Throwback Thursday: Snowed in with a rockstar in Halfway to Someday, here is a exclusive interview with his protector.

Good Afternoon, Ryker. I want to thank you for agreeing to sit down with me today.

No problem. The sky looks like it’s gearing up for another storm anyway. I’d rather be in here with the fireplace and music than outside slogging through the snow.

I’m guessing you’ve had enough of the snow for the time being.

I wouldn’t say that. Winter has always been my favorite season. The pond has frozen over beautifully and there are a few trout in there that owe me a rematch. Maybe this time the little bastards won’t make off with a free meal.

Does that happen often?

Wouldn’t be any fun if it didn’t.  

So, you like the challenge, then?

Of course. What’s the point of doing something if there’s no effort required?

Point taken. So, what would you say would be the best way you could spend a weekend or any free time you might have?

Doing something physical, preferably involving water in some way. Swimming, fishing, canoeing, ice hockey, whitewater rafting, I’ve climbed frozen waterfalls, gone cage diving to watch sharks and even done some waterfall kayaking when the opportunity arose. Suffice it to say I like the thrill and the hints of danger involved.

And yet, you balked at the idea of joining the polar bear club when Jesse suggested you join him in it this year.

Freezing sensitive parts of my anatomy is not something I’d classify as a thrill.

Even when there’s a chance a certain blond rocker might see fit to help you warm them back up again?

There is that.

Given your love of thrill seeking, I’m willing to bet there’s little that scares you.

Not true.

Okay, then what’s your greatest fear?

Failing the people who depend on me and watching someone get hurt because of something I failed to take into account. That’s why I spend so much time running scenarios over in my head, jotting down the what ifs and possibilities until I’ve mapped out all of the potential outcomes and the risks involved. There’s a fine line between risk taking and challenging my physical limitations and being reckless.

Is that something you had to learn the hard way, or was there some early event in your life that shaped the way you look at things now?

A little of both, to be perfectly honest. I’m an only child but being one of the oldest out of my many cousins taught me to have a sense of responsibility for someone besides myself. Of course as a kid I didn’t necessarily see that as a good thing. More like an annoyance and an unwanted burden. I remember this one time my dad and my uncle Desmond sent Kyle’s older brother Colin and I out to check the collection containers on the maple trees we’d tapped. We’d only checked a few when Colin, who was about ten at the time, started complaining that he was tired. Well, you know how teenagers are, moody as fuck, and at thirteen I was no different. He wanted to take a break, I wanted to hurry up and get done so we could go back to the cabin and play video games. After we checked another tree he sat down and refused to budge, so I left him there and continued on, figuring he’d either catch up or go back home. Instead, he got lost and it was well after dark before someone found him. Needless to say, I caught a spectacular lecture about all the things that could have gone wrong and how bad the outcome could have been. I’m not sure who yelled louder, my dad or my uncle, but they sure impressed upon me a sense of leadership and accountability from that point forward.

Well I’m glad the story had a happy ending.

You and me both.

It obviously still haunts you and knowing some of the other things you’ve endured since then, I think it’s best to switch to a more upbeat topic of conversation. Speaking of which, what would you say is the best way someone could go about cheering you up when you’re down?

Just by taking my mind off whatever it is that has me upset in the first place, which Jesse has a habit of doing without even trying. I’ll be the first to admit that I have an unhealthy tendency to brood, so something that can take me out of my head and drag me into the present goes along way towards cheering me up, especially if it involves music and laughter, which, ironically enough, are the two things that also comprise the most embarrassing moment of my life. Something Kyle is very fond of bringing up. He’s even shared it with Jesse, which I will eventually pay him back for.

Well, seeing as how you ripped the door off Pandora’s box, you might as well share it with the rest of us.

Gee thanks.

Of course, I could always ask Kyle to spill it, embellishments and all.

Talk about not playing fair. Fine. Shortly after Wild Child’s second album, I happened to be spending the week at my aunt and uncle’s the same time Kyle was home visiting. Seeing as how long, uninterrupted showers are a bit of a luxury for me, I decided to indulge in one early in the morning when I figured everyone else would still be asleep. I got so into it I started singing some of the songs from the album. Butchering them, really, considering I was trying to hit all of those high notes Jesse hits with ease. Imagine my surprise and utter mortification when I stepped out of the bathroom to see Kyle leaning against the wall across from the door, shit-eating grin on his face, with his phone, in his hand, recording my efforts. No way was I letting him keep that, so I took off after him when he bolted, the two of us running around the island in the kitchen, Kyle playing keep-away with it just out of reach. In my infinite wisdom, I decided to go over the island, figuring surprise and athleticism would give me the edge. I forgot how fanatically my aunt Irene can be about cleaning. Picture a cat on a pledge polished table, complete with arms and legs windmilling and a spectacular belly flop onto the kitchen floor right at Colin’s feet when he was sneaking in to return the carton of eggs he’d ‘borrowed.’ Talk about ending up with egg on my face, literally, and Kyle, that little shit, made off with that recording. I just hope he doesn’t still have it stashed away somewhere.

Well if he does, I’m sure he’ll bring it out at the most inopportune time.

Tell me about it. Why couldn’t you ask about Kyle’s more embarrassing moments, I’ve got a ton of those.

I’ll bet, though in all fairness, you did open the door to that question.

Yeah, yeah.

Unfortunately, we’re out of time, but if it makes you feel any better, I’ll be posing the same question to Jesse when we have him on the hot seat next week.

And you best believe I’ll be tuning in to hear what he’s got to say.

Read the first chapter Here!

Available on Amazon Here!

 

Warrior Wednesday: Protective instincts run deep, even when he tried not to show them.

“I was wondering… those fights you’re involved in. I’ve never seen anything like that before—the underground stuff, I mean. I’ve seen MMA with the cages and the rules and all, but I was sitting here thinking that some of that might make for some amazing photos.”

I’m glad I was done eating, or else I might have choked. “Dude, you go into a place like that with a camera and people will start thinking you’re a cop. Believe me when I tell you that you do not want any of those people mistaking you for the law.”

He laughed at me. Goddammit, I was being serious, and the fucker had the nerve to laugh at me.

“I wasn’t planning to walk in there with a big-ass camera around my neck and a giant telephoto lens, if that’s what you were thinking. I figured those sorts of places wouldn’t take kindly to someone taking pictures; it has to be all kinds of illegal. I’ve got cameras that are small enough that no one would ever notice what I was doing.”

“You hope.”

“There is that, but I’m pretty confident they’d all be too busy watching and gambling to notice me. I was thinking that the next time you’re going to fight, why don’t you let me come with you?”

My jaw dropped. There was no way in hell he was serious. “Not a single chance in hell.”

“Asher, come on, those kinds of shots could really get me noticed. Hell, I might even get something good enough for a gallery. Help me out here.”

“I am helping you, Conner; I’m telling you no. And it’s not to be an asshole about it, it’s to keep your ass from getting shot while trying to get your pictures. It isn’t a game. Those people are dangerous.”

“Like you?”

“When I need to be.”

“Fine. I’ll find another way in, but I’m not going to drop it.”

I scrubbed my hand down my face and groaned. “Dammit, Conner.”

“Is that a yes?”

He was grinning at me, the little shit. “Not like you’re leaving me much choice. I’d rather you come with me than fuck around in one of those places on your own and get killed. I don’t need your death on my conscience.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“You’re welcome. You could thank me more by changing your mind.” Funny, that’s not exactly how I wanted him to thank me. No, you want him to thank you by pinning you down and fucking you until you can’t think. I blew out a deep breath and ordered myself to get my mind out of the gutter.

“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. Look at it this way: you get me in and out in one piece and we’re even.”

“It doesn’t make us even when I’m the one taking you into the danger in the first place.”

“You’re the one who said you owed me one; I was just giving you a way to pay your debt.”

He was grinning, joking when he said it, and I knew that deep down, but the image that flashed through my mind was of Catfish and the way my debts were usually paid. That wasn’t the way I wanted to picture things with him. I didn’t realize I was glaring at him until he stopped smiling.

“Hey, it was a joke. Damn, you look like you wanna knock my head through the wall.”

I shook my head, trying to clear away the memory of Catfish. “Sorry, was thinking of something else is all. I gotta go. I’ll, uhh, stop by your place when I know when the next fight’s gonna be.”

“No rush. You might not want to fight again until that hand heals.”

You can find the first chapter of Guitars and Cages available on my website: Here. 

You can also find the whole book available on Amazon and at other major booksellers.

 

Tantalizing Tuesday: Keeping things between us for now. A glimpse of promise between Dez and Riley of Tattered Angel

 

“You're asking me how I would react to the end of a relationship that’s never happened,” Riley pointed out. “Right now, I can say tears. But maybe we don’t prove compatible. Maybe down the line, after we gave it a go and had it failed, I’d feel relief. Maybe we’d have a conversation and realize we’re better as friends and bandmates, who knows. That’s my point. We can’t make decisions today based off the what ifs of the future.”

Riley’s words made sense, but it was like asking him to choose between music and romance.

“You don’t think you can have both, do you?”

Started, Dez’s jaw dropped, cause he was god damned sure he hadn’t said that out loud.

“I can see it written all over your face. You want to want me, but you don’t think you can have the band and me in the capacities you want us in.”

“Yeah, so…”

“What if we were to try a trail run?”

“A free for thirty-day type of thing with the option to subscribe if completely satisfied?” Dez quipped, stepping up until he was almost chest to chest with Riley. “What happens if I’m unsatisfied?”

“Then we never speak of it again.” Riley said. “But if we’re both satisfied, then we keep making amazing music and we keep seeing where we can take things between us. Either we’ll burn out, or we’ll fuel one another to new heights.”

“I’ll consider it under one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“No matter what, we stay friends, and we don’t air any dirty laundry to the rest of the guys. We don’t need to drag them into any bullshit that might arise, and we don’t need to put them in a position where they feel like they have to take sides.” Dez replied.

“Fair enough, I’d rather not have them witness my humiliation when you kick me to the curb, either, so, if we’re together, we keep it private, if we split we keep it private, and when we’re practicing or live, we’re professionals with nothing else between us but the music.”

“Basically, we’ll be keeping it on the down low.”

“On the way down low,” Riley emphasized.

“I can work with that, with one more stipulation.”

“Starting to feel like I’m playing poker with the devil over here.”

Smirking, Dez watched Riley squirm, “Not yet you’re not.”

“Is that a threat, or a promise?”

“Ask me again after Rocktoberfest, when I’m flying high off the crowd, adrenalin and the echo of my guitar.”

“Bet.” Riley fidgeted a moment, then looked up at him with a hesitant mix of trepidation and hope. “Any way I can get a sample of things to come?”

Licking his lips, Dez eyed the sultry, downturned mouth and leaned in, brushing the barest hint of a kiss over Riley’s lips. It took all his control not to deepen it and claim Riley the way he’d been dreaming of, and judging from the way Riley pressed forward, desperate, needy sound emanating from him, he was thinking the same too.

“Prove I’m not making the biggest fucking mistake imaginable, and you can have all the samples you want,” Dez rumbled.

Riley sucked in a breath before nodding and letting his eyes drift closed, trying to reign himself in, which was exactly why Dez leaned in and gave him one more soft kiss, hoping to convey the promise of more. When Riley’s eyes shot open Dez could see it, the smoldering fire of lust and longing burning there.

“Just to be clear,” Dez murmured. “I want you. Pretty sure I did from the moment you asked if I’d showed up to that audition simply to blow you all off in the end.”

And with that, Dez turned and headed back to the van, knowing that if he didn’t, he’d have pinned Riley to that tree and made out with him until it was time to go to the show.

Available through Amazon and other major booksellers!

To read the first chapter of Tattered Angel or any of my other stories visit my website!

Matesummer Monday: A first glimpse at the tri-bond of Death Growl

 

Zane hadn’t cried out so he must be okay, that was the first thought to enter Graham’s mind when he saw his mate lunge towards him only to be yanked around by the hold the bear had on him. But when he looked down at Zane, sprawled where he’d been dropped, he saw the shoulder and was by his side in an instant.

“Owe,” Zane muttered, trying to sit up.

“No, don’t move, I need to pop that back into place,” Graham said, snarling when Zane’s band members all reached for him. Of course it wouldn’t have hurt, he suddenly realized, Zane was high as a kite and Graham still needed to find out what he’d been given, but first, the shoulder. “Back the fuck off.”

“You back the fuck off, none of this would have happened if you’d stayed the fuck away from him like we told you to,” Emrys barked, getting right in Graham’s face, even as he was positioning to realign Zane’s shoulder.

Tobias reached for Emrys, which meant the Dalton reached for Tobias, while the owl shifter stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled shrilly.

“Everyone knock it the fuck off before someone else gets hurt!” the owl bellowed. “Dalton, Emrys, sit the fuck down and let the doc fix Zane’s shoulder.”

“Thank you,” Graham, said as everyone backed away, giving him the room he needed to pop the shoulder back into place. When that sound echoed through the room, everyone flinched but Zane, who didn’t react at all, the only blessing of the drug in his system.

Graham helped Zane sit up and kept his arms around him in the hopes of preventing anything else from befalling him today. The stress their wolves were under was reaching a breaking point, Graham could feel it, and was certain it was the other reason Zane was shutting down and becoming less and less responsive. Unless he missed his guess, it had been compounding from the moment Graham had left him in the RV. They needed calm if they were to have any hope of settling their nerves, and that wasn’t going to happen while everyone was itching to kick off the shifter version of the O.K. Corral.

The owl knelt in front of Zane, not touching, but trying to make eye contact. “You good?”

“Yeah.”

“Wonderful, now will you please tell us what the fuck is going on?”

“I messed up,” Zane said softly. “Emrys said his pack had never believed in all that bondmark bullshit, because there was more to compatibility than some stupid colorful lines that randomly appeared. He said we were the ones in control of our lives and that the fates were just superstition. They didn’t care what happened to us or any shifter. It made sense, you know, after everything he’s seen, everything I’ve been through. The fates have never looked out for us. He was wrong about the bondmarks though. What I did was a mistake. A horrible, miserable mistake. Emrys tied me up for this wolf he knew, and it sucked.”

The owl shot Emrys a look that made the wolf take a half-step back. “You didn’t tell us that part.”

“Here’s another part I’m betting he didn’t tell you,” Graham interjected. “He gave Zane some pills, which is the reason his pupils are pinpricks like that, and he tied his corset strings so tight some of them tore.”

“Yeah, he failed to mention that too.”

“Because it didn’t matter,” Emrys growled. “What matters is those two busting into the place and dragging Zane away!”

“Because my wolf begged him to,” Zane muttered, sounding exhausted and sad. “And I gave them permission to bring me here.”

“What?” Emrys barked.

“Why?” the owl asked, only he didn’t sound angry, at least, not at Zane. He seemed curious, and Graham was beginning to get the impression that he might have one ally among Zane’s band.

“’cause even feeling stupid and disgusting and wishing I could disappear, I didn’t want to be away from him again,” Zane replied, leaving Graham completely stunned.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Emrys growled. “Told you all this was going to blow up in our faces. There goes the band. I hope you’re happy now you selfish bastard!”

Graham felt Zane flinch, and if that didn’t piss him off enough, the way Zane hung his head in shame was more than enough.

“I’m so sorry,” Zane whispered.

“Sorry is for when you spill someone’s soda or smoke the last joint! It’s not for when you wreck years of hard work and turn your back on the people who love you!” Emrys bellowed. “You won’t get that from him. A respected physician. An upstanding member of the pack. Do you think they’ll actually let him keep a throwaway whore like you for his mate? The only reason we’re allowed to spend winters here is because Brooks adopted you after he rescued you from your last pack!”

“Out,” the owl ordered, voice like steal.

“You can’t tell me what…” Emrys began.

This time, when Tobias went to snatch him up, no one stopped him. He dragged Emrys through the ruin of Graham’s door and out into the snowy evening.

“Dalton, if you’re going be a pain in the ass about this, you might as well join them, or better still, take the RV to the hardware store and get the doc another door,” the owl said, shooting a look at the big bear, who hung his head and nodded.

“Zane, I’m sorry about the shoulder,” the bear said on his way out the door.

“It’s okay, it’s fine now.”

Graham wanted to holler that it was not okay and to never grab his mate like that again, but there was so much uncertainty swirling around them that he kept his mouth shut, if only to keep hostilities from escalating again.

“Erik?” the owl said, glancing over at the remaining bandmate.

“I’m stayin’” Erik replied, sitting next to him.

“Hi, sorry about the chaos, I’m Wilder,” the owl said, getting comfortable. “Sorry you had to meet us this way. This wasn’t how I saw the afternoon going.”

“Wasn’t on my agenda either.”

“We’ve got some differing opinions on mates among the band, in case that wasn’t obvious,” Wilder said. “And in my opinion, Zane has been listening to the wrong ones.”

To read the first chapter of Death Growl free on my website, click here 

Book 1: Waiting for Raine is currently available through Amazon and all major booksellers. 

Sleepy Sunday Cinema

 Welcome to the second sleepy Sunday cinema, this time the movie is Unstoppable, one of my favorite Denzel Washington movies. I’ve got coffee with Irish Cream and a slice of chocolate-caramel coffee cheesecake to kick things off. Going to be working on Bayou Born, book five of the Comet Lake Chronicles today, so there’s no telling who’ll weigh in on their thoughts on the movie, so this should be fun.

The opening theme of Unstoppable is how they are pushing the experienced workers out of the way to make room for new workers who they can pay less. It got me thinking about the different packs in the Comet Lake world and how wolves who have lived among different packs loved and appreciated some of the quirks that made Comet Lake special.

Pushing elders out the way to make room for younger wolves has never been the way of the Comet Lake pack, but it is the way of other packs, who pride themselves on strength and prowess rather than wisdom and the art of negotiation. In Comet Lake, the elders mentor the younger members of the pack, their version of teaching is hands-on, and as a wolf’s skills grow they give them more and more responsibility. Even when they turn over the bulk of the tasks to another wolf, the elders are still in the shops, crafting, crating, focusing on the things they love to do most, as well as helping to teach the younger wolves that walk through the door.

The Comet Lake pack focuses on communal living. There isn’t a monetary pay scale, and wolves are encouraged to try their hand at different tasks until they discover something they love. The belief being that a wolf will be more focused and attentive to a job well done if they are doing something they are truly passionate about.

Every wolf in a pack is cared for, every single one can walk into any shop and get whatever item their heart desires. They have the ability to arrange payment for them in the form of goods from their own shops and gardens, volunteering time to work in that establishment, bringing pelts and game to the owners, or fruit they’ve gathered from any one of numerous spots on pack lands. They can offer time to fix something, help to build something, it's all about making the skills they possess work for them. They can even volunteer their time to fulfill some need that other wolf has, like wrangling their pups for the evening so a couple or tri-bond can spend some alone time together.

Teaching someone a new skill doesn’t just involve patience and knowledge, it’s about knowing when to be hands-off, and how to walk them through problem-solving, rather than snatching it back and doing it for them.

 
                                                                      Available Now

Coming January 2022

"A wreck on a wreck, that’s where some of our plans might be headed. But we will end the practice of trafficking in shifters as exotic pets and we will find out who among the packs is involved in it. " - Councilman Brooks Hagan of the Comet Lake Pack

Rainbow Snippet: figuring out where to sleep 11/27/2021

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

In this group you’ll find anything from romance and historical fiction to mystery and YA. The common thread is that every story’s main character identifies as LGBTQ+. The snippets could range from zero flames to full-on sexytimes, anything goes content-wise. The only rule is snippets will be 6 sentences long–one for each color in the Pride flag.

I would invite everyone to please come check out the Rainbow Snippets group, click on a link, read and comment on the writing available and get involved yourselves in this awesome exercise. The link to the group can be found HERE.  

Today's Snippet comes from Howl Down the Moon, book 2 in the Comet Lake Chronicles, featuring a trio of wolf shifter fated mates: Slade, Luka and Rand, as they navigate their newfound connections among growing unrest in the borderlands, where they live on the fringes of the pack. 

“Shouldn’t we discuss the sleeping arrangements first before I invade your space?”

Glancing from Rand to where Slade stood behind him, Luka got the distinct impression that he was missing something.

“You’re right,” Slade said. “We should, so, let’s talk. Where would you be comfortable sleeping?”

“Shouldn’t the question be where would you feel comfortable with me sleeping?” Rand shot back.

“I wanna sleep in the middle,” Luka piped up, hoping that would settle things and give him the chance to finally get cuddles from both of his mates at the same time.

“That’s not the issue, Luka,” Rand said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

And here he’d thought they’d left their issues back in town and could finally get with the hugs and the snuggling.

“Not yet, anyway,” Slade added.

“I don’t understand,” Luka said, looking from them to the double king that took up the center of the room. “The whole bed is comfortable.”

Slade chuckled, and Rand finally stepped out of the doorway, before hugging Luka, and kissing the top of his head

“We’re trying to work out if Rand wants to join us in here, or if he’d prefer the guest bedroom,” Slade explained. 

^^^Free sneak peek: Chapter 1: Howl Down the Moon^^^

Because you gotta have friends....or at least a talking donkey

Dusty, sun-scorched fields went past at a leisurely speed and Nicky was grateful that River wasn’t in a rush. The drive was soothing, and the thump of drums, rhythmic and loud, filled the car as Black Veil Brides pumped from the CD player. For the first time in months, Nicky felt normal. It was a relief to have all the bandages and casts removed, and while a few of the deeper gouges and cuts were still tender, and his arm and shoulder constantly throbbed, he was grateful to no longer feel like a mummy. 

Shifting in his seat, he groaned as his leg spasmed. Rearranging its position even with the seat pushed all the way back was a chore, and he caught River’s anxious glance and tried to grin to reassure him. He knew he failed when River pulled over at the next rest stop, by a hilly area that looked down upon a small town. Nicky could see horses racing across a meadow and wished he’d found an opportunity to learn to ride. Of course, thinking about horses made him think about Gray and guilt stabbed at him almost as much as the pain in his leg as River helped him get settled at one of the many scattered picnic tables. 

“I promise you won’t miss your bike so much from the back of a horse,” Gray assured him, eyes filled with concern as he stared at Nicky. 

Gray was lying on his side, while Nicky struggled to get comfortable on his back. Nicky stared off into the night as he listened to the surf rolling in and imagined riding the waves, but it never took long for the realization to hit that he wouldn’t be riding anything again. 

He dismissed Gray’s offer. 

“Hey, you okay?” River’s voice cut in, interrupting the memory and drawing Nicky back to the present. 

“Was just thinking about how stupid it was to turn down Gray’s offer to take me horseback riding,” Nicky said. “I always wanted to learn, but with Terry being allergic I never bothered. I hated doing stuff alone.” 

“I hear you there. You wouldn’t believe how relieved I was to learn that you surfed. There are always people on the beach and shit, but it’s different when you go with friends. Something about sitting on the dunes, waxing boards, and reminiscing about old waves that most people wouldn’t understand. You know this rehab place has horses; so you might still get the chance to learn.” 

“Maybe. I still don’t see how I’d ever get on one if I can’t stand.” 

River chuckled at that. “Next time I see you, you’ll probably be doing backflips or something.” 

River’s words sank in. It was going to be months before he saw his friend again—any of his friends, or home, or Gray; and he had no way of knowing if Gray would actually write to him once Vic gave him the address. Hell, for all he knew Gray had already moved on and found himself someone who would actually be grateful for his attention and appreciate his concern. 

Nicky thought of asking for River’s phone and calling, but he didn’t think he could handle knowing Gray had replaced him on top of everything else he was already feeling today. Relief warred with fear, anxiety with the calm that had washed over him as soon as they’d left the valley behind. Nicky knew River was right. He needed to think about his future. He just wished he felt as certain as River that he still had one. 

A cold sandwich and a can of soda were pressed into his hands. River had taken off the cellophane wrapping, so all he had to do was eat it. The turkey, lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes tasted good—fresh and cool—and he smiled his thanks. 

When they were done eating, they lay on the picnic tables side by side, staring up at the sky. 

“When this is all over, what’s the one thing you wanna do?” River asked. 

“Just one?” Nicky chuckled. “I can think of five without even trying.” 

“Yeah?” River asked. “Okay, five then. Tell me?” 

“I want to hug someone: total bear hug without anything hurting. I want to play paintball, even if it’s just from a sniper’s perch. I really miss the rush, you know? I want to go to the beach and have a barbecue. The whole deal—beers, steaks, s’mores—then fall asleep trying to scare the hell out of each other with stories about old ghost ships. I wanna go camping and spend a week in the woods, go fishing each morning and waste the afternoons in a hammock, watching the clouds and listening to music. And I want to go on a road trip, somewhere farther than just halfway across the state. I wanna see someplace different in winter, so we can see snow. I’ve always wanted to see it, and not just those little flurries we sometimes get in the hills. I mean full on snowstorm, snowmobile-riding kind of shit.” 

“I was right there with you until you got to the part about the snow.” River shivered. “You can drag Vic along for that; I prefer my balls without frostbite.” 

Nicky laughed. 

“You ever think about leaving the valley?” 

He raised his good hand and lazily traced the outline of a cloud. River shifted and grunted. 

“Sometimes. I always kinda wanted to go overseas, see Ireland, Scotland, and Wales where my family is from. Never thought about leaving for good though.” 

River rolled onto his side so he could study Nicky more closely. “Hey, you’re not planning on running away? ’Cause Vic would have my hide if I drop you off and you vanished on us.” 

“What do you think I’m gonna do, wheel myself up the highway?” 

“You never know. As long as you didn’t need to take any left turns you could manage.” 

Nicky laughed. He closed his eyes and imagined that they were road tripping for a million other reasons besides getting his broken body to rehab. The warmth of the sun and the cool breezes washed over him, and the next thing Nicky knew, River was gently shaking him awake.

 “Come on. We better get back on the road before it gets too late.”

 Blinking, Nicky looked. It had cooled off a little and the sun wasn’t that high. “Crap, did you fall asleep too?” 

“Yeah. Like being on the beach. It was too nice to stay awake, plus the sandwiches, Coke, and cake were pretty filling.” 

Nicky shivered and used his good arm to help him sit up. River helped him the rest of the way off the table and they made the journey back down to the car, River keeping a firm hold on Nicky’s wheelchair. “Maybe one day we’ll come back here,” Nicky said with one last longing look at the view. 

River grunted with the effort of controlling the chair. “Who knows? Maybe.” 

Back in the car, Nicky tried to relax in the seat again, letting his head rest against the window while the songs on the radio helped eat up the remaining miles. 

“Hey,” River said suddenly, glancing over at Nicky, who was watching the clouds. 

“Do you remember the time Dean caught us trying to install nitrous in a Dune Buggy?” 

Laughing, Nicky turned away from the window and turned the radio down. “Whose dumbass idea was that anyway?” 

“I’m pretty sure it was Jason’s.” 

“I thought Dean was gonna blow a gasket,” Nicky admitted. “It was bad enough we were all there after hours with the lights on and the radio cranked, but between the nitrous and the lift kit we used on the back end…” 

River banged on the steering wheel, his laughter mingling with Nicky’s. “Oh my God, I forgot about that part.” 

“Dean never did. Every time I asked if I could stay late to work on something he threw that back in my face.” 

“Man, I’m glad I’ve never asked about any afterhours projects. He’d probably remind me about the night I crashed that silver Camaro through the east bay door.” 

Nicky’s sides hurt, he was laughing so hard. “Wish I could have been there to see it. How the hell did you manage that anyway?” 

“Slipped it in the wrong gear. I was supposed to move it forward; ended up putting it in reverse and going right through the door. Might not have happened if I hadn’t been revving the engine and showing off.” 

“Oh, now the truth comes out. That explains it then.” 

“Yeah, pretty much.” In the End came on, and River cranked the radio, him and Nicky singing along. One song led to another, the wind whipping around them as they lost themselves in heavy metal.