LOGINShare
29 - Swagger
Last Updated:
2021-04-15 07:04:10Fletcher went to see his mom later that evening. He was upset that the first time we met didn’t go so well. Fletch had spoken with his dad and they had already booked her a return flight for the next morning.
They both felt nothing good would come of her staying any length of time and Fletch was embarrassed about how she acted, and knew she wouldn’t apologize.His dad talked to me a bit on the phone and it went infinitely better than with Bree. His dad seemed quite nice, and funny, I could tell Fletch got his swagger and romantic side from his dad.
I went to meet up with Noora since she was leaving in a couple days. Dr. Karlsson, however, was staying through the end of the semester since apparently a “younger” science professor in her late 60’s caught his eye.
As it tur
Related chapters
Gifted Shadows 30 - A True Test of Your Deodorant
I had booked a flight home to Pennsylvania for Fletch and I the second week of December. Football season was not over, but apparently for Stanford it was -- I still didn’t fully understand it all and frankly, I zoned out most of the time he was talking about football. Much the same as what I did bored Fletch to death.As dad would say, “some days are a true test of your deodorant.” Well, that’s how I felt about bringing Fletch home. I was convinced he would probably leave me after this, and I was legit scared. We settled in our seats on the plane and I turned to Fletch and said, “you know we're going to have to get you a good coat as soon as we land, you're going to freeze your nuts off.” He laughed and said, “yeah I've never needed a winter coat before actually, I d
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 31 - Sun Stroke
Being home was just stirring up feelings, Jace and Julia feelings. I tried to push them away, but I just couldn’t. The snow had melted and it was actually a heatwave, 41 degrees. I decided to get dressed and go, I felt like I would regret not going. I stopped at the gym and told Fletch I was going out to get dinner and run a couple errands. As I got to the cemetery, I fought with myself about even getting out. I dragged myself out after a few minutes and laid a towel in front of his grave and sat on it, indian style. I didn’t know what to say. So many of my visits here, usually resulted in bawling my eyes out, screaming. None of that was coming now. I heard a car approaching, but I didn’t bother to look. I just stared at his headstone, lost for words. I didn’t even notice someone standing
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 32 - It Takes Two
Fletch and I had been back at dad’s for a couple days and I was already dying to leave again. I didn’t say anything to Fletch about Corey, or where I actually went that day. Erik came in today and that made it tolerable but he was incredibly snippy with mom. Fletch and I were talking about going back a week earlier, and the thought of a week alone with him sounded like heaven, and the distraction I needed. I couldn’t focus, I just pictured Corey at a computer, stealing all of my intellectual property. I thought about how he said I was one of six people; me, Noora, Dr. Karlsson and an older man in China were among the top math people in the world I knew of, who else was there? Was he just pulling a number out of his ass? Fuck… I just needed a week alone in a room with my boyfriend screwing my brains out, or I was going to lose it. That
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 33 - Orchestrated Routine
I was so happy to be back in my little room, my little slice of heaven. Fletch and I had basically locked in for a while, humping like rabbits for a few days. He left to hit the gym, I left to get some groceries, but that was about it. Chris and Mary were having a New Years Eve party, so we planned on that. Dr. Karlsson was gone and left word with Chris he would be unreachable for a few months, whatever that all meant. I had emailed Noora, and she was about four months from having her PhD, I was so proud of her and jealous. I was deep into a Law and Order marathon when Fletch came in, out of breath. “Guess what!” He was super hyped up. I stood up and walked to him, helping him out of his shirt. “You ran
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 34 - I Promise
Fletch and I were on our way to a fancy restaurant, and I was positively drooling. Fletch had gotten ready in his room so I wouldn’t see him. He was wearing black dress pants and a dark blue collared shirt. He had a fresh hair cut and shave and smelled like pure sex. I had on a somewhat cocktail dress that I had loved in a store but I never imagined I would have anywhere to actually wear it. I was totally going to rip that shirt off him when we got back. We got seated in a corner booth, which gave us a good bit of privacy. I was a little taken aback when Fletch slid in next to me instead of across from me, and something told he was not planning to behave. Well, neither was I because I wasn’t wearing panties! We ordered drinks and an appetizer to share. The very second the waiter’s back was to us, his hand went on my thigh. My dress was only
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 35 - Hear Them Out
D.C. was different than I expected, nicer, cleaner and so professional. We had been here two days, wanting to do the tourist thing before my meeting. Chris and Mary had never been here either. We were like the foreign tourists, gawking and taking pictures in front of buildings. I had a blast and it just felt like we were on vacation. They took me out to a real fancy dinner as a belated birthday present and I felt so grown-up. I got a couple postcards to send to Noorah and Erik. Mary took me shopping for a pantsuit to wear to my meeting, even though I told her I’d rather go in jeans and chucks. “They aren’t going to give a damn what I’m wearing, I might as well be comfortable.” But she wasn’t having it. She was at my room first thing the morning of the big day, ready to do my ha
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 36 - Just A Few Days
I had been back a couple of days and there was a definite shift in our relationship. Fletch was nervous, even though I tried to reassure him. Sure, Scott made me a great offer, even for part time the money was more than anything I could have expected. Not to mention free college, free housing, it seemed like a no brainer. But I would not leave Fletch. I really didn’t want to leave Chris either, and I really enjoyed some of the other math students. This was my home for now and I wasn’t ready for change. It got to be a week since I had been back and I got a call from Toby. He asked if there was anything else he could do to ease my mind and I told him that I would love to continue to take whatever they could give me, but I would not make a decision until the end of the summer, at the earliest. I wanted this summer with Fletch, he was staying again and taking a full semester.
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 37 - Are You Even Listening?
Javi looked at me, waiting for me to finish my thought, but I wasn’t quite sure how to. “I need to speak to you, alone,” I said to Javi. “Everyone hang tight,” he said, leading me into a smaller room. “What is it,” he said impatiently. “I think you need to get Scott in here for this,” I said, starting to hyperventilate. “Scott is my boss but I am the one knee deep in this shit, so whatever you just figured out, you need to tell me.” I looked out into the room, “this … that … it’s a bomb, a big fucking bomb,” I said breathless. He st
Last Updated : 2021-04-15
Latest chapter
Gifted Shadows 86 - She Sacrificed Her Dignity
~One Year Later, Rae’s Point of View~I was utterly and completely exhausted. I had been up two days helping finalize the new build for our D.C. village location. We really wanted to hit up L.A. next since the homelessness situation out there is beyond dire, but with a small baby we just couldn’t be back and forth like that right now.We let Marcus take the reins on L.A., and he was out scouting locations and getting conversations started to make it our third location. The guys were really flourishing and it just seemed like this what we were all meant to be doing.Even more time flew by and we were now about 95% finished with things for the D.C. location ... I was so ready for it to be done. We planned to take a long and much needed month long vacation once it was ready.
Gifted Shadows 85 - The New Best Night Of My Life
Rae had on a sexy little dress that hugged her body perfectly. I was hard just looking at her, but I usually was anyhow. She got us a quiet booth in the back and had actually reserved the table in front of us too for a little privacy.I didn't like her being in public with so little covering her. Her body was only for my eyes, but she was so happy and with today's news I wasn't about to pick a fight or make her feel self conscious.I slid in next to her, instead of in front of her. This way, both of our backs were to the room and it was less likely anyone would see us.Unfortunately, that meant I couldn’t see anyone coming but I was willing to risk it. We ordered drinks and an appetizer even though I already wet my appetite a few minutes ago, I thought … licking my lips and still tasting her
Gifted Shadows 84 - I'm The Lucky One
Javi and I got so busy over the next few months, as you can imagine … I forgot to renew my birth control shot until it was well over a month past its time. We still humped like rabbits every single chance we got and something just told me I was knocked up.I was desperately putting off taking a test because a test meant it was real. A test meant people getting excited and wanting to talk about it all the time. A test meant Javi probably sticking me in the RV and not letting me out.Part of me was pissed I let this happen, and part of me was excited. As I thought about letting myself get excited, all I could think about was mom. Having a baby without my mom. Man, that is going to be rough.Dad was now dating a nice lady and seemed pretty happy. He’s only met Javi now a few times, but he
Gifted Shadows 83 - The Village
We first had to decide what city we wanted to be close to, and we all decided on being between Philly and NYC for our first spot. That would also put us a bit closer to Corey’s cabin. We decided to let Corey in on it, and he and Javi both were putting up $10 million each.As we started to get plans together, we were hopeful this initial investment would be enough to fund maybe three or four villages until we could start getting other donations. I had never been so excited and consumed by something, it gave me such hope and it was the breath of fresh air we all needed.Corey’s dearest Perry, of course acted as our counsel and was helping with the paperwork to begin a non-profit. Javi had a lead on a 70 acre lot in Doylestown, just north of Philly and only about three hours from Corey’s cabin.
Gifted Shadows 82 - I Know These Guys
The day after the presser we were all just exhausted. I was beat from the incessant questioning from dad and Erik. Chris and Mary were leaving in the morning and going to spend the rest of the visit on their own.I finally got dad and Erik to leave us alone and I was so ready for some quality time with my husband.Dad hadn’t even been gone for five minutes when the doorbell rang, and I thought maybe he’d forgotten something.Javi answered the door and there stood two men … one was older and the other looked like the Hulk. Javi must have been expecting them because his eyes lit up and he welcomed them in. They came in and the older man sat at the kitchen table with a briefcase, handcuffed to his wrist.What the heck?
Gifted Shadows 81 - Care To Comment
The death of Maziar reverberated through the region and the other actors who were also working on the bomb intel were backing away. There was really no other option.Javi said before they left Maziar’s house, they threw cooking oil and liquor on his white boards and lit them on fire, after taking pictures of it all. I didn’t care to look at any of it, I wanted to forget it desperately.Noora had to die for their stupid bomb.They gave the information to Scott, and whatever he was going to do with it, I wasn’t sure I cared. Various news outlets were already reporting wild stories, some true and some nowhere near true.The agency would not be releasing that I killed Maziar and Hashem, and I
Gifted Shadows 80 - Good Luck With This One
After Fletch left I sat by myself on the couch for a few minutes, and tried to process what just happened. My head was spinning and I felt like I was going to throw up. I knew Javi would press me to know what we talked about, and I don’t know if I could tell him Fletch wanted to propose.Would he second guess himself?Would he always wonder in the back of his mind if that was who I really wanted?He was always so nuts whenever another guy was around, knowing that another man offered me a ring, whew that’s heavy shit. I was torn, but I also operated under the assumption I would likely never see Fletch again.In the end of my own pep talk, I decided not to tell him. I picked the rubberband up off the arm of the couch and wrapped it aroun
Gifted Shadows 79 - Rubberband
I tried to figure out how to ask Javi to marry me while we were in Europe. I didn’t care if he put a rubber band on my finger, I was beyond in love with him and that was all I needed.There were sandwiches waiting for us on the second plane and we pretty much inhaled them. I also had an ice cold coke, and it was phenomenal. With a full belly and a hopeful mind, I fell asleep with my head in Javi’s lap.“Wake up baby, we made it,” Javi said whispering in my ear.I opened my eyes and looked out the window, the sun was coming up.“A new dawn, a new day,” I said.“Exactly why I don’t want to wait baby, I had Toby find a pastor on base, if you’ll s
Gifted Shadows 78 - Run
None of us slept, we were all just running on adrenaline at this point.The pilot on the plane was going to meet us and smuggle us on. Javi said the pilot, who was this businessman’s usual guy, was actually retired Air Force and happy to help us. Javi didn’t think it was fair that the pilot not know what he was getting into. I couldn’t believe the lengths people were going to, for us ... for total strangers and it kept bringing tears to my eyes.Marcus arranged for a van to take us to the airport and my heart was racing. Javi didn’t let go of my hand and he was making me hot and sweaty. We were on a dirt access road and it was pitch black, but I hoped that would work in our favor.I could see the plane, it was about a only about a quarter mile away. There was a van with the
