Hello! I hope you’re having a wonderful May. ❤️
This bit of flash fiction was originally shared in my newsletter back in January. Newsletter subscribers get the first look at my bonus scenes and flash fiction before they’re shared (at least a month later) here on my blog. Newsletter subscribers also get to submit prompt words for me to work into the next newsletter’s scene, and they have the opportunity to enter into each month’s Rafflecopter giveaway for winner’s choice of my ebooks. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can do that, here: https://authoraddisonalbright.com/newsletter/
This scene will stand alone, but if you’d like to read more flash fiction featuring Harrison and Mason starting with when they first met, visit their page here on my site (it’s quite the rabbit hole).
Told from Harrison’s 3rd-person POV:
“Hurricane?” Harrison’s sister, Maryanne, who was framed on Mason’s laptop screen, widened her eyes comically.
“Huh?” Jaxon cast his gaze around the room with the feigned innocence of a precocious twelve-year-old.
“Tornado?” She cocked her head and squinted as if straining for a better look. “Is everyone okay?”
Harrison grinned as his playlist switched to a relaxing instrumental holiday melody, providing an audio contrast to the visual chaos behind them. “No injuries yet, though I won’t rule out the possibility of a sprained back for the cleanup brigade.”
“Nah.” Mason grinned. “I’ll detour the street sweeper through the living room.”
Gramps cackled and bounced a clump of wrapping paper off Mason’s shoulder. “I’m pretty sure that monstrosity won’t be on our street again for a couple weeks.”
“Hmm.” Harrison rubbed his chin. “How restrictive are the child labor laws in our state?”
“Whatever.” Jaxon rolled his eyes, but his smile didn’t dim. “Like I didn’t know I’d be cleaning it up anyway.”
Mason snorted a laugh. “Like we don’t all know you’re the primary force behind the mess anyway.”
A fluffy ball of black fur chose that moment to erupt out of a dense pile of crumpled paper, trailing a long, wide, red ribbon.
“Buttercup!” Jaxon leaned back and craned his neck as the kitten streaked down the hallway, bouncing twice off the wall on her way to Jaxon’s bedroom.
“When did you get a cat?” Maryanne asked. “And am I correct in guessing that Harrison named her?”
“Hey.” Harrison grinned. “Buttercup is, always was, and always will be the coolest Powerpuff Girl.”
“Fact.” Mason inclined his head. “Can’t argue with the truth.”
Maryanne snickered. “This is why I’ve never been surprised that Harrison fell in love with you. You’re a smartass just like Buttercup, and he hero worshiped her when we were growing up.”
“She’s a smartass slash badass.” Mason preened.
“Hmm.” Harrison winked. “One out of two ain’t bad.”
