3,642 Words and Introducing Ryan Brady

Writing went pretty well today... I attacked it in about 3 separate sessions. I am following my usual pattern of slow and steady, with no days off. I continue to enjoy writing about that slimeball, Drew MacMillan, who really isn't intended to be a character in this book. In fact, Annie is about to take her leave of Drew, and Vegas, but I have a feeling Drew might come back into this story somewhere... that usually happens with characters that I like.

Here is an excerpt of Annie clearing customs and arriving in the airport lounge to await her flight:

Annie entered the waiting lounge, the sweet feeling of triumph buoying her heart, when she was confronted by a most troubling sight. Not only were most of the seats in the lounge spoken for, but leaning up against the wall was her nemesis and colleague, the ubiquitous Drew MacMillan. He looked somewhat rumpled, as though he had slept little, but seemed to be keeping things together with significantly more aplomb than Annie, who had sweated away all of the makeup she had carelessly splashed on her face in an effort to resemble an adult human. She could tell he had already seen her because he was ignoring her completely, and she felt she had no option but to awkwardly lurk about near him until he acted as though he had just noticed her. It was a dance she was all too familiar with, having worked with Drew for a number of years.
A memory from the night before came back to her just then, and she wondered if perhaps Drew were ignoring her for some reason beside the usual arrogant and maniacal need for control over all social encounters that characterized business teachers in general. She recalled that late in the dinner, after several refills of her glass of wine, Annie had loudly proclaimed to her table mates that if they really wanted a good laugh they should check out Drew’s profile on ratemyprofessor.com. Annie was so overcome with mirth at the thought of the lambasting Drew had taken at the hands of 29 students over the course of 6 years that she didn’t notice the murmur of discomfort that passed through the group. While every person who had spent any amount of time with Drew over the last couple of days had to admit that he was a complete ass, nothing makes teachers more uncomfortable than the thought of students freely and without constraint posting ratings of their performance in a public forum.

And here is a new character, Ryan Brady, who IS intended to be a major character in this novel:

She had little time to consider that possibility however, because just as Drew knit his dark brows together in a predictable look of feigned disinterested surprise, a tall, rather burly man stepped in between them, grasping Annie’s arm urgently. At first she had the alarming thought that she was being removed by customs officials for a lengthy and humiliating body cavity search, but then realized with dismay that she recognized the man. And her stomach, so recently abused and still demonstrating its outrage, sank clear to her feet. If there was anyone more unwelcome than Drew MacMillan, it was a suspicious looking customs agent. After that, there was only one person she really didn’t want to see. Ryan.
The years had not been kind to Ryan, as they rarely are for any long time hockey player. The brutality of the sport had left its mark: the scar visible in his left eyebrow, the grey threading its way through his sandy hair, and the crooked nose, broken so many times he had likely lost count. But more than that, it was visible in the grim set of his features, a man always on his guard and always ready to give, or take, the next hit.
His sudden appearance was so unexpected that she was momentarily disoriented, unable to respond other than to glance from the large hand gripping her bicep up into his face. Ryan Brady. Her brother’s best friend and long-time team mate, line mate, roommate. She didn’t care to characterize all of the things he had been to her. Some things just need to be left alone. She had learned as a child not to pick scabs, and she had learned as a young woman that some wounds cut deep enough to never heal. Some change you forever.

Sorry folks, no funny pictures... I have to post this and get the kiddies tucked into bed. Happy writing everyone!