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- 05/25/2013
- 1,008 Words
- 9,369 Views
- 19 Comments
Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Thwarted - 1. Chapter One
The Prompt: "Count sheep? I'd rather count..."
The metal lid bit into his palm when Mark twisted open his fresh beer. He grimaced at the TV and rolled his eyes at the commercial still taking up screen time.
“I hate this commercial.” Mark flopped back down on the other side of the couch from his brother-in-law, waiting for the game to come back on.
“What commercial?” Brent shifted the three year old taking up residence on his lap and looked over at Mark.
“The sleep one, about counting sheep. I mean c’mon, does anyone actually do that?” Mark shook his head and took a swallow of his beer; the bitter brew quenched his thirst but did nothing for his growling stomach. He munched on the chips situated between him and Brent, loaded with enough cheese flavor to nearly overpower the taste still lingering on his taste buds from the beer.
“I had a girlfriend once who did.” Brent shot a look at his wife standing in the doorway.
“Seriously? Count sheep? I’d rather count—”
“Mark!” He was interrupted by Jackie’s sharp reprimand. “Don’t you even think of finishing that sentence.”
Mark glanced at his nephew and shot an apologetic look at his sister. “Sorry, Jackie. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Obviously.” Jackie smirked and came the rest of the way into the room. “C’mon little man, it’s your bedtime.” She plucked Matthew off his father’s lap and carried him out of the room.
“You should know better by now.” Brent laughed once Jackie was out of the room. “She’s totally anal about what gets said in front of Matthew, even though he’s not old enough to understand.”
“Yeah, I know.” Mark did know. He didn’t do it intentionally and he should know better. He’d had to watch what he said more times than he could count during his stint in the army. It had been part of the reason he’d gotten out, he was tired of having to hide his sexual preference amidst other guys who had no problem talking about going out and getting laid.
“She’ll get over it.” Brent grinned and Mark knew he didn’t want to know what was coming next. “What she’s not going to be getting over anytime soon is your single status. You know she’s trying to find someone to fix you up with, right?”
“Yeah, I had an inkling when she invited me for dinner and I just happened to be seated next to the only other single guy there.” Mark shook his head. The night had been a complete disaster and he’d managed to make it through dinner before making excuses and getting the hell out of dodge. “I love my sister, but subtlety is the one thing no one will ever accuse her of.”
“Very true. She just wants to see you settled down and to be honest, so do I.” Brent laughed and held up a hand to forestall any questions. “Not that I don’t want to see you happy, but more than anything I just want to quit hearing about you being single and don’t I know any nice guys she can introduce you to.”
“She’ll get tired of it eventually.” At least, Mark hoped she did. He’d already thwarted three of her attempts. He doubted that she knew that many guys who were gay and single.
“You’re underestimating her. Just be glad I talked her out of following the example of that damn movie she loves so much. You so owe me for that.” He must have seen Mark’s confusion since he explained. “She’s watched that movie about the mom that takes out an ad and interviews prospective mates for the woman’s daughter. Jackie was all set to take out the ad, but I convinced her that it only works in the movies. Though, it might have been entertaining to watch.”
“I definitely owe you a beer for that one then.” Mark lifted his bottle in salute and then took a hefty swallow. He didn’t even want to think of who might have answered such an ad. He hadn’t seen the movie that Brent was talking about, but it just sounded like a disaster waiting to happen.
“Now, would you shut up already and watch the game? Sometimes you talk more than a woman.” Brent’s smile took the heat out of his words and Mark just grinned.
“I heard that!” Jackie walked back into the room.
“Oops. Love you dear.” Brent turned his head and smiled innocently at his wife.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s too late to suck up now.” She walked over and perched on the edge of the couch. “I’ll remind you of that when Matthew wakes up in the middle of your game. Love you honey.”
Mark couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped as Jackie pressed a fleeting kiss to Brent’s lips and then headed into the kitchen. He quit abruptly when he was hit in the face by one of the fancy pillows that Jackie liked to keep on the couch.
“Laugh it up, Mark, laugh it up. Just remember, payback’s a bitch.” Brent let out the foot rest on his side of the couch and leaned back as he watched the game.
Not really having anything to say to that, Mark followed suit. He knew some of Brent’s forms of payback and while some of them were funny as hell, some tended to be a little bit on the painful side. Maybe he could win some points back by taking care of Matthew if he woke up. It was Brent’s team playing tonight anyways and Mark could really care less which team actually managed to win. On the plus side, if he took care of Matthew when he woke up, maybe Brent would warn him the next time Jackie played matchmaker.
He wished she would quit, but Brent was right, she wouldn’t stop until he was settled down and nothing he could say would deter her.
The Prompt: "Count sheep? I'd rather count..."
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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