Page 70 of Space Junk: Houston, We Have a Hottie
She pats my arm like a small child and my already tense muscles turn to stone. “What was she going to say, that she’s stringing her co-worker along until she decides who can offer her the better life? That she likes wearing cheap clothes?” Beth scoffs. “Please. I saw her looking over my outfit when we talked. She practically drooled.”
I remain silent, but it doesn’t stop Beth.
“All I had to do was mention a few of the gifts you’d given me when we were together.” —she pulls back her hair to expose the diamond studs I’d given her for her birthday one year—”and her eyes lit up. I could practically see the wheels turning in her head, wondering how long she’d have to wait, and what to do to speed up the process.”
“You’re lying.” And Iknowshe is. Jackie honestly doesn’t care about material things. But a sick feeling settles when I think of the huge amount of school debt she must have. I’m such a privileged ass for not thinking about it. My degree was simply paid for out of pocket, not even a drop in the bucket to the West fortune.
“Am I? Or is that just what you want to believe, Flynn? You said yourself she’s a big shot NASA engineer. What could someone like that want with amechanic?” She spat the word. “But an heir to the West Oil fortune? Oh yeah, I can see that.”
“Not everyone is a money-grubbing social climber, Beth.”
Beth laughs so loud, my jaw ticks. “Oh, you poor, sweet, delusional man. So much like your father.”
The mention of my father has me pushing back away from the wall.
“You drive her around in your half-a-million-dollar car, take her to your top-of-the-line house and you think she didn’t notice? You did say she was smart, didn’t you? Have you ever Googled your name? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure she has.”
Images of Jackie’s face when sitting in my car and when she’d looked over my house shuffle through my mind. I shake them off.
“Flynn West, the joke of the oil elite everywhere,” Beth says on a satisfied sigh.
I push back into her space.
“News flash, Beth—you’re the one they laugh at.” I look her up and down, making sure not to hide even an ounce of my contempt. “You think the people back home like you? You’re the goddamn entertainment. Walking around like you’re mightier than everyone, working off your shopping habit on your back.”
It’s Beth’s turn to stiffen.
“You already messed with my family once, Beth. You mess with them or Jackie again, I will end your social climbing.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You think I don’t have connections just because I dirtied my hands with my ‘stupid cars’? Think again. You’ll be blacklisted from every event in Houston. You’ll be lucky if you get invited to some backwoods hoedown when I’m done.”
“You think you’ve got that much pull? You’re just a mechanic these days, Flynn.”
“ButI’mnot.”
I turn to find Holt beside me.
Beth crosses her arms over her chest. “What are you going to do, Holt? Fuck me again?”
“God, no. Once was enough to get my brother out of your gold-digging clutches. You couldn’t pay me to touch you again. I don’t even like being this close to you.”
Beth’s mouth drops open. Mine too.
“Don’t think for one minute that Flynn can’t follow through on his threat. Or me. I know all about your activities these last few years. I know your debts, and I know your suppliers.”
Beth’s shoulders drop against the wall.
“Still like a little blow when you party, Beth?” Holt asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her voice is shrill.
“No? ‘Cause I have a video that proves otherwise.”
“What—?”
“Leave.” Holt steps forward and Beth tries to shrink further back. “You don’t know us. You don’t talk to us or about us. You don’t so much as look at us. And it goes without saying that you don’t press charges against Rose and you convince Pam to do the same.”
