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asphaltcowgrrlTitle: A to Z Challenge Chapter 10: Jealous
Fandom: White Pine original fiction
Pairing: Travis Murphy/Ethan McDowell
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,363
Summary: All hell breaks loose, part 1
Author’s Note: Written for the A to Z Challenge at 1_million_words. Not sure about this chapter because conflict isn’t my strong suit. And unbetad as well.
Continued from here.
“I see that head case Travis Murphy is in town.”
Ethan looked up from the file he’d been reading and glared at Reid Farrow. “Do not talk about my husband that way, Reid.” He closed the folder and frowned, rethinking what he’d just said. “On second thought, don’t talk about Travis at all, you asshole.”
“Aw, we’re just a touch sensitive this morning, aren’t we?” He shook his head and parked his ass on the edge of Ethan’s borrowed desk. “Pity. But then, it’s almost lunchtime and you always did get crabby when you were hungry.”
“Farrow,” Jordan growled as he entered the small office he and Ethan were temporarily sharing. “As district attorney I’d think you would have better things to do than harass my staff.”
Reid slid off the edge of the desk and rose to his full height. Putting every ounce of arrogance he possessed into his frown, he shook his head at Jordan. “What I do with my time is no business of yours, Jordan. Ethan, I’ll see you later.”
“Not if I can help it,” Ethan muttered under his breath.
As soon as Farrow’s backside disappeared around the corner, Jordan sighed. “I thought he stopped bothering you?”
“No,” Ethan said, looking up at the man that was slowly becoming a friend. “I just stopped complaining about it.”
Jordan looked back over his shoulder in the direction the D. A. had taken. “You shouldn’t have. I could file a complaint on your behalf.”
Ethan shook his head. “It’s not worth it, but I appreciate the offer.”
“You sure?” Jordan crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall. “Because I’d be more than happy to shake his tree a little.”
A smile lit Ethan’s face. “No, I promise, I’m good. But, if you have a few minutes?”
“Anything for you, McDowell.”
“Let’s go get some coffee. There’s someone here I’d like for you to meet.” When Jordan nodded, a confused look on his face, Ethan stood and led the way out of the station.
Like in White Pine, the citizens of Garret tended to walk wherever they needed to go, if possible. There were many places he’d had to visit during his stay in Garret, but very few of them had required the use of his car. He was beginning to wonder how he’d ever relied on it as much as did back when he’d still lived in Minden Lake. Since the coffee shop was only a few blocks from the station, they opted to hoof it to their destination.
Travis was just folding up his laptop when they arrived at the café. Murphy looked from Ethan to his partner and grinned. “I’m trusting that this is that wonderful Detective Jordan I’ve heard so much about and not that other dickhead?”
“Depending on the day,” Jordan said, smiling, “either could apply. Alex Jordan.”
“Travis Murphy,” he replied, taking the extended hand and giving it a good shake. “Ethan speaks highly of you.”
Jordan took a seat across from Travis and nodded. “And he does the same for you, I’m happy to finally meet you.”
Ethan took the seat next to his husband feeling more than a little awkward. “Hey, what can I say? I like you both. It only makes sense to talk about you.” Besides, it kept him from talking about Reid Farrow to anyone.
“Have you lived here long,” Travis asked, waving down the waitress. After she got their orders, he turned back to Jordan. “I only ask because I’m curious about this idiot Reid Farrow.”
“Travis,” Ethan said, surprised at his husband’s interest. “I thought we weren’t going to talk about him ever again.”
Murphy gave a shrug. “Well, maybe not in the way we were discussing him last night, but I’m curious to get someone else’s opinion. Not that I don’t trust you but…”
“You’re looking for someone who has nothing to lose or gain by being honest,” Jordan filled in.
“Yeah, exactly.” Travis’ grin only got wider when he saw the waitress returning with their drinks and a tray of sandwiches and pastries. “This is like the best coffee shop ever. Ours back home doesn’t serve sandwiches.”
“We’re lucky our coffee shop serves coffee, Murph,” Ethan teased. “But you’re right, this place is awesome.”
Taking a bite of his toffee nut scone, Travis looked up at Ethan. “Is this too far to drive for breakfast?”
“Every morning? Yes.” Ethan took a drink of his coffee and glanced over at Jordan’s amused face. “But on a Sunday morning? Absolutely not.”
In his own way, Travis’ ridiculous questions set the tone for their impromptu luncheon. Light banter wove its way through the more serious questions – and Jordan’s inevitable answers regarding the Garret District Attorney.
“Ever since the day he landed in this town, Reid Farrow has been a raging asshole,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Everything is a 9-1-1 emergency to him and god help you if you get between him and whatever piece of ass he’s targeted.”
“Tell me about it,” Ethan grumbled, instantly regretting his slip.
Jordan barked out a laugh. “Sorry, I forgot you were his current target.”
“I’d love to meet this jackass,” Travis said, breaking a chunk off Ethan’s cookie.
Startled, Ethan set his mug onto the table. “But why on earth? After what we’ve talked about?”
Travis stuffed the bit of cookie into his mouth and chewed. After a long moment, he spoke. “I don’t know, maybe to see what I’m up against? In a perfect world, it would be so I could tell him to go to hell, but I doubt it’d get that far with you two around.” He looked at the men’s stony faces and sighed.
“Don’t be too sure,” Jordan laughed. “I’d love to see someone tell him to take a hike.”
“But you’re not up against anything,” Ethan said, staring down into his coffee. “I thought I’d made that clear.”
“Oh, it’s crystal, baby,” Travis said, reaching over to give Ethan’s hand a squeeze. “But still, I like to know what’s out there, if you know what I mean.”
In an odd sort of way, he did. “Let’s just hope you never have to meet him, for both our sakes.”
“Meet who, ducky?”
Ethan felt his entire body tense. Taking a deep breath, he moved his focus from Travis, lifting his eyes upwards until he met the steamy gaze of his ex-husband. “Perfect timing as always, Reid. We were just talking about you.”
“How quaint,” Farrow purred. Fixing his eyes on Travis, Reid grinned. “You must be the elusive, reclusive Travis Murphy. Ethan, honey, you never told me you had a type.”
Travis’ hand tightened on Ethan’s. Shit was about to go down if he didn’t handle this carefully. Reid was a ticking time bomb and Travis was… well, he was Liam Murphy’s son that was all he could say.
“Farrow,” Jordan interrupted before Ethan could get a word out, “I don’t know what the hell you’re going on about, but we’re trying to have lunch here. Do you think you could leave us in peace?”
“Lunch?” Reid held a hand to his chest in mock surprise. “Well, I don’t mind if I do. Cora, dear,” he called to the waitress. “A cup of coffee over here please?”
And with that, he pulled out a chair and seated himself beside Jordan. Reid folded his hands together and rested them on the edge of the table, waiting.
“Farrow, that was not an invitation,” Ethan growled.
“No? Well, I can’t believe that you wouldn’t invite an old friend to lunch, Ethan.” Reid shook his head as if to dismiss Ethan’s poor manners. “What would your parents think?”
“No one gives a fuck what his parents might think,” Travis said, releasing his grip on Ethan’s hand. Rising to his feet, Travis leaned forward, placing his hands on the table, lowering his face until it was right before Reid’s. Farrow tilted his head upwards, coffee colored eyes locking onto a pair of sparkling blue. “And I can’t say that I much care what you think either.”
Oh hell, it was really going to hit the fan now.
Story continues here.
Fandom: White Pine original fiction
Pairing: Travis Murphy/Ethan McDowell
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,363
Summary: All hell breaks loose, part 1
Author’s Note: Written for the A to Z Challenge at 1_million_words. Not sure about this chapter because conflict isn’t my strong suit. And unbetad as well.
Continued from here.
“I see that head case Travis Murphy is in town.”
Ethan looked up from the file he’d been reading and glared at Reid Farrow. “Do not talk about my husband that way, Reid.” He closed the folder and frowned, rethinking what he’d just said. “On second thought, don’t talk about Travis at all, you asshole.”
“Aw, we’re just a touch sensitive this morning, aren’t we?” He shook his head and parked his ass on the edge of Ethan’s borrowed desk. “Pity. But then, it’s almost lunchtime and you always did get crabby when you were hungry.”
“Farrow,” Jordan growled as he entered the small office he and Ethan were temporarily sharing. “As district attorney I’d think you would have better things to do than harass my staff.”
Reid slid off the edge of the desk and rose to his full height. Putting every ounce of arrogance he possessed into his frown, he shook his head at Jordan. “What I do with my time is no business of yours, Jordan. Ethan, I’ll see you later.”
“Not if I can help it,” Ethan muttered under his breath.
As soon as Farrow’s backside disappeared around the corner, Jordan sighed. “I thought he stopped bothering you?”
“No,” Ethan said, looking up at the man that was slowly becoming a friend. “I just stopped complaining about it.”
Jordan looked back over his shoulder in the direction the D. A. had taken. “You shouldn’t have. I could file a complaint on your behalf.”
Ethan shook his head. “It’s not worth it, but I appreciate the offer.”
“You sure?” Jordan crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall. “Because I’d be more than happy to shake his tree a little.”
A smile lit Ethan’s face. “No, I promise, I’m good. But, if you have a few minutes?”
“Anything for you, McDowell.”
“Let’s go get some coffee. There’s someone here I’d like for you to meet.” When Jordan nodded, a confused look on his face, Ethan stood and led the way out of the station.
Like in White Pine, the citizens of Garret tended to walk wherever they needed to go, if possible. There were many places he’d had to visit during his stay in Garret, but very few of them had required the use of his car. He was beginning to wonder how he’d ever relied on it as much as did back when he’d still lived in Minden Lake. Since the coffee shop was only a few blocks from the station, they opted to hoof it to their destination.
Travis was just folding up his laptop when they arrived at the café. Murphy looked from Ethan to his partner and grinned. “I’m trusting that this is that wonderful Detective Jordan I’ve heard so much about and not that other dickhead?”
“Depending on the day,” Jordan said, smiling, “either could apply. Alex Jordan.”
“Travis Murphy,” he replied, taking the extended hand and giving it a good shake. “Ethan speaks highly of you.”
Jordan took a seat across from Travis and nodded. “And he does the same for you, I’m happy to finally meet you.”
Ethan took the seat next to his husband feeling more than a little awkward. “Hey, what can I say? I like you both. It only makes sense to talk about you.” Besides, it kept him from talking about Reid Farrow to anyone.
“Have you lived here long,” Travis asked, waving down the waitress. After she got their orders, he turned back to Jordan. “I only ask because I’m curious about this idiot Reid Farrow.”
“Travis,” Ethan said, surprised at his husband’s interest. “I thought we weren’t going to talk about him ever again.”
Murphy gave a shrug. “Well, maybe not in the way we were discussing him last night, but I’m curious to get someone else’s opinion. Not that I don’t trust you but…”
“You’re looking for someone who has nothing to lose or gain by being honest,” Jordan filled in.
“Yeah, exactly.” Travis’ grin only got wider when he saw the waitress returning with their drinks and a tray of sandwiches and pastries. “This is like the best coffee shop ever. Ours back home doesn’t serve sandwiches.”
“We’re lucky our coffee shop serves coffee, Murph,” Ethan teased. “But you’re right, this place is awesome.”
Taking a bite of his toffee nut scone, Travis looked up at Ethan. “Is this too far to drive for breakfast?”
“Every morning? Yes.” Ethan took a drink of his coffee and glanced over at Jordan’s amused face. “But on a Sunday morning? Absolutely not.”
In his own way, Travis’ ridiculous questions set the tone for their impromptu luncheon. Light banter wove its way through the more serious questions – and Jordan’s inevitable answers regarding the Garret District Attorney.
“Ever since the day he landed in this town, Reid Farrow has been a raging asshole,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Everything is a 9-1-1 emergency to him and god help you if you get between him and whatever piece of ass he’s targeted.”
“Tell me about it,” Ethan grumbled, instantly regretting his slip.
Jordan barked out a laugh. “Sorry, I forgot you were his current target.”
“I’d love to meet this jackass,” Travis said, breaking a chunk off Ethan’s cookie.
Startled, Ethan set his mug onto the table. “But why on earth? After what we’ve talked about?”
Travis stuffed the bit of cookie into his mouth and chewed. After a long moment, he spoke. “I don’t know, maybe to see what I’m up against? In a perfect world, it would be so I could tell him to go to hell, but I doubt it’d get that far with you two around.” He looked at the men’s stony faces and sighed.
“Don’t be too sure,” Jordan laughed. “I’d love to see someone tell him to take a hike.”
“But you’re not up against anything,” Ethan said, staring down into his coffee. “I thought I’d made that clear.”
“Oh, it’s crystal, baby,” Travis said, reaching over to give Ethan’s hand a squeeze. “But still, I like to know what’s out there, if you know what I mean.”
In an odd sort of way, he did. “Let’s just hope you never have to meet him, for both our sakes.”
“Meet who, ducky?”
Ethan felt his entire body tense. Taking a deep breath, he moved his focus from Travis, lifting his eyes upwards until he met the steamy gaze of his ex-husband. “Perfect timing as always, Reid. We were just talking about you.”
“How quaint,” Farrow purred. Fixing his eyes on Travis, Reid grinned. “You must be the elusive, reclusive Travis Murphy. Ethan, honey, you never told me you had a type.”
Travis’ hand tightened on Ethan’s. Shit was about to go down if he didn’t handle this carefully. Reid was a ticking time bomb and Travis was… well, he was Liam Murphy’s son that was all he could say.
“Farrow,” Jordan interrupted before Ethan could get a word out, “I don’t know what the hell you’re going on about, but we’re trying to have lunch here. Do you think you could leave us in peace?”
“Lunch?” Reid held a hand to his chest in mock surprise. “Well, I don’t mind if I do. Cora, dear,” he called to the waitress. “A cup of coffee over here please?”
And with that, he pulled out a chair and seated himself beside Jordan. Reid folded his hands together and rested them on the edge of the table, waiting.
“Farrow, that was not an invitation,” Ethan growled.
“No? Well, I can’t believe that you wouldn’t invite an old friend to lunch, Ethan.” Reid shook his head as if to dismiss Ethan’s poor manners. “What would your parents think?”
“No one gives a fuck what his parents might think,” Travis said, releasing his grip on Ethan’s hand. Rising to his feet, Travis leaned forward, placing his hands on the table, lowering his face until it was right before Reid’s. Farrow tilted his head upwards, coffee colored eyes locking onto a pair of sparkling blue. “And I can’t say that I much care what you think either.”
Oh hell, it was really going to hit the fan now.
Story continues here.
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no subject
Date: 2016-06-30 11:38 pm (UTC)That Reid asshole deserves whatever Travis dishes out on his sorry ass.
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Date: 2016-07-01 09:50 pm (UTC)Travis will have his revenge, but not in the way you think. :D
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Date: 2016-07-09 03:50 am (UTC)Keep up the good work, my dear! ;-)
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Date: 2016-07-11 10:06 pm (UTC)