A warm welcome to author Kris Ripper joining us today on the blog tour for zir latest release “As La Vista Turns”.
Check out Kris’ part three of zir short story and don’t forget to participate in the giveaway!
Welcome Kris 🙂
Of Quilts, Plumbing, and Love
A short story Kris Ripper
Part III
(Links to all three parts will be available once the tour is complete at http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/as-la-vista-turns under the extras tab.)
The quilt was done just in time to lay across their bed on the first night they had the upstairs to themselves.
The remodel happened fast—to everyone but Zane, who said time was dragging—and the night they finally finished moving the boys downstairs was quite the celebration.
These days that meant the four of them toasted with glasses of milk and gluten-free cookies before trudging to bed.
They went upstairs by themselves, listening to the unaccustomed sounds of Emerson and Obie settling in below. James was fast asleep, curled on his side.
“He looks so big these days,” Zane whispered.
“I know.”
Then they stopped in the now-empty room, which still smelled like the boys.
Zane pressed against her side. “Sometimes I get scared.”
“Yeah. Well, I made you something that might help.”
It started as a joke. It started as a way to make fun of Zane, and her lists, and the whole thing she did where she freaked out and wrote stuff down. But somehow it…changed. Maybe during the plumbing fiasco. Or even earlier.
Mildred handed over the notebook. “It’s not done or anything. You can do the rest yourself. I just sort of—”
“Oh my god. You made me lists.”
“I guess so.”
It was a little obscene, watching Zane page through the notebook with so much enjoyment. Lists for everything: things to do for the extra room, kitchen organization, the sewing room to make it easier for them to share space. Lists of things James was growing out of that they should get rid of, or that they should save.
Zane looked up. “You made a list of things you could do when I’m not feeling well.”
“Yeah, well, the one for shit you can do for me is way longer.”
“And includes ‘Torture Emerson.’ Good note.”
Mildred rolled her eyes. “Anyway.”
“Nuh uh. You’re not getting out of this that easily.” Zane closed the notebook and pulled her down to sit on the bed, on the quilt she’d been working on for months, the one that was all for them. “Thank you. It’s…the sweetest thing I think anyone’s ever done for me.”
“Cram it, Z.”
“Make me.”
So Mildred kissed her. Hard. To make her stop talking. Which worked until Zane turned her face away and said, “I love you so much. Not just because of the lists.”
Mildred sighed. “That’s at the front. I put it on a list so you wouldn’t forget.” She didn’t have to look. She knew that list by heart.
- Love yourself.
- Love your family.
- Love your friends.
- Love Mildred.
“Aw, Dred. But that’s redundant.” Z tapped number two. “You’re covered right here.”
“Jesus, you’re corny.” She swallowed hard. “So I’m pretty much done with this conversation now, but that’s where you are on my list, too. Anyway.”
“I love you too.” Zane kissed her, sweetly. “Let’s go to bed.”
“Yeah, okay.”
And they did. But Mildred lay awake for a while under their quilt, holding Zane’s hand and thinking about love.
End.
About As La Vista Turns
Zane Jaffe has almost lost track of what conception cycle she’s in. (That’s a lie: this is cycle thirteen.) She’s fake-dating her pal Mildred to get her best friend off her back, but judging by how hot it was when they accidentally kissed, her feelings might be somewhat less platonic than she’d thought.
And she’s decided that healing the fractured local queer community can only be accomplished through a party. Or maybe it’s actually a wake. Whatever it is, it’ll take place at Club Fred’s, and there will be alcohol.
Trying to conceive is an unholy rollercoaster of emotions, and Mildred won’t let them kiss again until Zane figures out how she feels. Between the wake (exhausting as hell, and that’s just the fun stuff), the constant up-down cycle of trying to get pregnant, and saving the world in the meantime, Zane has no idea. Fall in love with Mildred isn’t on her list, but maybe it’s time to let go of that rigid future she’s been working toward, and instead embrace the accidents that can lead to something better.
As La Vista Turns is available from:
About Kris Ripper
Kris Ripper lives in the great state of California and hails from the San Francisco Bay Area. Kris shares a converted garage with a toddler, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Kris is genderqueer and prefers the z-based pronouns because they’re freaking sweet. Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.
Connect with Kris:
- Webiste: krisripper.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kris.ripper
- Twitter: twitter.com/SmutTasticKris
To celebrate the release of As La Vista Turns, one lucky winner will receive an ebook of their choice from Kris’s backlist! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on March 4, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!
I just started reading the first Queers of La Vista book and I’m already hooked on the series!
It’s been a great tour!
vitajex(At)aol(Dot)com
Aw. I’m glad everything worked out for them. Thanks for sharing the serial shorts!
legacylandlisa(at)gmail(dot)com