Nanowrimo Bits - 11/30/19 (Patreon)

The final snippet from this year's Nanowrimo --

She walked over to her friends, Ashe, Yuki, and Kai half tackling her to the pavement as they all hugged her at once. Elwood kept that from happening by picking all four of them up in his arms, making them yell and squeal as they kicked the air. Hugs from Henry, Sorin, and Tristan all came in turn. Fae slipped one last bangle onto her right wrist. 

“Jade,” she said. “For luck.” 

“Thank you,” Flannery said. “I’ll probably need it.” 

Adam shook her hand, smiling down at her. “You take care of yourself. I still want those photos you took that first day, you hear.”

“Sure,” Flannery agreed. “I’ll send you them with a link to my paypal.”

Adam laughed heartily. “Always a pleasure to work with a young lady who knows what she’s worth.” 

Flannery looked down the line, frowning. “No William?”

Kai shook his head, holding on to Henry’s hand. “He’s picking out a headstone for his mother’s grave today.” 

“Well, I can accept that excuse,” Flannery said, feeling a little glad that he was allowing himself the closure. “Tell him I said goodbye.”

Granny came up and gave her a hug. “We’ll tell him you said see you next summer.” 

Flannery squeezed her grandmother tight. “Yeah. I like that better.” 

And lastly, there was Conor. They stood off to the side, hands stuffed deep into their pockets. They half-smiled as she approached, one side of their lips quirking up towards their cheek. She smiled in return, holding out her hand. Shyly, Conor pulled one of their hands to grasp it. 

“You coming back next summer?” they asked, sounding like they didn’t want to hold onto hope too hard.

“Come hell or high water,” Flannery promised, giving their hand a squeeze. “You gonna still be here, Wolf?”

Conor grinned fully this time. “Someone’s gotta keep Granny on her toes while you’re gone.” 

“Flannery!” She turned at the sound of her mother calling. “We need to get going.”

“Okay, just one second!” Flannery called back. 

She turned, pressing the briefest of kisses to the corner of Conor’s mouth before pulling away and running off. “See you next summer!”

Conor touched the spot where Flannery’s lips had just been, feeling the heat that resided there. “Yeah. See you next summer."