Wednesday’s Work in Progress…
First off, if you’re interested, I posted a snippet of the Tiffany book I’m working on over at my Tiffany blog. 🙂 Check it out here.
Second of all, this snippet I’m posting for you is from a story titled A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. It’s for a specific submission call from Amber Allure. When you see the cover for the story, you’ll understand the title better. 🙂 To be honest, I can’t wait to get the story written, just to be able to show the cover to everyone…lol. It’s going to be amazing. Plus I think I might see if I can’t get Kissed by the Gods and this story combined in one print book.
Anyway, I hope you all have a great Wednesday…and remember tomorrow is the last installment for Hearts. Then I’ll pull it down….add more to it and send it to Amber Allure. Hopefully for release later this year.
Here’s the excerpt:
A Thin Line Between Love and Hate copyright 2013 T.A. Chase
“We used to be friends,” Pauly whined.
Si nodded, but didn’t move away from where he stood next to the front door. It was the only exit out of the apartment, and Si wasn’t willing to lose that feeling of freedom. He needed to get his stuff and get out because the heroin was calling to him. He knew Pauly would have a bag or two hidden somewhere in the place.
His hands shook as want tore through him. Christ! It’d been thirteen months since his last hit, yet the addiction clawed at his stomach and soul, demanding to be fed. An addict might go through rehab and get the drugs out of his system, but the craving was always there under the surface.
“How come we ain’t friends no more?” Pauly asked, his yellow-tinged gaze almost eating into Si’s resolve.
“I don’t shoot up any more, Pauly. Can’t stay clean while hanging out with the people who hooked me in the first place.”
The rehab place hadn’t taught him that. An ex-junkie who befriended him at NA-Narcotics Anonymous- had warned Si about the pitfalls of old friendships.
Pauly grunted as he staggered to his feet. Si dodged his grasping hand, knowing if Pauly touched him, he’d be sucked back into the love/hate relationship he had with H. Si snorted softly. Hell! All of his relationships were love/hate, even the one he had with himself.
Before Pauly could corner him, three women walked into the apartment. Jambrea, Lila, and Angela took in the scene.
“We got worried,” Jambrea informed him. “Do you need help?”
More than you’ll ever know. He simply nodded, then said, “Keep an eye on Pauly while I get my stuff.”
Pauly looked confused. “What stuff? I sold all your shit.”
“I figured, but I hid the important things before I went to jail.”
Lila glared at Pauly. “Don’t worry. We’ve got this.”
Knowing the girls could take care of themselves, Si headed toward the room that used to be his in that shithole apartment. He’d created a hiding place in the ceiling of his closet. It was where he’d stashed the only two things it would’ve hurt to lose. After prying the tile out, he slid his hand into the hole, praying no one had found it. He breathed easier when his hand encountered a piece of fabric.
Si pulled the items from the ceiling, then without looking at it, he left. He gathered the ladies with a glance, and they walked out of the apartment. He didn’t look back, not even when Pauly called his name. Pauly and that apartment were things of the past.
“You can’t get clean if you’re always looking back,” Kip, the ex-junkie, had told him.
Si remembered the night Kip had told him that. Need for H had been riding him hard, and when Kip had called to ask him to meet for coffee, Si had jumped at the chance. By the time the sun rose, and it was time to go their separate ways, Kip had talked Si down. Si had gotten the desire to shoot up under control.
That night had been the last time Si had seen Kip. The next day he was gone, and Si worried that Kip had fallen back into the same old habits and crowds that had strung Kip out, and nearly destroyed him in the process.
2 Responses “Wednesday’s Work in Progress…”
powerful
The only thing I have to say is. WHEN!
This promises to be another great one.