Josh Aterovis

Oh...I can blame that on the weather now?

I can't speak for anyone besides myself but the interaction is the only reason I stay!

"What—" Jacy started to whisper. Shushing him with a finger to my lips, I pressed my ear to the crack of the door, straining to hear what was going on in the house. "Do you need anything, Virgil?" Mrs. McClain asked. She sounded so scared that I thought for sure her husband would notice and figure out something was wrong. "Yeah, I need to shit," he said with a laugh. "Don't think you can help me with that." I pulled away from the door as if it had burned me. Did they hav

I couldn't agree more. Nothing I hate more than the eulogizing and apologetics that start as soon as horrible, evil people drop dead. Call them out in death as in life. Ceasing to be alive may make the world a better place but it doesn't make them a better person.

Fun fact: Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis honed their comedy act in Baltimore nightclubs. Here's a bit of oral history from a local historian: And there was this skinny kid who played the Club Charles, too, a crazy loon out of Newark, N.J., so young he had to have somebody named Irving, who was a cousin or an uncle, along to chaperon. Kid’s name was Jerry Lewis. He did mostly bip-bip verbal slaps, good-natured insults aimed at people at the bar. Melvin Souder was playing the piano back then, and any time a woman got up for nature’s call, Lewis would shriek, “Melvin,” and Melvin would play something saucy while a spotlight followed the embarrassed woman all the way to the ladies’ room. When the show was over, Lewis would run over to the Club Chanticleer, where a young singer was working. He’d join the singer on stage, and they’d make up stuff as they went along. The singer’s name was Dean Martin. They were inventing an act that became the hottest thing in show business.

You are 100% correct. I was confusing Perry Como with Bing. My apologies to Mr. Como. My best friend would definitely agree with you about Doris Day. She and Rosemary Clooney are two of his favorites. I enjoy both as well, and Peggy Lee too. And couldn't agree more about Louie and Ella...such a wonderful pairing.

I stood in the hallway outside Micah's apartment for several minutes while my mind absorbed what had just happened. I wasn't sure how I felt. I was numb all over. As if on autopilot, I walked slowly down the stairs and climbed into my car. I don't remember driving, but the next thing I knew, I was sitting in the driveway of the beach house. Subconsciously, I'd headed straight for the comfort and security of Adam. I was fumbling with my key when the door swung open. "I thought I he

I love this era of music but far prefer the ladies, with Billie Holiday being my all-time favorite singer, but also Ella (of course), Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn, Etta James, Bessie Smith...I could go on. I never got into the male singers as much, but do enjoy Tony Bennett and Dean Martin. I agree about Sinatra. And I could never stand Perry Como for some reason, even as a kid...then I found out he was a wife beater and felt justified. LOL The big question is...how do you feel about Satchmo?

This is a great version, but my favorite version will always be Lady Day.

I get it, but I'll always love my imperfect, uptight, traumatized fictional child. 😉

LOL Can't say it occurred to me. When I was originally writing these stories many years ago, they were also serialized but on a different site, and Asher was extremely popular. I actually brought him back for this book mostly because there was so much demand for his return. Obviously, I did it my own way so as to stay true to the characters, which often gets me in hot water with my readers. 🤣 It's been really fascinating to see how views have shifted in 25 years and how very unpopular Asher has been this time around. And honestly, I do think about what @Summerabbacat, and @drsawzall and you and all my current readers here on GA will think as I'm doing rewrites these days. Less so about names, but definitely about little things I never even thought about before this round of posting...like how often Killian speeds or otherwise is reckless behind the wheel! 🤣 I sometimes edit that out now, but every once in a while, I leave it in...as a treat.

I think you get an update on Eve in the next chapter.

So glad you're enjoying it! It's a very different experience!

I paced nervously in the foyer of the bed and breakfast while I waited for Asher to arrive. He'd called soon after Jacy and I got back to the office and suggested I wear something nice. That was all he'd tell me. The rest, he said, was a surprise. I checked my watch for the fiftieth time to see that he still had five minutes before he'd be late. I sighed heavily. "Stop pacing before you wear a hole through my Serapi." I spun around to find Steve leaning against the door frame, watching

I truly hope you are on the other side of it now. Sending healing thoughts and big hugs...

Don't get me in trouble again... 😉

Oof. I hope you recover quickly. I had the flu about a month ago and it was rough.

I'm enjoying all the speculation, and it always impresses me how close some of you come this early in the story (although I suppose we are just past the midway point), though no one has gotten it exactly right yet. Keep up the good detective work! I think Kendall and Novak would strongly consider hiring some of you on for their newly vacant administrative position!

Different movie, but I couldn't resist....

There have been a few lesbians here and there, but mostly in secondary roles up until this book. Lysander's oldest daughter Nila is a lesbian, as was her girlfriend Heather, but you could be forgiven for forgetting them since I don't think they've made an appearance since Bleeding Hearts. One of Joey's aunts in Reap the Whirlwind was a big ol' bulldyke. Several members of Haven, the GSA at Pemberton U, are of the Sapphic variety. Chris Silver from The Truth of Yesterday is definitely queer, and it was never really came up in the text, but I always pictured Paul's deep-voiced neighbor Sabrina was gay. Nikki from RTW and this current story swings both ways, and is currently dating Lily. I will grant you that gay boys are definitely the focus of my stories, but I try to include my queer sisters as well! 🤣

Yes! Let's hear the guesses! And also, Eid Mubarak!

The smell of gunpowder hung in the air as I took my stance, feet shoulder-width apart, arms held out in front of my body at shoulder height. I aimed the gun at the target, tightened my finger on the trigger...and froze. The last time I'd fired a gun I killed a man. That was three years ago, and it still haunted my dreams. You have to do this, I told myself sternly. Novak wants you to have a gun, and in order to carry a gun you need to qualify. Still, I couldn't pull the trigger.

Not much longer until we find out! Maybe so...or maybe I just take pity on my poor readers now and then...

Life is full of irritating little coincidences. For instance, I caught up on the paperwork just in time to start interviewing for our new receptionist/secretary. Alanis Morrisette would have probably called it ironic. I'd arrived at the office to find the construction was finally complete. Things had moved along pretty quickly after a certain point. All the equipment was gone, leaving a new door in the center of the wall and an overpowering odor of fresh paint. I was tempted to peek in but

Hey, I remember all of these things!