Abby Rice

Mrs. Kelsey tipped her tight white curls toward the stranger in front of us. The elevator was crowded, so my nose was about three inches from his back. A very nice back, I couldn’t help but notice; broad shoulders in a bespoke pinstripe suit. “Your future husband,” Mrs. Kelsey stage-whispered in my ear. A flush rose … read more

It’s a slippery slope between a humorous bit of Halloween trickery and serious trouble. That’s what I was thinking in the backseat of the patrol car. I hadn’t intended to topple anyone’s festive Great Pumpkin pyramid. It never crossed my mind ahead of time that strands of toilet paper added to a certain decorative pumpkin lawn ornament … read more

“You just did what to my porch?!” I could feel my blood pressure edge toward redline. “Tell me you’re joking.” His lips pursed, but he didn’t drag the toe of his workboot or look away in shame. “It was an accident.” I swallowed back an impressive string of four-letter words. “I’m sure it was an … read more

I knew I was losing it when the old photograph on my desk began talking. Not ‘speaking’ in the metaphorical sense, mind you. But actually talking. Asking questions. Voicing an opinion. “You’re not going to wear that dress, are you?” was the first thing it said. I had been idly scrolling social media as I waited for my … read more

“What you need is a brand new girlfriend.”  I glanced over. My agent wasn’t smiling. Not the faintest hint of a guffaw in his tone.  “Like a hole in the head.”  I hadn’t felt the need for a new girlfriend since my last girlfriend was discovered in flagrante amidst the Creeping Charlie near the reflecting pond of my Beverly … read more

“But I didn’t order pizza!” The face on the other side of the screen door crinkled into a frown. A very nice face, I found myself thinking as my eyes soaked in his confusion. Chiseled cheekbones. A strong jaw. And was that the hint of a dimple on his left cheek? I shook my head … read more