Welcome to the monthly round up of all my #ThursThreads tales. It’s July already and I’m not ready for summer to be this far along. It goes so fast. The good news is we seem to have a decent rhythm and no one is miserable this summer, except with the heat. Cheyenne has been getting into the 90s F, which at 6300 ft (1920 m) elevation, is flippin’ unbearable. Thank goodness we have a basement because we don’t have AC.
As usual, most of these bits are of upcoming tales, written to prompts from the #ThursThreads #flashfiction challenge I host each Thursday. We’re starting with Week 515 through Week 519 and I’ve collected them in one place.
June had five Thursdays and no technical difficulties so we have five tales. So, here they are along with their dates and prompts. Happy reading!
~~~~~~~~~
Week 515, June 2, 2022
Prompt: “You’re telling me this now?”
“Who are you?”
“Roxanne Bailey, U.S. Army, retired.” She raised her gaze to the woman’s lips, which pulled into a scowl.
“Why would you help a gorgon? Aren’t you afraid I shall turn you to stone?” The question dripped with disdain and anger.
Roxanne shrugged. “That’s what I’ve been told, but it won’t stop me. Would you accept my help without turning me to stone?”
The gorgon barked a humorless laugh. “I couldn’t turn you to stone even if I wanted to. It only works on males. The point of the curse was to make us suffer without love, but none of the males who encouraged the curse believed women could love each other.”
Roxanne snorted with amusement. “That explains why my male companion repeated the story and warned me away.”
The gorgon scowled deeper. “Anything to show they are the victims.”
Roxanne grinned. “Oh honey, that’s the whole patriarchy in a sentence.” She cast around for rocks to use to prop up the fallen trunk. “I’m going to build up the rocks as a pivot point so I can pry the tree off you just enough for you to wiggle out. Think you can do that?”
The gorgon’s hair stopped hissing, though the snakes kept swaying as she nodded. “Yes, possibly. I don’t know why you’re telling me this.”
“Now that we’ve established the stories about you are mostly male-driven fear and hurt pride, there’s no need to wait. Hang tight while I grab the rocks.”
247 #Sirens words
~~~~~~~~~~
Week 516, June 9, 2022
Prompt: “She can hear us.”
“Why are you traveling with a human anyway?”
Ambrose looked up from unstringing his bow and eyed the Goblin prince. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Corlith rolled his eyes and shifted uncomfortably, trying to give his groin relief. “Oh, I dunno. Maybe because they’re as common as jewels growing on trees?”
Ambrose snorted. “I admit she was a surprise when I met her, it’s true.”
“How did you meet her?”
“She came to request my return to my unit.” Ambrose shrugged. “We got a little sidetracked.”
“A little?” Corlith shook his head. “There are no centaurs near the Goddess Temple, so I’d say you’re way off track.” He tilted his head. “Are you lost?”
Ambrose barked a laugh. “Not unless you’re leading us astray.”
“Heh. Not likely. I want to get home as soon as possible.” Corlith tapped his chin thoughtfully. “About Roxanne. You’re not hot for her, are you?”
“She can hear you, you know.” Ambrose shot a look over his shoulder, but Roxanne had gone to fill the water skins. Relief shot through him. He didn’t want his odd feelings out in the open.
“Because that would be really weird. I mean, you’re not even the same species.” Corlith squinted and wrinkled his nose. “I can’t imagine the logistics of that, and my imagination is damn good.”
“Stop, Corlith. There’s nothing untoward going on.”
“Are you sure? ‘Cause you’re blushing like someone slapped your horse’s ass.” The Goblin prince grinned. “Have you told her?”
“No, there’s nothing to tell.”
249 #Sirens words
~~~~~~~~~~
Week 517, June 16, 2022
Prompt: “We always could.”
“Dad, his wife was killed by the shady thugs he’d been in debt to. That doesn’t seem like a trust-worthy guy.”
Paul Sr. scowled. “Those were just rumors.”
I damn near spit out my steak. “Rumors? Dad, Aeryn Stratton died because of him. Dead is dead, there ain’t no rumor about it.”
Paul Sr. looked away, letting his gaze roam over the parking lot as if he didn’t want to acknowledge the truth of my words. And they were true. Aeryn Stratton had died. Viper had been born in her place.
“Rumor had it she was a suicidal drug addict so it was no great loss.” My dad’s gaze returned me as my whole body stilled. “I know you had an attachment to that girl, but I’d say you dodged a bullet breaking up with her when you did. She was too weak for you.”
Fury flared deep in my chest and my fists clenched around the knife and fork. No great loss? Aeryn too weak for me? You self-righteous, arrogant sonuvaprick! She was everything.
I took several deep breaths to calm the hell down, but his words played on repeat in my head and I couldn’t find my usual equanimity.
“Dad, there’s a lot of things we agree on. We always could find common ground on most issues, but in this you’re flat-out wrong about Aeryn Stratton. If you think I’m gonna sign off on you trustin’ Laurie Stratton for anything dealing with the company, you got another think comin’.”
250 #ConcreteAngelsMC words
~~~~~~~~~~
Week 518, June 23, 2022
Prompt: “He wants something.”
“You okay, Viper?” I leaned close as if to kiss her.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just kiss me so it’s done and we can sign the marriage license. Abigail needs to get it on file.”
I wanted to protest. Despite how fast it had to be done, this was supposed to be a joyous occasion. We were going to spend our lives together as partners and it was a good thing.
I felt my brows lower and the corners of my mouth dropped. “What?”
“Come on. Kiss me and we can get back to the way things were.”
“Hold on, now. I don’t wanna go back to the way things were.” I straightened and stared down at her. “This here is a weddin’ and I like it. I want to be married to you, Viper. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’ve been waitin’ months. What the hell?”
“Look, Trigger, I love you and I’m glad we’ll be together, but I promised myself I’d never marry again. I’d never be under someone else’s control – because that’s all marriage is. I’ll never be my own person again.” She shrugged, resigned to her fate, which sparked more anger in my chest. “But this is for my safety and that of the club. Loki wanted me to marry and said I could choose anyone, so I chose you. Because when he wants something, he gets it. So let’s get this over with and sign the damn license.”
243 #ConcreteAngelsMC words
~~~~~~~~~~
Week 519, June 30, 2022
Prompt: “It’s a mistake many beginners often make.”
I can hear Dunwoody say it’s a mistake many beginners often make as if I’ve never loved.
But had she? Had Hermione actually loved for real? Her ex had been a controlling misogynist, and a narcissist. She didn’t think it had been possible to love him even if she had. Instead, she’d been in love with the idea of him and their marriage until it became clear it wasn’t what she really wanted. Him or the marriage.
Chester, on the other hand, was kind, funny, generous, ridiculously smart, and yet attentive to her as a lover. Granted, she hadn’t known him long, but he carried none of the energy her ex had.
She propped her beer against her knee and stared blindly out at the darkened yard. Shit, am I afraid of trying anything long-term with Chester?
Technically, she’d have to wait until they solved the domestic terrorists hunting him down, but other than that, nothing stopped either of them from connecting.
Except he tried and you ran like a chickenshit.
Hermione groaned and rubbed her face with her hands. She should take her ass to bed. Or better yet, take her ass to his bed and apologize for being such a wuss. Would Chester accept her apology?
She scowled. Does it matter if he accepts or not? Woman up and get it done, Wilcox!
Sighing at her inner drill sergeant, she unfolded herself from the chair and grabbed her beer bottle before heading inside.
245 #Sirens words