Did you catch Monday's blog featuring Altimexis's coming of age contemporary novella, Fish Out of Water? If you're a fan of the story, don't forget to download the signature graphic to share it through the month. If you haven't read the story yet, maybe this excerpt will help change your mind! 

I picked this excerpt both to share with readers and to help design the ad because who doesn't think of fireworks and love together? Okay, so maybe it's cliché or corny, but really, if you've been in a relationship in the summer (and in the US, for the most part, for our Independence day like the setting of this story) then you've experienced the hot summer night under the sparkling lights that are the explosions of color rocking the horizon. Or maybe wrote someone's name with a sparkler? Maybe cuddled up on a blanket if the heat of the day suddenly cooled and gave you a good excuse to canoodle? Well... there might be some of that (and more) going on in this chapter... but you'll have to check out the excerpt to find out!

Quote

David and I let Izzy and Shimmy have the chairs on the balcony while we stood, arm-in-arm to watch the show that was about to begin. We had an absolutely perfect view of the National Mall from where we stood. Once the fireworks started, there was a continuous barrage of light and color that went on and on for nearly an hour without letup. It was an amazing feast for the eyes.

 

When it was finally over, David turned to me and said, “That was incredible. Absolutely incredible. That even beat the show they have over the East River back home, and that’s saying a lot. Please thank your parents again for bringing me here.”

 

“I’m just glad I was able to share it with you, David,” I said, and then I gave him a peck on the lips, and then another. Before long we had our arms around each other and were making out like no-one’s business.

 

“They’re at it again,” I heard Shimmy sigh.

 

“Yeah, but it’s pretty cool, the way they love each other,” Izzy said, which made me feel warm inside.

 

Extracting my tongue from my lover’s mouth, I said, “Let’s get to bed, babe, so we can get an early start tomorrow.”

 

“I wonder if this hotel has a game room,” David suddenly asked.

 

“Yeah, it does. We passed it on the way out of here this morning, but why on earth are you bringing it up now?” I asked.

 

“C’mon, Shimmy,” Izzy said, apparently catching David’s intent right away, “it’s too early for bed, so lets hit the arcade for a while, or maybe we could go for a swim,” he said as he rummaged through his luggage and got out his swim trunks.”

 

“Oh, OK, a swim and the arcade would be cool,” Shimmy agreed as he got out his own swim trunks and changed into them.

 

Izzy grabbed his wallet and cell phone, and both my brothers departed, just like that.

 

“Alone at last,” David said with a wicked grin on his face.

 

“How the fuck did you just do that?” I asked incredulously.

 

“I just don’t think they wanted to see this,” my boyfriend said as I felt my shorts and boxers slide to the floor. When the hell did he manage to unbuckle my belt?

To read more, click here.