Page 8 of Space Junk: Houston, We Have a Hottie
“And now they’re not. And you know why.” He widens his stance and crosses his arms, which only serves to enhance his biceps. This must be what people mean by ‘nice guns.’
“Yeah. Sorry.” Rose closes her eyes for a moment, looking almost contrite. Then she opens them wide. “Fuck. The spins.”
Hot guy grunts, but his eyes soften and I swear his lips twitch.
A minute ticks by with Rose and the guy staring at each other. And me being a weirdo voyeur. Time to go.
“Ummm... I’m just going to...” Stupid move. I shouldnothave spoken. Because now the hot guy glare is aimed at me.
“What are you doing here?” He turns to fully face me and drops his arms. Smooth hard pectoral muscle over pronounced abdominals. My whole body freezes, except my eyes. They go wide taking him all in.
“Shut up, Flynn.” Rose struggles up on her elbows. “Don’t be such a douche.” Her updo has come down, there’s mascara under her eyes and her mouth is set in a grim line that only a country girl could pull off and still look cute. “Jackie helped me get home.”
“This isn’t your home, Rose. It’s mine.” He steps closer to her. “And get your goddamn boots off the bed.”
Soon the two are yelling at each other, and I have to admit, I’m impressed. Rose has sobered up quickly enough to let loose on the hot guy named Flynn. I’m not sure I’d be able to put together two words to say to him, drunk or sober. Across the bar, he was hot. Up close and personal? I need to change my panties. He has a finger pointed in Rose’s direction and with each jab the muscles on his back and shoulders bunch. His hair is all mussed, like he just got out of bed, and the top button of his jeans is undone. Flames race under my skin and I know I’ve just turned red. Holy Mercury, I need to get out of here. Rose can handle herself. I start inching toward the door.
“And listen, you.” I freeze, realizing the hottie named Flynn is talking to me. My skin feels nuclear. “You better not be drunk. Because if I wake up and find out you drove drunk and hit someone else on your way to whatever stupid-ass college party you’re heading to now, I will personally kick your ass.” With that, he storms from the room.
Time passes. I’m not sure how much, as I sort of zoned out, staring after him, unable to form thoughts. Which is a relatively novel occurrence for me. The non-thoughts part. I freeze in social settings on the regular.
When I finally snap out of it, Rose is passed out, snoring. And her boots are still on.
Two
Big Bang
Flynn
I shuffleinto the guest room around seven the next morning. Rose is on her back, head tilted up and snoring. Loud. I try to drum up some anger, but I’m just weary. I don’t know why my little sister is still hanging out with that crowd. People like that, they’re like leeches. They’ll latch on to you as long as the good times and money keeps pumping like oil through an engine. But once you say no— game over. They simply move on to easier prey. They tried latching on to my older brother Holt, but he’s always been too obsessed with the ranch to care. Me, they got their hooks into. After our parents died, drinking and spending the family’s oil money sounded like a far better way to spend my time than wallowing in grief.
Breathing in a pig-like snort, Rose turns onto her stomach. She’s still wearing her birthday sash. I glance down and sigh.
And her boots.
Since I’m balancing a mug of coffee in each hand, I nudge her with my foot. “Rose.” Another nudge. “Wake up.” I give up and place one of the mugs on the nightstand and leave.
I’m sitting at the kitchen counter later when Rose shuffles into the room, hands wrapped around her mug, mumbling. The only thing understandable is a gruff, “Thanks for the coffee,” then she props her butt up on the second bar stool. At least she’s taken off her boots.
I salute her with my own cup of coffee.
She sighs. “Look, I’m sorry for waking you last night.”
That’swhy she thinks I’m mad? “Rose.” It comes out harsher than I want. “I don’t fucking care about being woken up. I care about the fact that you were wasted and ditched by your friends. You’ve been partying with those people since you were sixteen. They’re assholes.”
Her face tells me I’ve struck a nerve. “You think I don’t know? Who am I supposed to hang out with? They’re the only people I know with as much money as we have. It’s just…easier.”
“I know all about taking the easy road, Rose. And you know where I’d be if I’d kept on it?”
She smiles. “Beth’s bitch?”
I laugh. “Uncool, but probably true. I sure as shit wouldn’t have started my own business. And a life away from all those high society phonies makes me way happier than hanging with them ever did.” I look her in the eyes. “You need new friends.”
“I made a new friend last night.” Her brows furrow. “At least, I think I did.”
“Listen, I don’t know who that hot chick was who brought you home, but just be careful. You don’t need to be making more of the same kind of friends.”
“Hot chick?” Rose tilts her head.
