Spoilerific Post: Corrections & Peril Most Perilous

Hello again!

So I realized, belatedly, that Grand Theft Sorcery released with a front-matter goof unrelated to the story. I had version control issues while building the files in Vellum, which led to me rebuilding the damn book three times before uploading it to Amazon... which is how I left out the dedication page.

This may mean nothing to most readers, but I felt pretty bad. Dedications are usually special, and this one was no exception. I've been meaning to do it for a long time. GTS seemed like the book for it. Today I uploaded the correction, so ebook & paperback will have it probably by tomorrow... but for the record:

For my best friends:

Angus (NG Paladin)

Oni (CG Bard)

Calcifer (N Wizard)

And Howlin’ Mad Murdock, the Cat Without Fear (CN Rogue)

Okay. Onward to the monthly sneak peek! Good Intentions 5 should cross 40k words today-ish. I've been writing at a good clip despite some interruptions (November is always full of them). Patron tier supporters will get to see this whole chapter at the start of next month, but if you're wondering where this book goes, GI 5 includes thrills and chills and death-defying feats... but none so tense as Alex bringing his girlfriends to brunch with his mom!

“What do you mean by Eddie getting serious?” asked Alex. His eyes narrowed. He missed the smirks from Lorelei and Rachel seated at either side of the table. Michelle and her smug nonchalance had his full attention.

“I already did Thanksgiving with Eddie’s family, and that was only a couple months in," said Michelle.

“Yeah. You wanted to see what they’re like.”

“I did. They’re fine. Nice. And it was a way to make sure I wasn’t wasting my time with him,” Michelle added. Her nonchalance held with every question. Taunting nonchalance.

“Okay, so… how serious?” asked Alex. Rachel smiled as if keeping something to herself. Lorelei held a better poker face. That only made him more suspicious.

“We spend lots of time together. It’s every weekend at this point. He’s been a huge help in getting me settled since the move."

“Uh-huh,” said Alex.

“He’s been renting. No property of his own, so…”

“He’s talking about moving in?” asked Alex.

“We are, yeah,” said Michelle. “Is that okay with you?”

His mind ground to a halt.

Michelle still seemed more amused than concerned or defensive. “You like Eddie, right?”

“We all like Eddie,” Lorelei put in, eyes sliding toward Alex. “He’s a good man.”

“Thank you, Lorelei,” Michelle said with mild surprise.

“How much have you talked?” Alex asked slowly.

“More than the three of you could’ve talked in a month before moving in together. Thanks for asking.” Michelle smirked.

“Ugh.” Alex bowed his head.

“We had that coming,” Rachel said to her plate.

“We did,” Lorelei agreed.

“I’m only teasing,” said Michelle.

“You’re gonna keep teasing, too,” sighed Alex.

“Yes,” said Michelle. “Anyway, we’ve talked about sharing space and such. I know he cleans up. He knows my expectations, my pet peeves, all my favorite things.”

“Isn’t that expected?”

“Oh? What are Rachel and Lorelei’s go-to snacks?”

“Are you trying to bust me on a couples’ quiz?”

“Yes,” said Michelle—and an amused Rachel.

“Lorelei likes fancy cheeses and mixed nuts. Don’t start with the innuendos,” he said without needing to look at their other partner. “Rachel eats like a middle school trash panda.”

“It’s good to have things in common. What colors do they never wear?”

“Rachel’s in white most of the time. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lorelei in pink.”

“Aw, that’s true,” said Rachel.

“Nothing wrong with pink. It’s not my color,” said Lorelei. “You could make it work.”

Don’t ask about movies, Alex thought. His brain locked up with Lorelei’s taste for exactly the kind of movies he couldn’t mention to his mother. No movie questions. No—

“Favorite musicians?” asked Michelle.

Oh no. Alex held back a wince. He couldn’t lie about something this trivial in front of Rachel, and yet it wouldn’t be trivial. Not between them. “Megan Thee Stallion for both of them, Rachel loves Kesha, and Lorelei loves, um… Duran Duran.”

“Duran…?” Michelle blinked. “That’s my favorite band.”

“They’re a good band,” said Alex.

“Your mom’s band,” said Michelle. They all saw the wheels turn in her head as she looked to Lorelei. “Seven and the Ragged Tiger was the first album I ever bought. On cassette.”

“Rural Iraq didn’t exactly keep up with the pace of pop culture,” said Lorelei. “My tastes aren’t limited by era or genre. I work at a conservatory.”

“Sure,” said Michelle.

“Mom. Frozen music eras are Grandma and Grandpa’s thing. Lots of people like Gen X stuff. I do, too. It’s not weird.”

Michelle threw him a frown, but he worried the damage was done. Throughout brunch, and even before, Michelle had shown growing comfort with his relationships, and Lorelei particularly. Now he saw all her concerns about their age gap click back into place. I should stick with fighting and running from monsters. It's never as stressful as the family stuff.