Busy, busy… *comes up to gulp air then drops her head to see her screen*

This week’s WIPpet Wednesday* comes from Cleaning House, one of my current WIPs.  I’m currently 35K+ into the manuscript and working hard on it for NaNoWriMo.

I just hope writer fatigue doesn’t find its way into my head, but the story continually surprises me, which keeps spurring me along. *crosses fingers in hopes the trend continues*

Here’s my WIPpet math: 11/08/2017 11+2+1 = 14 paragraphs from Cleaning House. We’re still in chapter one, and Centenary (Cent) has an unexpected visitor at her dumpy little apartment’s door.

     Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!

     “What the—” Cent rolled from the couch and plodded to the door in her sock-feet. “Who is it?”

     “Delivery for Centenary Rhodes.” The messenger held up the envelope that’d been tucked under their arm. Dark brown, almost earth-toned skin, hair that went everywhere but was short enough to go nowhere—this messenger was, well, different on so many levels. And, they, yes, they. She’d learned long ago not to make assumptions about anyone, especially those she found herself attracted to.

     Interesting. “Lemme see your I.D.”

     “Sure.” The messenger held up the card tethered to their waist. “I need your signature.”

    “Give me a moment.” Cent opened the locks and chains slower than she’d closed them. Another summons. It has to be. She’d been sued three time in the last two months for debts she accrued during her good job. A ten-thousand-dollar judgement for the car. Another thousand for breaking her last lease before she was evicted. She’d adopted the blood-from-a-turnip method of dealing with her debt spiral. You can’t get what I don’t have to begin with.

      “Sign here.” The messenger held out a signature board as they looked down the hall. “Nice neighborhood.” They spoke with a muddled European accent. Maybe British, but Cent couldn’t be certain. “I would not want to be here after dark.”

     “You and me both.” Cent took the envelope when the messenger held it out. “Thanks.” Her heart skipped a beat when she looked up into the messenger’s face to see piercing dark brown eyes that were inquisitive, almost seeking but easily humored by the way one brow over those eyes cocked.

     “Make certain you lock up tight.” The messenger lingered at the door to stare back at her. “Can I do anything else for you?”

     Are they flirting with me? Cent looked down then back up, startling when she saw the messenger’s eyes were still on her. They were taller than she was, which was unusual, and a bit thick at the waist, but it was clearly muscle. A mystery, and an nice one at that. There was something calming about this person’s eyes, something familiar Cent couldn’t quite place. They’re damn-near twice my size. The realization that such strength stood so close made her skin prickle. No wonder they’re on this route. “Yeah, um, I mean no, but thanks.”

     “Have a good day.” The messenger turned down the hall, leaving Cent to watch the floor-gliding strides until they reached the stairs.

     “You too.”

     “Lovely accent, by the way.” The messenger stopped at the stair head to smile at her then descended without saying more.

     “I thought you were into men.” Mrs. Donright, 3J, peered at her from between the chains securing her door. “That was a woman, right?”

Read more WIPpets from Cleaning House HERE.

---

*WIPpet Wednesday is a blog hop hosted by Emily Wrayburn wherein writers share excerpts of their latest WIP. All genres and levels of accomplishment are welcome. The only stipulation is that the excerpt must coincide with the date in some manner. For example, on 10/8/14 you might share 10 lines from page 8, 8 paragraphs from chapter 14, or perhaps 18 sentences by doing WIPpet math and adding the day to the month. We’re flexible like that.