Happy Wednesday! Sorry I missed last week. It was so busy around here! I’m glad the school year is winding down at last.
Lots going on in my writer world. I have a short story going in an anthology this summer, and I got my first round of edits turned in. My editor’s email made my day—she said it was one of the easiest edits she’s done, and she called me a wonderful writer. I’m grateful to my beta readers for helping me put together such a great draft! I can’t wait to reveal the cover; it’s stunningly beautiful.
I’m hoping to wrap up Walking by Faith in June so I can put the final touches on and send it to my publisher. Then I can really get down to work on Nightsong, the sequel to Anthem (featuring opera, a drag queen, and a missing shoe).
Today’s snippet follows immediately from what I posted two weeks ago. Cat and Bryce are having a heart-to-heart because Bryce was cruel to Cat and is apologizing. (Seriously, though, don’t get attached to Bryce. He’s not in it much after this chapter.)
WIPmath: 5/25/2016 = 25 – (5 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 6) = 11 paragraphs
Cat slid his hand so their palms pressed together. “Tell me.”
Bryce closed his eyes and swallowed visibly. “I’m sorry I was a jerk to you earlier.”
“Okay,” Cat said. “You’re forgiven. What’s going on?”
“I can’t do this with you anymore,” he said.
Cat had known. He was surprised to find it didn’t make him angry, only sad. “I thought maybe.” He would never be who Bryce wanted or needed.
Bryce must have picked up on his thoughts because he said, “It’s not you, Cat!” His sigh was full of anguish. “I want to be with you.”
“Then why—”
“My parents suspect. It’s why I kept telling you we couldn’t be there when they were home. They said you’re not welcome there because you’re a bad influence on me, and they won’t pay for college if I don’t do what they say. I can’t get stuck in this crappy little town doing construction with my brothers. I can’t!” He was breathing hard, his chest heaving with the force.
“Hey.” Cat pushed off the wall and stood facing Bryce. “It’s okay. Maybe…maybe we can wait, right? It’s only another year, and then we’ll figure it out. We’ll go somewhere else.”
Bryce shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“That’s all right.” Cat reached up and touched his cheek. “I’ll have faith enough for both of us.”
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Okay, I may feel just a little sympathetic for Bryce(like a very, very little). But, Cat…gah, I just love him. 🙂
I do feel bad for Bryce—we really only see Cat’s perspective, and while Bryce is kind of awful to him, he’s only 19 and somewhat troubled.
But yeah, Cat… 🙂
Okay… maybe Bryce isn’t much for this book, but… maybe? Please? With sugar cookies and dark chocolate bars on top?
That praise from your editor is… WOW! Would so love to have that someday. Bask in it. Bask!
Ha! Well, I hadn’t thought about it much, but I suppose he does deserve his HEA too. Might have to find a way to give him one. Right after I find a way to redeem him for what he does (or rather, doesn’t) do later on.
>.< Cat's last line. He's so positive, but… You already said Bryce is going away AND he was sort of a jerk last I checked, so… *sniffles* Poor Cat.
Yeah. Except Cat kind of comes to the realization that his relationship with Bryce wasn’t healthy from the get-go, on both their parts. Here, he’s mostly clinging to something that isn’t what either of them needs because he thinks it makes him “normal.”
Awww. 🙁 *sending hugs to Cat* *or donuts* *the guys who don’t like hugs usually like donuts*
Cat is being so strong and supportive here, but it really sounds as though he shouldn’t be. Then again… if Bryce is young and troubled… well, no excuses, but there may be reasons.
Heh, he probably shouldn’t be supportive in this particular way, no. They’re not good for each other.
Sometimes people aren’t good for each other. I’ve been there. Fortunately, my apology from the other party came in the form of a leather-bound, gold-embossed Unabridged Globe Illustrated Shakespeare, so, well, that was definitely something.
I’ve still got the book, and a much, much, much better partner-fit!
I hope both Cat and Bryce will find what is better for them. =)