Page 6 of Space Junk: Houston, We Have a Hottie
“Crap.” I look down at the pile of country beauty at my feet.
“I knew you would be the most interesting customer tonight.” By the barely restrained laughter shaking her small frame, it’s safe to say that Trish is enjoying my current situation.
I put my hands on my hips. “You were right. The birthday girl got sloppy.” I wave my hand in the general direction of where Rose was partying. “And her friends all bailed.”
Trish glances in that direction then back at me. “That was rude of them.” She looks down at Rose. “Need help?”
“Yes, please.”
I bend to pick up one arm, thinking Trish will get the other, but she turns around and whistles over a bouncer I’ve been studiously trying to avoid. “Wait! I don’t want her arrested!”
Trish pauses in waving the big guy over. “Arrested?”
“Uh, yeah. Don’t people get arrested for public intoxication?”
Trish purses her lips for a moment, still fighting the battle not to laugh. “Oh sugar, if that were true we wouldn’t have any customers left.” The bouncer she whistled for shows up, looming over Rose.
The look on my face must be comical, because Trish loses the battle and erupts into giggles. “Relax, Jackie. Jimmy isn’t going to arrest her, but he can get her to your car.”
* * *
After some gruntingon Jimmy’s part, and laughter on Trish’s, Rose is now sprawled across the back seat of my car.
She opens one eye, surveying her position. “I know I’m drunk. But even drunk, I can tell your car is a piece of shit.” Then she promptly passes out. Jimmy walks away without a word.
“Well, she isn’t wrong.” Trish bursts out laughing again.
My car is old. My dad gave it to me for my eighteenth birthday, and it was used when I got it. A small, four-door compact that shakes when I go over fifty miles per hour.
Trish stops chuckling long enough to ask, “You know where to take her?”
“Yeah, she told me where she lived before I had to carry her out of the bathroom.”
“Okay then. And since you’ve been drinking nothing but soda, I take it you’re good to drive?”
“Yep.”
We both silently ponder the drunk in my car. Me with my hands on my hips, Trish with her mouth twitching.
“Give me your phone.” Trish sticks her hand out.
“Huh?”
Trish just wiggles her fingers and waits. I pull my phone out of my back pocket and give it to her.
She looks down, sighs and hands it back. “Unlock it, silly.”
“Oh. Yeah.” I press my thumb over the button and watch the screen wake up. Trish takes it out of my hands, then starts banging the screen with her thumbs.
“I added myself to your contacts and called my cell, so now I have your number.” She hands it back again. “Text me once you get birthday girl and yourself home safely, okay?”
I can feel my face light up, and I stare hard at the phone in my hands so Trish can’t see the ridiculous grin I’m probably sporting. Trish wanting to keep in contact makes me way happier than I’m sure it should.
God, I’m such a nerd.
“Sure thing. Thanks,” I manage around my smile.
She takes another look at my outfit. “If you want boots, we can get you boots.” Once again, she winks and walks away.
