Cinder Fella

By Avery Adams

Thanks to my dad marrying Satan's ex- wife, my life goes from pretty cushy to hell on earth. I lose my bedroom to one of her spoiled, trollish sons, and am banished to the attic where it's bake- your-brains hot in summer and freeze- your-nads cold in winter. Every day of my life is filled with chores now. I can barely fit in homework and sleep and I'm probably going to flunk out of college. Meanwhile, my henpecked father merely turns his eyes the other way.

The New Orleans annual New Year's Eve Ball is coming up and I was so psyched over it because I'm finally old enough to go, except SHE says I'll have to stay home. So much for my dream of catching the prince's eye from across a crowded room... or is it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cindy Cowles
• Release date: Dec 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215206133

Book preview

Cinder Fella

A gay fairytale romance

Avery Adams

Copyright © 2022 by Avery Adams

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact Publisher Cindy Cowles at email – [e-mail].

The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

First edition 2022

Contents

1

Kash

2

Elliot

3

Kash

4

Elliot

5

Kash

6

Elliot

7

Kash

8

Elliot

9

Kash

10

Elliot

11

Kash

12

Elliot

1

Kash

Inow pronounce you husband and wife…

That was the end of the ceremony that effectively ruined my life— the day my father married the evil witch he calls my stepmother. Within a week, she was bitching that her poor Henry was going to catch a chill in that drafty attic. Now that it's been over a year and my father still hasn't taken the hint, she's becoming more pointed.

Can't he trade rooms with Kash? Kash is a healthy strapping young man. Those attic drafts won't be more than a nuisance for him, unlike my poor dear Henry.

I narrow my eyes at my father. Say no! Grow a set and tell her no. You can do it. I know you can. Nnnnnooooo. See, it's easy peasy. But does he do it? Psshhh, riiiiiight. Nope. Not him.

"Kash, pack up your clothes and belongings and move up into the attic so Henry can have your room. I'll build an add-on this summer that can be your room." Not if she has anything to say about it!

But—

You heard your father, his witchy bride simpers at me, taking care to hide the smirk on her beady-eyed, thin-lipped face from my father, lest he see it and come to his senses.

I roll my eyes. No worries there, madam. His balls are effectively in your purse, and have been since he said 'I do'. Fine. Whatever. I'll be out of it before dinner.

Ask him to leave his gaming console and TV, Henry pipes up, feeling brave behind the safety of his mother's skirts.

Like hell, I shoot him a threatening glare. "You will not take the things I worked so hard for. I earned that money… but that's something you wouldn't know anything about, would you, twerp."

Kash, leave the flat screen and the game console. We are a family now. Father doesn't meet my eyes. Let him use it until one can be purchased for him.

But—

You heard your father. Leave them behind! She's barely hiding her pleasure at getting one over on me and it's pissing me off.

Father—

Don't make me tell you again. He still can't look me in the eye but I can hear it in his voice— it's him or me. Either I leave them behind for her spoiled brat or he never hears the end of it. I literally have no choice.

Fine. Whatever. I know better than to complain. All it'll do is get me in trouble. I'm lucky it took a year to happen. Scowling, I stalk out of the room and stomp my way upstairs. Like hell is that little fucker going to get the chance to break my things, though, I promise myself— muttering beneath my breath because I know better than to say the words out loud. I'll destroy them myself, first. And I do. I gather all the old, stale Mountain Dew bottles with a sip or two left in them that were left strewn around my room as I pack up— remnants from all-night gaming or study binges that I was too lazy to throw away. I combine them into one damn-near-overflowing bottle and, smiling, proceed to empty it into every open vent in my TV and game console. After I'm done, I clean up any of the yellow soda that drips out, dispose of the evidence, and climb the ladder to the attic. A few minutes later, I hear it, sweet music to my ears.

Noooo! It's ruined! Kash! What did you do? Everything is ruined!

Running footsteps follow. Muffled voices bounce back and forth in the area beneath my feet, barely heard in my new room, but outside of my concern. With a grin on my face, I unpack my clothes, put them away, and stash the laptop no one knows I have in a hidey-hole no one but me knows about. Then, as I'm getting ready to put my sheets and blankets on the bed, my name is called. I've been expecting it since Henry screamed and I'm surprised it took this long.

Kash, could you come downstairs, please?

I don't even consider disobeying. Instead, I present myself at the open door to my old bedroom, savoring the stench of smoke and burning wires as I do.