. Appreciating the head’s up, Ryker nonetheless continued his explanation, gesturing towards his chest and hips, “the girlie parts. Crap I can’t compete with. Boobs, ass, that kind of junk.”

“You cannot imagine how pleased I am to hear myself reduced to the stuff that really counts,” Dev shot back, amused if not a tad bit annoyed.

“Hot Stuff,” Ryker practically purred as he continued scanning the baseball standings, “don’t be getting your panties all in a knot. You know I know you’re a brilliant badass.”

Dev rolled her eyes and went back to her newspaper.

“No one’s panties are in a knot,” she mumbled.

Wyatt grinned and pulled her to him, planting a coffee-flavored kiss on her lips. “I rather like your girlie parts.”

Dev sat up and pushed Wyatt away from her, then pulled him close and kissed him again.

“Come on. Hey, hey,” Ryker grimaced as he watched the couple, “get a room already.”

“Said the guy who invaded our space,” Wyatt replied as he pushed away from the island and made for the fridge in search of some breakfast, “why are you here anyway? Isn’t my sister back?”

“Yeah, she’s back,” Ryker replied from deep within the pages of the International section, “got back late last night but she’s avoiding me. Thinks I’m going to ask about the wolf.”

HOLLA.