Snow Balls (Ball Games #2) (11 page)

Tim. I've gone to Center Parcs for the week to learn how to play tennis. Don't ring me, I won't answer. You and the kids can cook your own fucking Sunday lunch. Yes, I'm a lot better, not that any of you asked. D.

Oh shit. It would seem it’s new balls please for Dora.

***

A few days earlier...

Dora

Discover the New You?
What, from behind the clump of tissue held in front of my ever spluttering mouth? Nowhere in this goddamn book by the uber-famous Tatiana Patrick does it say about how to bring the spark back to your marriage during a bout of tonsillitis. I throw the book, attempting to shout fuck it, but I have no voice so its a waste of time. I've been in my cesspit of a bedroom for two days. Fuck, I smell. For the last twenty-four hours I’ve sweated the cold out of me and two discarded pairs of pyjamas lie on the floor at my bedside. Tim is at work. My days have been spent reading the Facebook feed; watching Jessica Jones on Netflix (I want to be that kick-ass, but am I supposed to feel sorry for her that she's being mind controlled by David Tennant? He can mind control me into his bed anytime he likes); and sleeping. The only time I've surfaced is to make the evening meal. Tim's good and would fix his own but he'd never think to see if I want anything, so I may as well get up or starve to death. Personally I wouldn't want a meal that's been made by a woman with the plague but that's a partner for you.

I usually ring the kids on a Thursday night. Well, I say kids - Dylan is twenty-five and Camille twenty-one. They both now live away from home. I see them every Sunday for lunch and then call them each Thursday night. Tim can answer when they ring. They'll wonder what's wrong as I call them eight on the dot every Thursday.

9.25pm
- Little fuckers - not one call. Not one. I'm not ringing them despite my voice returning a little.

Saturday
. They never called and still haven't. I could be dead. The ignorant brats are supposed to be coming for lunch tomorrow. I'm still bedridden. Well, I could get up because I'm a lot better but then I'd have to do housework and there are some Jessica Jones episodes left to watch. If they turn up they can view my half-dead, unwashed corpse. I grab my kindle and start a search. There must be a book on here about how to be respected.

Bingo. Tatiana's therapist, Tess, from her Reality Show
Love is All Around
has a book out,
How to reclaim Visibility in a world that makes you feel invisible.
Tess Emerald will save me.

I one-click and begin to read...

Chapter One - show them a world without you.

'Dora? Dora. I'm off to the local for a couple of hours. Is that alright?' Tim's voice booms up the stairs.

I try to answer but once again the voice has gone.

The door bangs. He hasn't even come up to see if I'm okay before he's left me alone for a couple of hours.

That's it. I'm heeding Tess' advice. They can see a world without me in it. First stop shower, second stop Center Parcs. It's only an hours drive to Sherwood Forest. I've been saving up for Tim and I to have some weekends away. Well, he can do one. Spa, fresh air, someone else cleaning. Sheer bliss. Oh, what’s that on the website here? Tennis lessons with ex-pro Cole Grant. I've always wanted to learn to play tennis. Well, at least every June when Wimbledon is on.

Credit card payment made. A one-bedroom comfort villa is mine for the week.

See ya suckers. The first thing I put in my handbag is my Kindle and charger. I need Tatiana and Tess’ advice this week.

This novella will be released Tuesday 3 May 2016. Pre-order he
re:
http://getbook.at/NewBallsPlease

More by Andie M. Long

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Quickies:

Sometimes you just have ten minutes. Or you're waiting at the bus stop. It could be a small train journey. Maybe your partner is due home. Or friends are on their way. In Andie M. Long's Quickies, you are invited to lose yourself in short stories, poetry and flash fiction. Enjoy a quickie where time is pressured or precious. Some stories are 18+ and contain adult themes.

The Ball Games Novellas

Balls

Snowballs

New Balls Please - out Tues 3 May 2016

The Alpha Series

The Alphabet Game – (ebook permafree on Amazon, iBooks, Nook and Kobo)

The Alphabet Wedding (novella)

The Calendar Game

Play it: The Alphabet Game playbook

Underneath

Quickies (novella)

About the Author

Andie M. Long is author of the erotic series The Alphabet Game, The Calendar Game and The Alphabet Wedding, alongside drama/suspense Underneath and short story and poetry collection Quickies.

She lives in Sheffield with her son and long suffering partner.

When not being partner, mother, employee or writer she can usually be found on Facebook or with her head in a book.

She would be VERY grateful if you could leave a review on Amazon if you enjoyed her work.

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