Ada picked up her phone again, wondering if she should call Femi and ask him where he was. He was beginning to take too long. Had he gotten cold feet? A small part of her wished he had gotten cold feet so that everything will not happen again. But then, the rest of her prayed he did not. That it was all only a delay so that everything will surely happen. Letting out a deep breath, she scrolled through her phone and pulled...

It's funny how quickly priorities can change in life. I was planning my wedding just a few months back, preparing to start a new chapter in my life, and now I had to start all over. The difference this time was I didn't have the support around me to rely on. My family were strict, conservative Christians, and I had been raised to be as perfect as I could be in their eyes. I had been pressured to succeed, whether in beauty...

Aliyah and Shah cuddled in bed after that first day together. This was the first time they had actually given in to their fiery sexual tension. Before this weekend they had been out for dinner a few times, attended comedy shows together and strolled around the Christmas markets together in London, on the off chance Shah was in the country for work. This was their first planned weekend away together and they had really let...

About a week later, I left work in the middle of the day because the power went out. Knowing Jamie would still be at work, I just headed home. When I got home, there was a car I didn't know parked out front. I wondered who it could be. I figured I was just worrying for no reason, but when I went through the side door into the garage, Jamie' car was in the garage. He was supposed to be at work today. So, he was home and an...

I came into the den and Auggie was sitting on the couch, scrolling through pictures on his phone. He startled when I touched his shoulder. “It’s just me,” I said. I sat down in my robe and nightie, feeling like the snake in my dream. “Lift your legs up, please.” I pulled the oversized ottoman to the edge of the couch so we could stretch out, and I spread a blanket over our legs. “Comfy?” Auggie was still scrolling through...

❄️ Snowflakes cling to my eyelashes to witness what’s about to unfold. It’s Christmastime after all—for the naughty and nice. Some like to give; others like to receive. As for me, I intend to do both at the same time. Glancing toward the North Star, there’s still no sign of the merry man, even though I hear sleigh bells. My muffed ears must be playing with me. I’m peeking around the corner of a dark alley, shivering and n...

My name is Jason, and I am thirty-five years old. I am six feet tall and weigh 250 pounds. I have short golden brown hair that goes down to my ears. I have been friends with this guy, Francisco Guien since we met on our very first day of kindergarten. We were inseparable. I was the one who also set him up with the girl he is now married to. So Let me go ahead and tell you about Ashley Murphy. Ashley is twenty-one years ol...

For a while, life continued as normal. Kelly and I never spoke about what happened that night on her couch, mainly due to our partners being present at every meeting. The following weekend, I went to Kelly and Tom’s to drop off some spare car parts for Tom’s old Ford that we were rebuilding together. When I arrived, Kelly answered the door. She wore a polka-dot summer dress and fishnet tights. She told me that Tom had gon...

Kaite As Mark and I make our way back onto the ship, I spot Amy and Jack stepping out onto the deck, their cheeks a little flushed, a touch too casual. I can’t resist a sly smile as we approach them, noting the way they’re both avoiding direct eye contact. “Well,” I tease, folding my arms, “what have you two been up to?” Jack and Amy exchange a quick look, trying to keep their faces neutral, before they both respond at th...

Allie sat on the edge of her bed, surrounded by a whirlwind of gift ideas, each one vying for her attention. Her husband Rogers’ 30th birthday was just around the corner, and she wanted to make it unforgettable. She glanced at the clock, feeling the pressure of time ticking away. “Okay, Allie,” she whispered to herself, flipping through her mental list. “He loves gadgets, but does he really need another one? What about so...

I’ll make this brief because I want to share something with you before Steve gets home. We opened a new office today so everyone was excited with our new furniture, computers and break-out areas, the director’s had laid on mimosas and croissants and there was a real buzz around the place. Mimosa in hand I went looking for my new desk and was pleasantly surprised that I was positioned by a window and as far as I could tell...