Alex Tully

“No peeking,” Alex said as he helped Kathryn out of the truck, catching her as she fell against him at the last moment. “Careful baby. Don’t want you breaking your leg when I’m trying to give you a big surprise.”

“Then you better hold onto me like there’s no tomorrow Alex Tully,” Kathryn said as she tightened her grip on his arm. “I’ve been blindfolded for miles. Weren’t you afraid that someone would think you were kidnapping me?”

“The thought did cross my mind.” He wasn’t lying. His heart had jumped nearly out of his chest when he’d passed by a police car on his way through the neighborhood. “But I’m sure we can convince them that I mean you no harm.”

He placed one strong hand on each side of her waist to lead her step by step over the long walk up to the house from the driveway. It had been his plan for months, he’d bought the land. Had the nursery planted while the house was remodeled. Now it was perfect, and it was going to be their home for the rest of their lives.

“Are you ready?” he teased kissing the back of her head. The smell of her shampoo making him smile.

“Yes I’m ready. Alex please!” she giggled leaning against him as he tugged at the ties of the blindfold. “But I want you to know if this isn’t a good surprise, you’ll be the one wearing the blindfold.”

“It’s a good surprise. I promise.” He slipped it off careful not to yank on her beautiful dark hair, and waited holding his breath while she took in the sight of their home. Hanging over the door was a banner that said ‘welcome home Kathryn Tully.’

Alex Tully
DRIVE
291 words
Prompt: 235 theatrical_muse

“She’s all yours Alex?”

Alex blinked once, twice and a third time as he stared slack jawed at the beautiful car that he’d been helping his dad rebuild all summer. “But dad, I can’t take your car.”

The car keys sailed through the air over the glossy black and sky blue paint of the hood as Alex’s father tossed them to him. “Be sure you catch those. Don’t want to scratch the paint.”

He caught them with a quick reach that he’d learned in summer after summer of little league and high school baseball. Alex looked at the distinctive pentagon shape of the Mopar keys as he ran his thumb over them. They were old and dinged up from more than ten years of being on his dad’s key ring along with the keys to their house, the tractors, the truck and his mom’s car.

“She’s mine,” he swallowed hard as he carefully unlocked the driver’s door. “Dad this is heaven you know that right? I’ve never wanted anything more in my whole life than this.”

“Alex you’re seventeen. I’m sure someday you’ll want something more than my hand me down Challenger.”

“Your perfect, like the day she was brought off the show room floor, 1970 Challenger Dad,” Alex said as he slid the key into the ignition. The engine started with one twist of the key, and Alex’s dad slipped into the passenger seat. “Where do you want to go dad?”

“The road’s yours Alex. You pick the direction. I’m just along for the ride.”

Alex Tully
DRIVE
255 words
Prompt: 234 theatrical_muse

Alex woke up with a start, dreams of better days spiraling down the drain like so much dish water. He rubbed at his eyes. It was late. The clock on the nightstand said it was 8am. He’d slept more than twelve hours. He rolled off of the bed, and walked over to the door.

“Corinna?” he called out to his partner. “What did you do? Leave your key?” He popped the door open. But instead of the tall blonde who had insinuated herself into his life. He found a dome covered tray on a cart. “Room service? I didn’t call for room service.”

“Good morning Mr. Tully,” the waiter pasted on a fake smile, and started shoving the cart into the room. “Your breakfast is courtesy of the hotel. It comes with your suite.”

“Oh,” Alex stepped back from the door, and scratched at his stomach beneath the edge of his t-shirt. “Come on in then.”

***
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Alex Tully
DRIVE
308 words
Prompt: 233 theatrical_muse

His fingers tightened on the steering wheel of the Challenger. The glossy black and blue paint was covered in dust from the haul through the desert. He’d been dodging cops ever since he’d left Nebraska and his old life behind. The last thing he needed was to get pulled over when he was so close to the next checkpoint.

“You sure this is the right place?” Tully looked over at Corinna.

Yes I’m sure.” She was looking at the sleek black race phone, and held up the bright blue display for him to see again. “But it’s not going to matter at all if that black and white catches up with us.”

“I am aware of that, Corinna.” His dark blue eyes flickered back to the rear view mirror. With a grim smile, Alex looked out at the meager pickings on the flat sun bleached stretch of freeway. There really wasn’t any other way to stop the cop, and get him off their ass. “Hang on.”

With his foot pressed all the way down on the gas, he cut off a big rig, close enough to nearly clip the backend off of his precious car. Behind them the rig jackknifed, the trailer twisting around to block the road behind him crushing a mini-van along the way.

“That should keep him busy,” Alex said, fighting back the bile in the back of his throat. He just prayed that no one died in the accident he’d just caused.

Alex Tully
DRIVE
252 words
Prompt: Black & White theatrical_muse