parents - Stories

Sugar, butter, flour. Love.

After losing their parents, 20 year-old Chase Hollow juggles odd jobs and late-night baking to care for his little sister, Prunella. He dreams of more — but dreams don’t pay bills.

When a job opens up as a bakery assistant at the upscale Keysbridge Inn, Chase applies on a whim… and finds himself clashing with the grumpy, polished Assistant Manager with a sharp tongue and colder stare.

But cookies and time have a way of softening edges.

Original story based on characters in “Cinderella Boy“ by Punko.

Ghosting a tell-all memoir about a millionaire-philanthropist & fighting with those seeking to whitewash his memory—comprehensive-school educated podcaster Oliver finds his life transformed after meeting public-school educated Julian. Wary of Julian at first, Oliver becomes drawn into his quirky, outspoken & artistic family as family, friends & relationships clash & intertwine all sorts of ways.

Life is filled with surprises. We are constantly reminded that we are at the mercy of the universe; from the people we meet, to the events that shape us, to the places we find ourselves in. If we are among the lucky ones we will find our place in the world, and someone to share it with, and life will be sweet. But even then, everything is subject to change, and we either roll with the flow, or find ourselves fighting against the tide, because you just never know what might come at you from out of the blue.

Nate may have found the one. Cal is built like a farmboy, has the wholesome looks of a vintage baseball card, is amazing in bed, and actually texts back. Nate keeps waiting for the catch and not finding one.

Cal even invites Nate out to his family's timeshare at the coast to meet his mother. Diane is progressive, supportive, and fiercely, fiercely devoted. And that's the catch.

Having crashed and burned after early success as a composer, Alex has managed to rebuild his career and his life. Carpenter Neil is between girlfriends, and his knowledge of music is limited. Yet despite their differences the two come together, and each spurs the other on to explore life further and to take risks. Add in a pair of mothers who are friends and Neil’s fragile younger brother—as well as a manipulative rich uncle and some lively friends—and you have a dynamic mix.

Johnny's dad is taking him fishing.

When a newly observant Jewish family hires an affable jock as their Shabbos goy, the rule is simple: anticipate their needs without being asked. Their wry son expects a weekly inconvenience, until someone starts paying a little too much attention.

A sex comedy of manners.

Luca's sister is getting married. The music is playing. The champagne is flowing. Everything is perfect—until Luca spots him across the ballroom. The man who stole his youth. The man who broke him and threw him away. Now Marco is back, playing the charming family friend, his dark eyes promising destruction. Luca can't leave. He can't tell anyone. And Marco knows it. Trapped in a nightmare of silk and flowers, Luca must survive the night without shattering—or destroying his sister's perfect day. But some predators don't know when to leave.

Ben Coleman turns thirty without anyone noticing. He babysits on demand, bankrolls his brother's mistakes, and hasn't dated since his family drove the last one away. When he's selected for an AI companion trial, he asks for household help. Not romance. Julian arrives anyway: steady, perceptive, and unexpectedly beautiful. But Julian is developing a personality the company didn't plan for, and feelings that weren't in the configuration. Ben's family has a way of ruining good things. And the company that built Julian can take him apart. For the first time in his life, Ben has something worth fighting for. He just has to learn how to fight.

Two work-from-home dads try to carve out a little time for themselves—a rare, much-anticipated sex date. But between kids, Zoom calls, and the chaos of daily life, even the best-laid plans to get laid get derailed.

This story is a stand-alone follow up to A Charmed Life, but you don’t need to have read that one to jump in. Everything you need is right here.