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Allies and Assholes
Last Updated:
2024-12-08 09:39:48
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A Sketch Away From Perfect Shot
HarperRafe and Jack are on the ground. I don’t know where the bullet went. I don’t know if Rafe’s been shot. Neither of them are moving.I drop to my knees next to them. “Rafe? Rafe, honey? Rafe?!” I shake his shoulder.Nothing.I put my hand on his cheek and something warm and sticky coats my palm. “Help!” I scream. “Oh, God, he’s bleeding! Somebody help!”A multitude of boots come trampling through the woods, flashlights shining on us from all directions. Some police stand back with their guns drawn while others rush to Rafe’s side.“It’s just a graze,” one officer says, and I could pass out from relief. “He’ll be okay. Just gotta get him in to see if he has a concussion. He’s a football player though, so I suppose he’s had a few of those.”Someone hits their knees next to me while I’m staring down at Rafe and wra
Last Updated : 2024-12-09A Sketch Away From Perfect Up and About
HarperAfter my MRI, the doctors finally let me go see Rafe. I shuffle down to his room in hospital socks and a gown. Tomás has gone to pick up some pizza for us all. Damien is on his phone, leaning on the technicians and whoever else is involved to get my MRI reviewed. Scott stepped out to call someone to check on his animals since he’s been gone so long.I knock lightly on the door to Rafe’s room. When I hear Jen, Rafe’s mother, call “Come in!” I push open the door and go inside.Jen is sitting next to the bed, holding Rafe’s hand. His father, Skip, is leaning against the windowsill with his arms folded. When they look up, neither of them are particularly happy to see me.“Harper,” Jen says in a clipped tone.“Mrs. Maloney,” I reply respectfully. “Mr. Maloney.”Skip eyes me with deep-seated anger.“You could have ended his football career, you know?
Last Updated : 2024-12-10A Sketch Away From Perfect Changes
Two weeks later…Harper“WHOOOOOO! GO RAFE, GO!” I scream from the private suite where we are watching Rafe’s game.“Maybe we’re supposed to call him Bullet?” Tomás asks, eating off a plate of catered food next to me.“I figure if you’re sleeping with the man, you get to call him whatever you want,” Damien says dryly. He sips something expensive—scotch, I’m assuming—from a tumbler, but loses all sophistication when Rafe gets sacked. “Roughing the passer!”“They can’t flag the play every time Rafe gets sacked. This isn’t touch football,” Scott chuckles. He’s munching popcorn, more a fan of that snack than the buffet fare.Damien purses his lips. “I wonder how much it would cost…”I reach past Tomás to slap his shoulder. “Don’t even think about it.”
Last Updated : 2024-12-11A Sketch Away From Perfect Embarrassing Realities
Harper“You should totally do it. My sister made loads of money. I think she paid off all her student loans!” McKenzy says, tapping the ‘Apply’ button on the screen insistently.I look at https://atalooseend.com like it’s a snake that’s going to bite me. How did it come to this?!“You’re a poor, starving artist who doesn’t sell enough pieces to cover the rent,” she answers my unspoken question, her tone flat. “You have student loans so far up your ass you can taste the red ink! Trust me, this is your best option.”“But… what if they want sex?” I question, wondering if I have it in me to become an escort. I’ve never done anything like that before, though I’m certainly not a virgin.McKenzy stabs her finger at the bold, red, 64-font words on the ‘About’ page. “‘Dates are NOT required to or encouraged to provide sex or engage in sexual acts’. It’s even in the legalese we read in the sample contract. Big and bold. In fact, if we go to the home page…” She reaches over my shoulder and maneu
Last Updated : 2024-11-04A Sketch Away From Perfect Farmer Scott
HarperI try not to pull a Marilyn Monroe as the wind whips the flared skirt of the sleeveless aquamarine dress I am wearing. McKenzy loaned me a pair of high-heeled, strappy sandals to match, and they aren’t helping the situation much as I teeter along the sidewalk, expecting to be swept away like Mary Poppins.As I turn the corner onto Raymond Avenue, I pause to adjust one of the straps on the right sandal. “I should have worn tennis shoes,” I grumble, even though I know that wouldn’t be appropriate. It’s my own fault for losing one of my own silver slippers. Not in a Cinderella way, but in a this-closet-is-an-unholy-vortex way. I’m sure, when I finally get around to cleaning it, the missing slipper will reappear. .“Yeah, when I’m being moved to a nursing home,” I mutter. I catch my reflection in one of the storefront windows and pat back a strand of my hair. At least that’s clipped up in a twist so the wind can only do so much damage.In the reflection, I also see a police car. I
Last Updated : 2024-11-04A Sketch Away From Perfect Hard but Worth It
HarperOkay. You can do this. I throw my shoulders back and walk on Scott’s arm, exuding confidence. At least, I think I’m exuding confidence. I’ve never been anybody’s fake date before.“You don’t have to smile like that. Your face will break in half,” he whispers to me, his arm shaking with repressed laughter.Okay, so, not so confident then. I’m a little embarrassed, but I think my smile’s genuine now. “I don’t want to screw this up for you,” I confess.“If you do, you can make it up to me by letting me buy you dinner sometime,” he murmurs back.My spirits perk up at that possibility. I mean, the chemistry between us is undeniable. “How about, if I screw up, I buy you dinner, and if I knock it out of the park, you can buy me dinner?”Scott engulfs my hand with his warm, rough palm. “Works for me.”When we enter the church, a gray-haired woman in a floral dress spots us and rushes over. “Scott! Thank heavens. I was almost afraid you’d miss the wedding!”“Mom, I’m still fifteen minut
Last Updated : 2024-11-04A Sketch Away From Perfect Until it’s Done
HarperOh, my God! I can’t believe I just said that! I stare into the mirror in the bathroom, shocked by my own boldness.Harper Ward would never have agreed to that proposition. And with such a dirty remark!But then, maybe ArtIsMyLife33 would?Somebody agreed to go home with Scott and suck his dick. Or I at least implied I was going to.The chicken in me thinks of backing out. Scott would be polite about it, I know. The part of me who hasn’t been with a man in the six months since I broke up with that controlling asshole Jack? That part wants to ride that big cock I saw in the truck, right into the sunset.I lock eyes with myself. “Who are you?” I murmur.The door slams open, and two drunk, giggling guests come into the restroom. “Oh, my God, did you see Scott? He is still so dreamy.”“Too bad he’s taken,” the other says.Neither of them notice me, and I decide to keep it that way by slipping into a bathroom stall.“Jessie says he is so good in bed. She says she’s never had anything
Last Updated : 2024-11-04A Sketch Away From Perfect Double Trouble
Harper“You slept with him?!” McKenzy’s jaw goes slack. It’s the next morning, and we’ve finally gotten a chance to talk. When I got home the night before, I took a shower and crashed. Hard.“Announce it to the whole apartment complex, why don’t you?” I hiss. “And yes. I slept with him. It was amazing.”“Amazing? It says on the website you don’t have to do the whole escort thing!” she says. “Did we forget the website?”I snort. “I didn’t do it because I thought I had to. I wanted to. We really hit it off.”“I’ll say. You slept with him on the first date. And it wasn’t even a proper date!” She all but wails.“Dramatic much? You’ve done it before,” I remind her.“Yeah, but you’re not me.” McKenzy paces around me, looking me up and down. She pinches my arm.“Hey!” I gripe.She nods. “Okay, so I’m not dreaming.”“You’re supposed to pinch yourself!” I pinch her back.“Ouch! Fine, fine, okay. We can be super sluts together then. But honestly, Harper, you need to stop copying me. I’m sure yo
Last Updated : 2024-11-17
Latest chapter
A Sketch Away From Perfect Changes
Two weeks later…Harper“WHOOOOOO! GO RAFE, GO!” I scream from the private suite where we are watching Rafe’s game.“Maybe we’re supposed to call him Bullet?” Tomás asks, eating off a plate of catered food next to me.“I figure if you’re sleeping with the man, you get to call him whatever you want,” Damien says dryly. He sips something expensive—scotch, I’m assuming—from a tumbler, but loses all sophistication when Rafe gets sacked. “Roughing the passer!”“They can’t flag the play every time Rafe gets sacked. This isn’t touch football,” Scott chuckles. He’s munching popcorn, more a fan of that snack than the buffet fare.Damien purses his lips. “I wonder how much it would cost…”I reach past Tomás to slap his shoulder. “Don’t even think about it.”
A Sketch Away From Perfect Up and About
HarperAfter my MRI, the doctors finally let me go see Rafe. I shuffle down to his room in hospital socks and a gown. Tomás has gone to pick up some pizza for us all. Damien is on his phone, leaning on the technicians and whoever else is involved to get my MRI reviewed. Scott stepped out to call someone to check on his animals since he’s been gone so long.I knock lightly on the door to Rafe’s room. When I hear Jen, Rafe’s mother, call “Come in!” I push open the door and go inside.Jen is sitting next to the bed, holding Rafe’s hand. His father, Skip, is leaning against the windowsill with his arms folded. When they look up, neither of them are particularly happy to see me.“Harper,” Jen says in a clipped tone.“Mrs. Maloney,” I reply respectfully. “Mr. Maloney.”Skip eyes me with deep-seated anger.“You could have ended his football career, you know?
A Sketch Away From Perfect Shot
HarperRafe and Jack are on the ground. I don’t know where the bullet went. I don’t know if Rafe’s been shot. Neither of them are moving.I drop to my knees next to them. “Rafe? Rafe, honey? Rafe?!” I shake his shoulder.Nothing.I put my hand on his cheek and something warm and sticky coats my palm. “Help!” I scream. “Oh, God, he’s bleeding! Somebody help!”A multitude of boots come trampling through the woods, flashlights shining on us from all directions. Some police stand back with their guns drawn while others rush to Rafe’s side.“It’s just a graze,” one officer says, and I could pass out from relief. “He’ll be okay. Just gotta get him in to see if he has a concussion. He’s a football player though, so I suppose he’s had a few of those.”Someone hits their knees next to me while I’m staring down at Rafe and wra
A Sketch Away From Perfect Allies and Assholes
RafeTomás promises to rejoin us after we shake the Steve Keller tree. McKenzy really needs to go home, poor thing. Jack Collins is getting the ass kicking of a lifetime once we find him.Norm knocks on Keller’s door while Damien stands patiently behind him. There are some bewildered police officers outside behind us. I suppose they aren’t used to having to put the pressure on one of their own.A second knock finally brings Keller to the door. He looks at the whole lot of us outside, especially at Norm, and frowns. “What?” he demands.Damien’s lips tighten. I understand. I don’t like his tone either.“Mr. Keller?” Damien asks coldly.“Yeah? Who’s asking?” Keller grumps.“Damien Blackwood. I think you’ve been a bit of an asshole, Mr. Keller,” Damien says.Norm finds his balls and talks over Damien. “We just want to know where Harper Ward is, Steve. I’m sure Jack lied to you. He kidnapped one girl and traded her for Miss Ward. He killed an impound attendant. He stole a truck from the im
A Sketch Away From Perfect Questioning McKenzy
TomásDamien gets us into the interview room where two flustered detectives sit in front of a completely shell-shocked McKenzy.“Mr. Blackwood, this is highly unusual,” one of them is enough of an idiota to say.Rafe snorts. Scott shakes his head.I just wait.Damien turns on the detective and strikes like a viper with his words. “And I’m hoping you like early retirement.”“What the hell does that mean?” the detective snaps back. He’s puffed up and stupid. Damien is going to eat him for breakfast.I let the other two watch the show. I’m more concerned about McKenzy. She looks like she’s on the last thread of her last frayed nerve. I go and kneel by her chair. “McKenzy?” I ask softly.Now that I’m able to see under the table, I realize that her hands are cuffed together. Anger rises in me.“Who has the fucking key?” I ask, standing abruptly. “Key?” Rafe asks. “What do you mean, ‘who has the key’?”Scott looks at me, looks at McKenzy, leans down a little so he can see under the table,
A Sketch Away From Perfect Love Slaps
Two hours earlier…Scott“This isn’t right,” Damien says.I look at him in the rearview mirror. “What’s not right?”“She stopped in Hastings, but now she’s heading back to the city, as far as I can tell.” He leans back to show me his phone. “I can’t believe they didn’t catch her when she stopped. Technical difficulties. God, these boondock towns…”“You know Vermillion is a suburb of Hastings, right?” I remark dryly.“I stand by what I said.” He turns to Tomás. “We need to head toward West St. Paul.”I grab the oh-shit bar as Tomás makes a one-eighty on two wheels, causing a lot of honking. Then we’re speeding away from Hastings on Highway 55.“She’s on 494 West. Where on earth is she going?” Damien mutters.“That’s not the hig
A Sketch Away From Perfect Flying the Coop
Damien“Well, this is inconvenient,” I say as the four of us stand out in the parking lot like fools, looking at the spot the car should be parked as though staring at it will make it reappear.“Inconvenient? Man, you need to up your vocabulary. This is a disaster!” Rafe sighs, shaking his head. “What the fuck happened anyway?”“Marco says she got a call from her mother,” I reply. “Of course that was a lie. She got a call from a burner phone. Doubtless it was Jack. She kicked him and ran away. ”Tomás groans. “I must agree with Rafe. This is a disaster.”“How are we going to find her? Where do you think he sent her? Is the burner phone still on?” Scott asks.I pull up Harper’s location on my phone. “It would appear,” I say, holding my phone up for them to see. “She is heading south.”“Oh, so she didn’t t
A Sketch Away From Perfect All Tied Up
HarperI don’t think he’s serious. I really don’t. Until I see his eyes darken.“Oh shit.” I scramble over to the other side of the bed, putting it between me and Tomás.“Cariña, I’m not going to duct tape you to the bed,” he sighs.“Uh-huh. I don’t believe you,” I respond, still keeping the bed between us.Tomás rolls his eyes. “I would have used something far less abrasive.”“What?” I yell.“I’m kidding. But if me standing here will keep you from trying to leave the apartment, all the better,” he says.I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re on, Profe.”With a slight smile, he stands in front of the door with his arms crossed. “And just what do you think you can do?”He’s not Rafe, so he’s not built like a football player, but that doesn’t
A Sketch Away From Perfect Cold Comfort
Harper“You should really get some sleep, mi preciosa,” Tomás advises kindly, sitting down next to me on the sofa. “I think maybe Damien kept you up for a long time, no?”I lean against his shoulder. I mean, he’s not wrong, but…. “What about McKenzy?”“I will wake you up if I hear anything,” he says, taking my hands in his. “Maybe her parents wanted to take her somewhere else, and she forgot to check in. Now, cariña, you must get some rest.”He stands and pulls me up with him. Then he wraps an arm around my shoulders and guides me to my bedroom.I look at the carefully made bed and think of McKenzy’s messy one. It just feels so uncomfortable not having her here. “Maybe I should stay up a while.”“No. I promise I will wake you if I get any information,” Tomás insists firmly as he pulls my covers back.The bed does
