BridgesTunnels

Rayanne-Rose Constantine didn't get much from her addict mother before she overdosed two years ago. Unless you count her long first name, which is a bit much and why she has her friends call her Rosie. Her mother never relinquished parental rights, but thankfully by the age of fifteen, Rosie landed with a decent foster family. After a bit of stability and stellar grades she scored a college scholarship. But now college is over and she's taking a gap year while trying to save up enough money for grad school. She needs a Master's in Social Work because she wants to help kids like her. Despite everything she's been through she's shockingly sunny and optimistic.But Kyle Benjamin Walker might just break her.When ex-Marine Kyle gets a supervisory position at the same home improvement store Rosie works at, she can't figure out why he's so surly. And she can't figure out why she's so transfixed by his grumpy countenance. After a disastrous first date he alternates between ignoring her, or buzzing around annoying her (both on and off his motorcycle). But when she discovers that he's a really talented actor who has dreams of going to NYC to pursue an acting career she can't help but want to encourage him. After they make pact to both apply to NYU, they discover that there are "Family Housing" dorms available for married graduate students. The idea is born that they could potentially get married and divide the housing cost of one dorm room. But first they need to see if they can cohabitate without wanting to kill each other. With a fake engagement between this grumpy-sunshine pair, what could possibly go wrong?…

BridgesTunnels

Open Novella Contest III Entry, based on Romance Prompt #66 - GameSetMatch, a new dating app/game that promises to find your soulmate, matches you with that one ex you hate, and who dumped you in a way you'll always remember.Vivian Giuliani is an extremely single, high school literature teacher, who spends most of her Friday evenings at home grading papers, and most of her Saturday nights binging BBC period dramas. With her thirtieth birthday on the horizon, her family and friends have increased the pressure on her to find a boyfriend. Especially her cousin and colleague Laura, who not only convinced her to join a dating app months prior, but has now also strong-armed her into attending the next faculty happy hour, so she can talk to the cute new PE teacher, Ryan Pierce.But then, on that same day, after five months of membership, the app finally turns up a lone match. Unfortunately, it happens to be the one ex who broke her heart, and made her bury it under those mountains of papers and books since then. Viv is aghast that Donovan Trask is her supposed perfect match out of the 6 million possible registered candidates. But since she wants to be with her soulmate and this might be a real shot at lasting love, Viv knows she's going to have to turn the page, and see where the story takes her.…

BridgesTunnels

According to her brother, high school sophomore Emily Randazzo has a "GPS brain" which set her route and won't let her try a new one.But as far as Emily is concerned, her whole life has been spent in trials - like trying to decide whether she should live in Brooklyn with her strict Mom or suburban Jersey with her lenient Dad - or trying to figure out how other people's brains work and why hers is so different from theirs - or trying to navigate when she should stand firm in her ways, versus being flexible for others. After so many years struggling to fit in and be happy, Emily finally feels that she's found her lane in life. She's attending an all-girl school that she loves, made some good friends like her bestie Jenny, and set a goal to be accepted to Yale University. So of course she doesn't want to change direction now!However, a weekend visit to the relaxed rules at her father's home puts new detours in Emily's path, starting in the form of two boys: her brother's best friend Kelly, and next-door-neighbor Evan. Soon enough Emily begins to wonder if she should recalculate.Divided between two parents, two states, two boys and the possibilities of two extremely different lives, Emily is trying to figure out who, what and where she wants to be in her future.…

BridgesTunnels

"DON'T DATE THE TALENT!" is a well-known rule for the underlings at the venerable Robert Abraham Agency. Fantasies are business, not personal, at RAA. Confusing the two has left countless hearts, futures and bank accounts, empty. This directive hasn't been a problem for twenty-four year old, aspiring screenwriter Amelia "Millie" Stevens. She's been known to flirt of course, since stroking egos is part of the deal when you work with actors. However, Millie won't compromise her future for anything less than a blockbuster with series potential kind of love, and certainly not for a b-movie lay. So she knows where and when to call "CUT" on the action.Two years ago, Millie competed against her well-connected and wealthy peers, to land a coveted spot in RAA's mailroom trainee program, along with a pitiful salary for the privilege. Since then she's worked her way up (although her paycheck says otherwise) to an assistant's desk in the commercial department. Desperate to make her dreams come true, Millie spends her days tethered to the phone lines, and her nights completing coverages of other people's scripts, all while trying to finish her own screenplay in-between. This leaves little time, or money, to do her laundry, let alone date.Then the featured player of Millie's other, more carnal, dreams walks into the office. Fin Covington is the twenty-eight year old, British, supremely-hot, mega-star of a hit cable show. In NYC for some theatre projects, he meets with Millie's boss, and immediately shows an interest in her. The more she encounters Fin, the more she questions the stage directions of her life. Should she ignore the rule and greenlight the affections of this celebrity on hiatus, despite the risk of exposure by her scheming colleagues and the paparazzi? Or should she "PASS" on the summer-long dalliance? As she makes her choice, Millie soon comes to realize that not everything in life can be scripted and sometimes you just have to adlib.…

BridgesTunnels

The true story of my best (and last) second date ever.…

BridgesTunnels

A pandemic love story between nurse Iris, and firefighter Dennis.…

BridgesTunnels

Assorted Poetry…

BridgesTunnels

Various one shots, prompts, contests, and short stories.…

BridgesTunnels

Dominic is a twenty-five year old musician, trying to hit it big. Music may be art and passion, but it is also business and politics. Dom finds it a frustrating mix for an uncertain future. Returning from a tour, Dom is drawn to nineteen year old college student Charlotte. She may be tiny in stature but becomes a huge presence in his mind. When they talk, he is further intrigued - she's young but weary, skeptical but open, a living and breathing contradiction. Charli considers herself a realist. She likes to work hard and play hard. And while she may party, she doesn't smoke or do drugs. Her life is too busy to worry about dating or something like feelings making things more difficult. Right now the only thing she wants out of life is to connect but not commit. So when Dom shows up, she recognizes a complication when she sees one and tries to stay away.Soon Dom and Charli begin a relationship that neither of them sees coming. Once they are in it are they willing to make the compromises required to keep the show on the road or are they both too hard at their cores to make the band play on?…

BridgesTunnels

Standing in aisle three of the local pharmacy on a random March day in 1994, high school junior Melissa Anderson has a realization. Her life is like a stick of deodorant; it is slowly disappearing, little by little, day by day. But unlike deodorant, she can't buy a new life when this one runs out. So Melissa decides that maybe it's time to step out of her comfort zone and get a little bit sweaty. The first thing she does is get a job at the local video store which leads to the idea of trying out different lives, the way you would rent videos. With the help of her best friend Tara, and her co-worker, the cute college-freshman Jason, they pick different popular teen movies for Melissa to cast herself in for three days in a row. As she signs up for dancing classes, trolls the local dojo, attends an all boys' school dance, gets detention on purpose, and does other things inspired by her favorite 80s films, Melissa explores who she is and what it means to live life as her most authentic self.…

BridgesTunnels

On Bridget Ernst's first day of her physical therapy residency, her first patient turns out to be the gorgeous NHL star Cameron Neve, who needs treatment for a groin pull.Turns out they have an interesting connection and Bridget needs some special treatment for an old injury too.--- For the "Valentine's Day Contest" Prompt #4 ---The reality we perceive is relative and each of us sees the world in a different way. You spent all of your high school years being infatuated with your neighbor. Both of you walked down the same road to attend the same school, every single day. You find each other again five years later and you finally get the nerve to talk to him/her. As you attempt to revive memories from your youth, seven words destroy you, "But... I have never seen you before."Maximum 3,000 words…

BridgesTunnels

My #LoveSimon Contest Entry#WhoAmI#ThisIsMe #LifeLetter #PoetryIsLife#Choices#Bridges&Tunnels#RiseOrFall#Adapt&Overcome#BuildYourselfUp #PlowThroughObstacles#LoveYourself#SpaceTimeContinuum…

BridgesTunnels

Katie works on the overnight grounds maintenance crew at a country club. Logan is a member. They run into each other one night on the golf course and it seems that they have some Grounds for Love.…

BridgesTunnels

There's the rough in both golf and love. Logan confesses his feelings to Katie. But did he shank it?…

BridgesTunnels

Celeste appreciates the magic in everyday moments, especially after Emmett enters her life.…

BridgesTunnels

Two teens, one night, lots of feelings.…

BridgesTunnels

Sadie moves from the city to the suburbs and it's the start of something big.…

BridgesTunnels

When a fifteen year old girl plays a game of Manhunt with friends, the stakes are higher than she knows on that hot summer night.…