Page 40 of Space Balls: Houston, We Have Liftoff
“Couple of people having sex is all,” I mutter, ignoring Vance’s plan to lie and say we’re dating.
I’ve learned the hard way that if you say something often enough, you start to believe it. Like when I was little and I told myself if I was good enough, if I was perfect enough, if I just tried hard enough, that Mom would stay. And if Mom would stay, so would Dad. Lying to yourself takes an emotional toll, and I can’t afford to start lying about Vance and me.
It’s better not to try.
I’m smart enough to know that every time Vance throws an arm around my shoulder, teases me, or does sweet things like invite me to Thanksgiving dinner, that it’s not gonna end well for me once he boards that space shuttle.
“This is where the Virtual Reality Lab is,” Jackie says, her steps more like hops in her excitement. “I’ll begin observing training sessions next week.” She points to a nondescript brown building that looks like a high school built in the seventies.
In fact, most of the buildings here are boring and boxy. I find it ironic that on the inside, they house some of the most state of the art equipment ever invented.
“Just sex, huh?”
Trish and I jump, not having seen Jules sneak up from behind.
Jules squeezes between us, draping an around each of our shoulders. “Is that what Bodie thinks too?”
I pretend to be interested in what Ian is saying about the Cold War era causing the lack of windows due to security issues. “His idea, actually.”
“And that’s okay with you?” By Trish’s tone, it’s apparentlynotokay with her.
I must not have come across as flippant as I thought. I shrug off Jules’ arm. “No biggie.”
“Huh.” I can feel Jules’ side-eye. “So did you actually come to NASA today for lunch and a tour or are you really here to see your boy toy?”
I laugh, nearly choking. “I’m not sure boy toy is the right terminology.” I think of our fifteen-year age gap. “Maybe geriatric gismo?”
Jules’ hands land on my shoulder, stopping us. “Dude, he’s my age.” She looks mortally wounded. “Uncool.”
“Yeah, but much to your dismay, you and I aren’t dating.”
“I always forget how much younger you are than the rest of us,” Trish says.
“Thanks?” I make a note to buy more eye cream on the way home.
“It’s a total compliment,” Trish says. “It speaks to your maturity.”
“Yes.” Jules scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Because nothing says maturity more than a Blow Job shot taking college student who takes pole dance classes.”
“Says the woman who owns multiple rhinestone collars for her pet cow,” I deadpan.
“Cookie isn’t a pet.” Jules looks affronted. “She’s family.”
I take an interest in my surroundings. “Uh huh.”
“Speaking offamily,” Trish butts in. “What is this I hear about you not coming to my Thanksgiving dinner?”
“Yeah, and be the odd man out again?” I roll my eyes. “I don’t think so.”
“Just bring Vance,” Ian says, startling the rest of us by joining the conversation. Jackie is gazing at an ugly brown building with pebbled cement siding like it’s Santa’s workshop.
“He’s having Thanksgiving with his family.” I omit the part about me joining him. Lying by omission is okay. I do that all the time. That’s how I stay one step ahead.
“Did you miss the part where Rose said she and Vance are just friends with benefits?” Jules asks.
Ian shrugs. “That doesn’t sound like the guy who stalked Trish and me in Germany until I gave him your number.”
Trish straightens to her full five feet five inches in her four-inch platforms. “What now?”
