This is where you can read extra scenes from my books! Each snippet is a brief extension or epilogue of a few main characters you may not have gotten enough of.
Bones
Bones sat outside of the motel on a lawn chair, overseeing Susie as she splashed around in a pink kiddie pool at his feet. She laughed and swam around the shallow water, not a care in the world as she played with the pool toys. As safe and sound as she was, Bones didn’t let his eyes stray from her for even a second.
The kid was a sucker for winding up in bad situations as soon as someone turned their back to her. At barely two years old she was already a professional pick-pocketer. Terrible Twos as Sky always said. One night, when Bones had slid into his jeans after messing with Sky between the sheets, he had found one of his knives notably absent.
Tracing his memory, he had recalled kneeling beside the toddler as he fussed with the uncooperative stroller mechanics just before he’d dropped her off at her dad’s house. Dressed and attentive, he’d retrieved his phone and sure enough, he had a few missed calls and texts from Michael who didn’t sound happy. Bones had stopped by to pick up his knife which Michael said he had to pry from the toddler’s greedy hands.
But who knew the truth of that accusation. It’s not like Susie could share her side of the story.
As she played in the pool, Bones snapped his gaze away, keeping her in his peripherals as Sky came out of the hotel. Wearing a white, button-up shirt tied in a knot above his belly button, Sky sauntered over with a tray of lemonades and a sway in his hips. What a treat, Bones thought.
He watched him bend slightly to settle the tray on a small side table, smacking his ass sharply as he did. Sky only laughed at the rough love, tossing Bones a flirty wink before taking a seat on Bones' inviting lap with a cool glass coated in condensation. Hand snaking up his thigh, Bones watched Sky sip the drink, throat bobbing the same way it did when he was swallowing dick.
He watched Sky with hunger until a flash of yellow caught his eye, and a hard object hit Bones square in the face, startling him deeply and nearly knocking Sky’s drink out of his hand. With a grunt, he stared down at the yellow rubber duck at his feet before glancing at Susie who was staring up at him with guilt and a lack of remorse on her smiling face.
“Susie!” Sky scolded her, but she giggled, chewing on her thumb. “No throwin’ things!”
He bent over to scoop up the duck and hand it back to her. Settling back in Bones’ lap, they resumed their flirty glances and groping. Until the rubber duck came flying again, striking Sky this time in the cheek just as he leaned in for a kiss. Bones knew he wouldn’t be getting lucky that night as soon as the earnest, rumbling laughter left his chest.
Perish
The bounce of the basketball cuts through the quiet public park. I dribble it steadily, keeping my back to Carson who closes in to try and steal it from me and block my shot. The tension is palpable as he skirts around me strategically, sneakers pivoting with my movements, but it doesn’t stop me from smiling with quiet snickers as I keep the ball in my possession, inching closer to the three-point line.
The dark, lumpy asphalt of the court isn’t marked, but if it were, that’s where I’d be as I hoist the ball and extend my elbows to shoot. Carse taught me the layout of a basketball court, as well as a million other things while watching the games on TV, and I’m slowly becoming a match for him.
Arching through the air, the orange ball leaps into the net, falling straight through and keeping me in the lead.
Chests pounding with ragged breaths from the workout, I walk into Carson, letting our sweaty shoulders bump, hands groping lazily at each other’s waists in brief affection.
“I feel like you’re letting me win,” I huff out while catching my breath.
“Nah, you’re actually getting good.” He ruffles my hair before lightly pushing my head away and trailing after the ball.
Hands on my waist, I pace a little while I wait for him, enjoying the perfect evening breeze as the sky takes on more colors than blue.
At the sound of giggling, I snap my head up, only now noticing the group of women on the small bleachers beside the court. There are four of them, each smiling and gossiping amongst themselves while they watch us. One of them has our ball, and she hands it back to Carson with twinkling eyes and flashing teeth.
I grow self-conscious wondering how long they’ve been watching us. Sometimes, I forget to tone down my affection toward Carson when we’re out in public. Aside from my dad, no one has ever been homophobic to us, but it’s probably bound to happen at some point.
As she hands Carse the ball, the others behind her hold their sleeves to their mouths as if to hide behind them while blushing profusely. One of them asks Carson something I can’t hear, her eyes drifting to me for a brief second. Her friend’s mouth falls open while the other swats her arm, chastising her for whatever she said.
Carson only chuckles a little, shaking his head at them. He responds to whatever they asked while twirling the ball on his finger. The girls only become giddier before he leaves them and walks back to me. There’s an odd look in his amused eyes as they lock onto mine. I frown with a raised eyebrow as he stalks toward me, our basketball game forgotten.
Without warning, and without slowing his pace, he swoops in, gripping my jaw in a firm kiss. The girls lose their shit, squealing behind us obnoxiously. I stare at Carse like he’s crazy, but he resumes dribbling the ball like nothing happened.
“What the hell was that?” I huff, eyeing the women watching us obsessively, unsure why a kiss elicited such an uproar.
“I thought they were watching us because we’re hot as fuck. Turns out they just noticed we’re together and wanted to watch,” he shrugs.
“Perverts,” I mutter through a smile and he snorts. I guess it’s better than the opposite, having them watch with disgust.
“You were standing out of bounds, by the way. I get a free throw.” Carson keeps the ball out of my reach.
“No, I wasn’t, I was at the three-point line!” I argue, pointing at the invisible mark on the ground.
“No, it would start right here,” he points at nothing, “You were standing all the way over there.”
“That’s not fair,” I lunge for the ball, trying to swipe it away, but he dodges the attempt.
“Stop. You can’t block a free throw, dumbass.” He shoves me away, moving into position.
“You shoved me. That’s a flag,” I counter, trying to snatch the ball again.
“You’re not a ref. You don’t get to call flags.”
He aims his shot. I block it stubbornly.
“Perish.” Carson’s tone is a flat warning.
"Fine,” I back off a few inches before grumbling under my breath, “You’re just mad that you’re losing.”
As he takes aim again, I glance at the women on the side lines, staring like they’re just waiting for us to put on a show. Chewing my lip as mischief clouds my thoughts, I close in behind Carson and kiss his neck to distract his throw at the perfect moment. He curses as my lips linger on his smooth, salty skin, and his ball misses the hoop by a long shot
.“That doesn’t count,” he breaks away from me to retrieve it as the girls erupt in more giggles and screeches. “I get a redo.”
I wave him off with a grin, letting him have it.
“Don’t touch me this time, bitch,” he grumbles without weight and a heavy laugh leaves my throat at his seriousness. Focused intensely on the net, he shoots the ball again, still missing which makes me laugh harder along with our audience.
Instead of chasing the ball, Carse comes after me, gripping my hair firmly as I get all the humor out of my system.
“You’re fucking me up,” he says through clenched teeth.
“I’ll give you one more,” I offer generously, gazing into his eyes.
He regards me for a moment, leaving a beat of silence between us as we breathe and stare at one another like nobody else exists.
“You’re smiling a lot today,” Carson observes.
My cheeks heat, and I become more aware of my upturned lips, feeling every part of the smile on my face.
“Today is just one of those days…” I whisper, not needing to explain more as my throat bobs and Carson’s eyes shine with sympathy.
It’s hard to have good days in a world without my mom, but every once in a while, I’m pleasantly surprised by days like today that feel perfect. Like she is the breeze that makes the temperature perfect. She’s the yellow and orange that make the sky look perfect. She’s the fence that protects just the two of us on this basketball court, allowing the most perfectly intimate moment.
“Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss!” the girls break our staring contest with a chant.
Bursting out in laughter, Carse and I shake our heads at them, but oblige with just a few quick pecks before resuming the game once more.
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Author TJ Holiday
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