NFH

Playing Favorites: Part I

“We talked about this!” Reese heard Sara snap, which normally wouldn’t have fazed him and if hadn’t been for the, “I’ve got this!” that followed, he would have continued sitting there, staring at the pictures that Uncle Jared sent over this morning.

Rubbing his hands roughly down his face, he pushed his office chair back and went to find out what nightmare his unwanted roommates were getting into now. As he headed down the back hallway towards the kitchen, he considered sending them Trevor’s way and leaving his cousin to deal with them only he couldn’t do it. Well, he… Read More

Old School: Part II

“You’re exaggerating,” Robert said absently, his mind already back on the house and the apple pie that he’d heard his wife mention that she was going to bake for him.

“Am I?” Noah said dryly, drawing his attention back down to-

“Who’s this?” he couldn’t help but ask as he watched the cute little thing with overdone curls adorned with large pink bows grab onto his son’s arm and held on tightly by the looks of things.

He was actually impressed that she was able to hold onto Noah with the three little girls currently trying to pull her off threatening to… Read More

Old School Part I

“Try to go on without me,” Noah whispered weakly from where he lay sprawled out across the freshly polished kitchen floor.

“Okay,” Shaun, his twin brother and the reason that he was forced to do this, said with a shrug as he shoved another piece of bread in his mouth before reaching over and helping himself to Noah’s bowl of oatmeal.

Biting back a curse that would have Mrs. Buckman threatening to grab a switch, Noah shifted his gaze to his mother, careful to look pitiful as he did only to find her standing there, pinching the bridge of her nose… Read More

School Shopping: Part V

“Okay,” Mikey said with a little nod as she slowly exhaled and handed him a dull spoon, “I’m ready. Try to make it as painless as possible.”

“No,” he said, turning the page of the book that he must have read a hundred times already.

When the small hands fisted in his shirt and he found himself being shaken by his psychotic best friend. “They’re getting a cake!” she hissed, stressing this announcement with another shake that nearly made him lose his place.

“So? You like cake,” he said with a shrug as he reached up and gently pulled her hands so… Read More

School Shopping: Part IV

“I’d really like to go home now,” Mikey said from behind the safety of her hands since they provided an opportunity for her to continue pretending that this wasn’t happening, but unfortunately for her, her father wasn’t willing to do the same.

“Food hasn’t arrived yet,” he pointed out helplessly.

“I’m not hungry,” she said, really wishing that they weren’t here, and they wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the other man sitting across from her.

“Big day,” Uncle Trevor murmured, no doubt shooting her another encouraging smile that was meant to reassure her that everything was okay when they all… Read More

School Shopping: Part III

“You’ll pay for this,” Mikey bit out while the middle-aged woman pulling a roll of measuring tape out of her pocket ushered her towards the fitting rooms in the back.

“You really will,” Sebastian, who really should have known better than to try to hide in the electronics department, said from the plastic double stroller shaped like a car that they’d found abandoned by housewares that they’d somehow managed to shove him into.

“I’m starving,” Reese said, sighing heavily and looking absolutely bored while Trevor looked around, imagining Zoe in every piece of silk, lace, and a combination of… Read More

School Shopping: Part II

“Maybe we should call mom?” Sebastian suggested as he stood there, shooting a helpless glance towards his father and uncle who were still off to the side arguing before glancing back at the van to find Mikey still hiding in the back seat.

“We really should,” Mikey seconded from the safety of the van.

“We’ve got this,” his father said firmly, which was seconded by a firm nod by Uncle Reese and a shared fist bump that had Sebastian standing there, licking his lips nervously as he watched his uncle pluck Mikey out of the van, throw her over his shoulder… Read More

School Shopping: Part I

“Yeah, I’m not going,” Mikey said, shaking her head firmly, because this wasn’t happening.

“Mikey,” her mom said, sighing her name heavily with a sad shake of her head as she gestured for Mikey to get in the car.

“Not happening,” Mikey said, because she absolutely refused to get in that car.

It wasn’t happening.

It just… Read More

Fourth of July

“No,” Jason said absently as he watched the kids play while Haley sat there, unable to help but sigh wistfully as she looked over her shoulder at the most beautiful sight that she’d ever seen in her life.

“It’s not happening,” Jason said as she took in the signs for cotton candy and fried dough with a wistful sigh.

“Just one game?” she said with a hopeful smile as she reached up and pushed her glasses back up only to catch the murderous glare now being sent her way.

“No,” the bully that she’d married bit out with a pointed look at… Read More

Sleepover Part IV

“I’m going to make burgers if you guys are hungry,” Uncle Reese said, sounding bored as he walked past their hiding spot and headed towards the kitchen while Sebastian slowly moved forward until he could place his hand over Mikey’s mouth before she gave them away.

“It’s a trap,” he whispered softly as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her back towards the back of the large closet and behind a stack of boxes while his gaze shot to Mathew.

The weakest… Read More