First off, a big thanks to the participants of February’s WIP writing prompt challenge, Waves of Love!! Feb. is such a fun month to write, and to read all things romance! I’m personally working on my very first RomCom novel and putting together something light and quirky, it’s seriously such a blast. I’m so glad that I decided to run with it! But, before I get into my own take on Waves of Love, using the characters of my new RomCom-to-be (I think I’ll name it Cougar Carla, but I’m not yet sure lol)… let me introduce you to these other OUTSTANDING scenes!!
Cosistories Blog has once again come through with a medley of AMAZING scenes using the phenomenal line up of fantasy characters that we’ve all come to know and love! Check them out:
Also, Kristian with Life Lessons From Around the Dinner Table Blog joined in with this beautifully heartfelt peace. Amidst the grief of losing her family, Lauren turns to lucid dreaming for a different angle to help her heal, but what she finds in her dreams is unexpected! Beautiful story!
Now for my own take on Feb WIP Writing Prompt, Waves of Love!!! Enjoy readers!! I’ll be posting March’s prompt a few days into the month, so hold your breath.
As the car maneuvers the winding curves of the road that hugs a short but rocky cliffside along the beach, I peer out the window at the water. The waves are crashing along the shore, and I can all but feel the cool water on my toes already. I’m a little disappointed at myself for fighting the notion of staying in this charming little seaside town for as long as I have. The ocean looks beautiful, serena even. My grown kids along with their friends Stephany and Tina continue to sing along to the music, but as town comes into view, and the water calms in it’s cove, I feel a little lonely. Maybe they’re right, maybe I will find a fling of sorts during my summer’s stay. I don’t expect anything more than serious, or want anything more really, but the chance of romance is still lingering under the surface.
After finding our hotel, and checking in, we lug all our bags into the elevator, and up to the second floor to find our rooms. Marsha drops herself onto the first bed, letting her arms relax to her sides. Stephany follows suit, and I listen to their meandering and comparing their college classes from the bathroom. I almost didn’t make it, this mommy bladder situation has really only gotten worse with age. I take my time after using the toilet to freshen up my makeup, and I splay out everything from my bathroom bag across the counter. I continue to eavesdrop. Stephany took the second semester off this year to spend more time with her family before a temporary move to France to finish out her studies in fashion next fall. I’m impressed with her aspirations, and look forward to watching her grow a career doing what she loves.
“Mom,” Marsha hollers at me. “Are you alive in there? I told you to stay away from that second donut.”
I chuckle and dry off my hands. “I’m fine,” I half-yell back.
When I come out of the bathroom, the girls haven’t moved.
“I’m going downstairs and take a look at the gym before we leave.” I tell them. “Want anything from a vending machine?”
“Nope,” they say in unison. Marsha sits up and adds, “do you think it’s safe to leave those two weirdos in a room by themselves? I mean, I could always bunk up with Tina tonight and we could make Dean stay in here.”
She pulls up her shoulders, and I cut her a dramatic look of panic, “Whatever shall we do?” I say and wave my arms in the air. “Not a grown, drama loving doctor to be, all alone in a double bed hotel room with a girl that we all know he won’t have sex with!” I throw my head back and sigh as loud as my nearly emptied lungs will allow.
Little did I know, Dean and Tina were sneaking through the propped open door of our room, on some covert op mission, just in time to hear and see my antics. Marsha and Stephany laugh hysterically, as I turn to see the two of them with their finger guns in tact. Their arms raised at the torso, ready to fire if needed, and their faces blank slates – both of them. Tina shows no reaction, nor does Dean. They remain in character. A part of me is growing to like her even more because of it. They’re definitely two peas in a pod.
Tina leans toward him, as if no one can see or hear what’s going on, besides them. “Is it against the rules for a leutenant to have sexual relations with a co-leutenant?” She whispers, before moving her waist around another corner, finger gun first, sweeping the room for danger no doubt.
Dean drops his own guns in order to lift his hands in aid of a gigantic shrug, “I don’t even know if there’s such thing as a co-lieutenant.”
Dean’s grin takes up the larger portion of his face, and he lifts his hands back to a steady shoot out position. His fingers point in the air to match hers. The rest of us watch them, our mouths are slightly agape, because wow. Tina and Dean make a sweep through the room. Their steps are cautious, and there is no space left unchecked. Once they’re certain no one is hiding in the closet or beneath any end tables, and that the room is void of ‘bugs’, they make a grand exit back down the hall and to their own room.
I shake my head. I don’t know what to make of what just happened. Neither does Stephany or Marsha. I can tell because they’re both sitting up now, staring at the still propped open door, speechless. I clear my throat to snap us all back to reality.
“Yep,” I say. “I think they’ll be fine.”
“Well,” Stephany finds her voice. “Glad Dean finally met his weirdo match.” She falls back to her relaxed position on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “What was you telling me about Professor Stark, and your creative writing class?”
Just like that, it’s as if Dean and Tina’s odd little visit never happened. I turn on my heels, back on track, and find my way to the gym. I prefer to do my working out at night, mornings aren’t my thing, so I’m curious to see what this place has to offer me later when I’m ready. I’m actually a little surprised that there’s a gym at all. Judging from the uneven trim in the halls, and the outdated wallpaper that lines our bathroom walls, this hotel isn’t exactly equipt to cater to the luxurious sort. Lucky for me, I prefer to be comfortable in a homey place.
The gym room is small, with only one pulley machine, a few treadmills, one wall lined with mirrors, and a free weight station. I stand and stare for a minute, not at the room in general, but at the one and only person using it. Scratch that, I’m not even staring at him, but at his back… just his back. He’s perched on a bench at the free weight station, with his back facing me.
He’s fit, very fit, and I can’t seem to find any movement in my own body – my feet cemented to the floor. My eyes are glued to him. I watch in detail as one drop of sweat works it’s way from his hairline to the base of his boxers that are peeking out from behind his black basketball shorts. I watch it roll down the inside of his broad shoulder blade, and across the curve of muscle that lines the outer edge of his spine. Some primal urge inside me wants to walk straight over to him and lick that single drop of salty goodness from his flesh.
Wait holy shit, Carla, what are you doing?
My inner voice shouts at me. It’s right too. This man can’t be a day over twenty seven. Can’t be. I cut my eyes to the mirrored wall to see the reflection of his young face. The curve of his jaw is sharp, and his icy blues lock onto mine. I don’t feel embarrassed, which is even stranger than my random urge to taste his dampened skin. I only stare back, unable to pull away. He smiles a little, but holds his steady gaze and continues curling a dumbbell with his left arm. Just as he winks at me, the sound of a cough sends me jumping nearly through the roof.
What the hell just happened? Carla, don’t be a cougar, don’t be a cougar, don’t be a cougar. Maybe he’ll make an appearance on the beach.
HOW IT WORKS
As the initiator: Every month I’ll give a real time circumstance, hang out spot, or every day situation. I’ll post the exact scene/challenge the first week of every month.
As an Author/challenge joiner: All you need to do is use the characters from your WIP (work in progress), or even a published works, and plug them into the given scene for a short story style post. It can be funny, serious, deadly, really just whatever you want as long as it’s true to your characters (as in, what they would actually do in this situation)!! It’s a fun way to be creative with those personalities that you as their creator love so much. It’s also a fun way to introduce them to the world and your blogs, without giving away your plots and twists… Just pure ‘meet my characters, and get to know their personalities’ separate from their book.
How we work together as Authors and the Initiator: I’ll do my own scene/challenge post on the very last day of the month (that way I can be sure to link in every joiner, and you can do your posts at your own leisure). Write your scene’s anytime you wish, at any point of the month. All that I need is your final challenge post link. You can give it to me in any comment, or even link me into your post so that it’ll pop in my newsfeeds! So simple!
Didi Oviatt -Author 