WIPpet

Sigh…I feel like such a jerk. I didn’t get to the other WIPpets last week. I should be able to this week, though, since I’m not on vacation.

Not a whole lot has happened in my personal life since last time, so nothing exciting to share. Instead, I’ll go right on to the excerpt. Last week, we saw AJ’s relationship with Luke. This week, we meet his other friends.

WIPmath: 12/2 = 12 divided by 2 = 6 paragraphs

Saturday nights were for Piet and Donny. They met up at the alley a mile from campus. Piet still looked washed-out and his big frame was leaner than it should have been, but AJ was glad to see he’d put back on some of the weight he’d lost when he was sick. He’d cut his thick mop of blond hair, and he resembled his older brother much more closely now. Donny looked fantastic as always, his well-defined muscles obvious even under his casual clothes. The slight strain around his dark eyes was hardly noticeable when he grabbed AJ in a fierce bro hug.

A couple of shared pizzas, a pitcher of so-so beer, and a game and a half later, AJ was finally beginning to relax. It had taken him almost the whole time to turn his brain off and enjoy. Up until then, he’d been distracted with thoughts of Adam the Annoying and Luke’s situation. It was bad enough Piet had asked three separate times what his problem was, and his score reflected his distraction.

AJ was broken out of his fog by the sound of Piet’s voice. In response, he said, “Huh?”

“Dude,” Piet said. “You’re up.” He frowned at AJ. “You are all kinds of not with us tonight. I know I’ve already asked, but come on. This isn’t fun.”

“Sorry,” AJ muttered. “Issues at work.”

He didn’t like to talk about Luke with the guys. It made Donny uncomfortable, and Piet was never sure what to say. It was the same when he went out with Luke and Connor—they couldn’t have cared less about what AJ’s straight friends were up to. He’d never tried spending time with all of them in the same place, in much the same way he compartmentalized, organized, and sorted everything else. It was a special talent, keeping all the boxes in his life tidy.

Like what you read? Be sure to check out the other entries and add your own. Just post a bit of your WIP, connect it to the date, and link up with us. Many thanks to Emily Witt for giving us this space. Happy reading and writing!

It’s been a busy week! Over the weekend, I attended the Transcending Boundaries conference, and it was really fantastic to meet a bunch of people I’d only ever communicated with online. One of the most significant takeaways was that I want to learn how to better balance fierce and passionate advocacy with gentle kindness. There’s a difference between pointing out where society as a whole has shortcomings and blasting a single individual for their missteps. There were several people I met who do this balancing act with grace, and I want to be more like them.

On to my WIPpet. This manuscript is nearly ready for round 1 edits. I’m so excited! Today, I’m sharing the follow-up to last week’s rather grim post. If you recall, AJ was speaking to his friend Luke, who is in a bad situation. Here, they have the chance to catch up a bit. This is a longish snippet, but it’s mostly dialog. In case you are wondering, Saint Monica is actually the patron saint of abuse victims. (AJ was raised Catholic by activist parents in a church modeled after one in my city.)

WIPmath: 25 mostly short paragraphs for the 25th.

Luke hollered in Spanish that he was taking a lunch break. Senora Guzman poked her head out and waved to AJ then nodded at Luke. He exited the work station and joined AJ in the booth.

The minute his butt hit the seat, AJ said, “You’re in a great mood. What’s this big news?”

Luke glanced over his shoulder and leaned in close. In a whisper he said, “I’m going to school.”

“What?” AJ said. Realizing he was too loud, he also leaned in and said more quietly, “You are?”

Nodding, Luke said, “I’m getting out. I’ve been saving up, a little at a time. I have enough for a security deposit and first month’s rent, and I already got a scholarship.” His cheeks flushed red. “I didn’t think they’d give it to me. I’m not real smart like you.”

“The hell you’re not,” AJ countered. “This is great! Does Connor know?” Connor was another of their friends, the only other person who had any idea about what Luke had been through.

Luke shook his head. “I was planning to tell you both when we went out, but…” He bit his lip.

AJ knew what he meant. The last time they’d gone out together, Greg had kept Luke at his side the whole time. He wasn’t even allowed to have a pee alone, and AJ and Connor couldn’t separate him to find out how he was doing. It was a big deal that he’d found a way to apply for school and tuck money away on his own. Even six months ago he wouldn’t have been in a frame of mind to manage it.

“Are you going to tell him?” AJ asked.

“Can you?” The anxiety hadn’t left Luke’s light blue eyes. “I would, but I don’t think I should call him.”

“Sure. Is there anything I can do?”

“Mm-mm.” Luke grinned again, the joy returning as suddenly as it had left. It came complete with Luke’s charming dimples, which only appeared when his smile was genuine. “I can’t wait!”

“I’ll bet,” AJ agreed. “What are you studying?”

“Liberal arts, for now,” Luke said with a shrug. “I don’t know what I want to do. Maybe something in food service. I really like my job, even if it is just serving fast tacos.”

AJ laughed. “There’s no such thing as ‘just.’ If you love your job, who cares?”

“Maybe. Anyway, I’ll figure it out. For now, I want to know what else is out there. Senor Hierra and Senora Guzman have said they’ll let me work around my classes. They’re the best.” He blushed again, bright scarlet on his pale cheeks.

“They are,” AJ said. They’d been like a second family to Luke since he moved to the town to live with Greg.

“I should get back to work.” Luke crumpled his trash and stood up.

“Me too.” AJ stole another look around, hoping Luke wouldn’t notice, then gave him a hug.

To his dismay, Luke had seen. “He’s not here,” he said.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Luke squeezed AJ’s hand and put his mouth up to AJ’s ear. “I’m okay. I’m getting out for real this time.”

“I know,” AJ repeated. “Love you, Lukey.”

“You too.”

One last smile and Luke retreated to the service counter, slipping back in through the employee door. AJ waved to him on his way back out, saying a silent prayer for Saint Monica to intervene on behalf of Luke’s safety.

Like what you read? Be sure to check out the other entries and add your own. Just post a bit of your WIP, connect it to the date, and link up with us. Many thanks to Emily Witt for giving us this space. Happy reading and writing!

Well, I’m not as far as I’d hoped to be with NaNo. But I’m very close to the end of writing this novel, which is better. Then onward and upward! I have a few short works in progress along with the edits on two novels. Plus I need to fit in two out-of-town trips and another pair of concerts in the next 3 weeks. Christmas is going to feel like a relief after all that!

On to my WIPpet. When we last saw AJ, he was discussing health center educational materials. Done with his work, he’s gone to have lunch with his best friend, Luke. This snippet has less of the playfulness of the last one. What AJ says about calling someone to help Luke not doing much good is true—domestic violence between a same-sex couple is often not taken seriously, and there’s a reluctance to call or admit there’s a problem in the first place for a number of reasons.

WIPmath: Nothing fancy. 18 sentences for the 18th.

Once Carrie was back and taking care of the people in and out of the health center, AJ ducked out. In his car, he debated whether or not to text Luke and decided against it. Luke sometimes forgot to delete messages, and AJ wasn’t up for another confrontation with Luke’s volatile boyfriend when he saw a message from another man. AJ sighed. Without having witnessed Greg’s vicious side directly—other than the time he called to scream into the phone at AJ—there was little he could do. Luke had to make that call himself, and thus far, he’d never done it.

At least Luke had work, a local place called Taco King. It was run by a family, and they were good to Luke. He deserved it, after all he’d been through. AJ knew Luke hid a lot from them, too. If they’d known even half of what AJ did—or had ever seen it—they’d have called someone, not that it would have done any good. AJ pulled up out front and got out of his car, scanning the lot to make sure Greg’s compact wasn’t parked anywhere in the lot. Seeing nothing, he entered the tiny counter-service restaurant.

Luke was finishing up with a customer. AJ studied him from the doorway, while Luke wasn’t paying attention to him, and was relieved to see nothing immediately worrisome. His surfer-blond hair had been trimmed short and spiked, and he had faux-diamond studs in both ears. AJ wondered if the new look was Greg’s doing. Luke looked tired, and he was still too thin, but his face wasn’t a mess like it had been last time. Satisfied, AJ approached the counter as soon as the previous customer was gone.

Like what you read? Be sure to check out the other entries and add your own. Just post a bit of your WIP, connect it to the date, and link up with us. Many thanks to Emily Witt for giving us this space. Happy reading and writing!

School is officially back in session, and my younger child is now in public school. So far, after one day, she loves it. She already has some new friends. After telling me I wasn’t allowed to ask her about her day the minute I saw her, she decided to tell me about her day before I could say a word. Seventh grade is off to a good start for my older child, and it looks like it’s going to be a good year. Meanwhile, I started my first days without the kids by celebrating with a nasty sore throat and a head cold. Fun times!

On to this week’s WIPpet. When last seen, Adam was having a one-time fling with his coworker, a fellow graduate assistant in his department. They’re not romantically involved, so the fact that Adam’s mind is on someone else isn’t worrisome to her in the least. She’ll show up later, but I’m trying to keep her from being the annoying and meddlesome friend—I can’t stand that trope (usually).

WIPmath: 9 + 9 = 18 + the 5 from 2015 = 23 sentences.

Rising from the bed, Adam looked down at his not-quite-aroused state and really did groan. Regardless of how hot Mr. Health Center was or how good a night he’d ensured with his ridiculous condom assortment, that man had no business whatsoever haunting Adam’s dreams. He was not allowed in any way, shape, or form to reduce Adam to a bumbling mess of incoherent words. Adam was going to have to go right back there the minute the health center opened to return the unused condoms and demand normal ones instead, just in case his next date wasn’t as cool as Renee. It had absolutely nothing to do with needing a better look at the fine specimen of manhood stationed at the desk. Nope.

Adam dragged on a pair of sweats and padded out to the kitchen, where he said a proper good morning to Renee with a kiss on her temple. She grinned and handed him a mug of coffee.

“Up and at ‘em,” she said. She kissed him quickly on the lips. “I had a great time last night. Nice way to unwind from work. See you around the department?”

“Sure,” he said. “Maybe we can do this again sometime.”

Renee smiled. “That would be fun. We didn’t get to try out the political-themed condoms, after all.”

She winked then took off, and Adam leaned against the counter, blowing on his coffee. He sighed. The health center opened in an hour, which gave him plenty of time to gather what he needed and walk over. He hoped there was someone else working the shift so he wouldn’t have to deal with…oh, who was he kidding? He prayed to whatever Sex Gods existed that the hottest man he’d ever seen would be there, followed by an equally fervent prayer he wouldn’t screw it up with his lack of adequate communication skills.

Like what you read? Be sure to check out the other entries and add your own. Just post a bit of your WIP, connect it to the date, and link up with us. Many thanks to K. L. Schwengel for giving us this space. Happy reading and writing!