Page 23 of Space Junk: Houston, We Have a Hottie
She moves her head left and right, her eyes taking in the worn-down apartment buildings before her. “Oh.” She takes another look and sighs. “It’s been a while since I’ve looked around. Itisa bit run-down, isn’t it?”
She doesn’t seem put out by the complex’s lack of care, but rather surprised that its decrepit nature has escaped her notice. It’s hard to picture the gorgeous NASA engineer living here. Or maybe I just don’t want to. Jackie may not be wearing all that froufrou stuff Beth had, or even any makeup, but no one can ignore her kind of pretty. She either tries to hide it, or doesn’t even know she has it. My bet’s on the latter.
Nothing can cover up the high cheekbones, large eyes and full lips. Not even her glasses. In fact, the thick frames only highlight the delicate nature of her bone structure. She’s like a well-made race car, whose sleek lines are accentuated with racing stripes running down the hood. Then there’s her brain. She works with some of the smartest minds in the country. Even if she didn’t, with the way she talks, I don’t need her to tell me she’s been educated up the ass.
“Run-down is one word for it.” Unsafe is another. But I’m trying to rein in my inner caveman, so I leave it at that.
“When I moved here from back East, my car barely made the journey. So I thought it would be appropriate to live somewhere close to work.” She shrugs. “You know, in case I needed to walk?”
Before I can respond, she motions me to park in an empty spot. As soon as I put the car in park she has the door open. She’s out before I turn off the ignition.
“No need to get out. This is fine,” she says, leaning into the car. “Thanks. See you around.” With a slam, she closes the door and leaves me behind.
That’s new. I’m used to girls doing the whole “I can’t find my key” thing or starting some inane conversation, stalling long enough for me to make a move. And I know Jackie and I started out rough— okay,Istarted out rough, but I thought we’d had a moment. A few of them, actually.
Damn it. I sound like a girl.
Still perplexed and a bit amused, my eyes follow Jackie as she walks away. Her jeans are a bit baggy, and her T-shirt shapeless, but there is just something about her that rings my bell. Maybe it’s because she seems so unlike the woman who raised me. So unlike my ex and her friends.
I’m thinking about what my next move might be when I see two men leaning against a lamp post farther down Jackie’s path. One has a bandana tied across his head, a wife beater tank top on and jeans so low I’m pretty sure the guy has to waddle so they don’t fall down when he walks. The other dude is dressed pretty much the same. There isn’t a lot of gang activity in these parts, but I recognize enough colors and symbols inked on their arms and neck to know these guys have done some time.
No longer amused, I climb out of my car and jog over to Jackie. I catch up to her just as she’s passing the men. She’s so preoccupied with getting her keys out she doesn’t notice them. The wife beater guy steps away from the lamp post and I tense.
“Hey, Jackie.”
“Hmm?” Jackie glances up. “Oh hey, Paulie. How’s Tiffany?”
Wait. Sheknowsthem?
“Good, thanks. Said to say hi. It was cool of you to help Alex with his homework. He got a B on the assignment.”
“That’s great. Tell Alex to come find me if he needs more help.” She smiles again at Paulie. I don’t like it. I put my hand on her lower back, causing her to jump.
Paulie stares at me, brows drawn.
“Oh! Guys, this is Flynn.” She turns to me. “Flynn, this is Paulie and his brother Jorge.” We all nod at each other, none of us smiling or shaking hands.
“Nice tats,” I say.
Paulie just smirks while Jorge narrows his eyes.
“I tutor Paulie’s son sometimes,” Jackie says.
“Yes, we consider herfamilia.” He looks me in the eyes and I get what he means. Apparently, Jackie is well taken care of here at the Reghetto.
Jorge nudges his brother’s shoulder, breaking our stare-down.
Paulie smiles at Jackie, looks over to my car and back to her. “You need help with your car again?”
“Not this time.” Jackie smiles at him. “This time it wasn’t my car’s fault. Someone backed into it.”
Paulie frowns. “You get a good look at who did it?”
“Yeah, my sister,” I say, not really sure why, except I don’t like being left out of the conversation.
“But she’s having it taken care of,” Jackie puts in quickly, resting her hand on Paulie’s arm. Ireallydon’t like that.
Paulie’s quiet for a bit, before he nods hard once. “Okay,chica.But you let me know if you need any help.” He finishes this off by glaring at me, giving me the feeling his version of ‘help’ might be hiding my dead body. “Take care,dulce nina,” he says before walking away, his brother following without a word.
