Page 38 of Penalty Shots

“Don’t you see her outfit, McEvoy? She’s clearly a Queen,” I tease.

Rina rolls her eyes as she takes his hand. “I’m neither.”

“Well, you look stunning, Queen Rina,” Turner says with a little too much charm.

I can feel my jaw clench, so I quickly pat the empty seat next to me. “Chop, chop, Your Majesty. This party waits for no one.”

She and Turner drop each other’s hands before she reluctantly climbs in next to me. The folds of her costume don’t hide the fact that we’re now thigh to thigh in the tight car.

Rina shifts uncomfortably as she tries to pull on her seatbelt.

“Oh, I wouldn’t even try with that,” Ryker says. “None of the belts work back there.”

Rina scoffs and leans forward to look at Jenny. “You convince me to put on this frock only to stuff me into a moving death trap? You’re a great friend, Jen.”

Jenny smirks. “I am, aren’t I?”

“So Rina, what’s your major?” Turner says, shifting in the passenger seat so he can get a good look at my girlfriend’s roommate.

“Mass communications with a focus in public relations.”

“PR,” Turner whistles just as Ryker pulls out of the dorm parking lot.

“I hear you're studying law. Anything in particular?” Rina asks, clearly interested.

Not that I should care. I don’t. I reach for Jenny’s thigh, giving it a squeeze, and she giggles.

“I come from a small town,” he shrugs. “We kind of have to do a little bit of everything around there. So, mostly family law and estate planning. But I plan to dabble.”

“You’ll be someone good to know,” Rina says, staring out the window.

“I hope so. Seems like you will be too.”

Rina turns back to look at him with a small grin. “I hope so, too.”

I slap my knee. “Okay, dreamers! I want to remind everyone that tonight is about using the force to part-ay. So, no more school and work talk. We’re getting smashed,” I announce.

Ryker lets out a huff from the driver’s seat.

“Except Ry. He doesn’t drink.”

“Because it’s illegal?” Turner asks.

“Because I had alcoholics for parents,” Ryker says sternly.

“Oh. My bad, bro.” Turner looks ashamed.

“I mean, technically, none of us should be drinking,” Rina says.

I turn to look at her. “What? You scared of a little fun, Your Majesty?”

She squints at me. “Say all you want about this outfit, but you and your girlfriend are dressed as siblings, and that’s way more noteworthy.”

Ryker’s and Turner’s laughs drift to us from the front seats.

Jenny looks at her. “What do you mean siblings?”

Rina leans forward again to catch Jenny’s eyes on my other side. “Oh my god, Jen! You’ve never seen Star Wars, have you? How are you dressing up as a character when you’ve never seen the movie?”

---