Page 179 of Happy Hour

Cylinder Head – In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber and sealed by a head gasket. In most engines, the head also provides space for the passages that feed air and fuel to the cylinder and allows the exhaust to escape.

I was having pleasant dreams but staying in a house with the Lucifer twins and Emma, those dreams were short lived. I understoodcompletelywhy Jameson was jealous that I was an only child after spending this much time around Emma and those goddamn twins.

“Sway...” an annoying voice chimed in my ear. “Get up!”

“No, leave me alone.” Ignorance rolled me over to snuggle with my Jameson pillow, wishing it were him andnotEmma in the room. Was that really too much to ask for?

“Come on, I need to go to the store.” She pulled on my arms. “Come with me.”

“Why do you have to go to the store?” My arms flopped back on the bed.

“Ugghhh...” she sighed loudly. “Aunt Flow is in town.”

Aunt Flow?

Oh yeah—her period—I always referred to it as shark week.

With little effort, I went back to sleep but the persistent little shit wasn’t having it. She continued to annoy the ever-loving fuck out of me for the next thirty minutes by putting toothpaste on my face until I woke up.

“You’resoannoying.” I sat up in bed and I could tell that I looked like the living dead by the way she was staring at me. “What?” I wiped the minty fresh from my nose.

Her eyebrows raised in question. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”

“You just...look like shit.”

“Bitch,”

She laughed. “I wasn’t trying to be mean, you just look...sick.”

“I don’t feel good.” Slumping back against my bed, I rubbed my eyes. “And apparently look like shit.”

My senses seemed heightened and not only did I smell minty but I smelled...popcorn...burnt popcorn. “What’s that smell?” My eyes focused on her appearance—her very bright appearance. “Why are you all orange?”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Believe me, I’m not impressed either.”

I waited patiently for her to indulge but she didn’t so I pulled her hair. “Why are you orange?”

“Do you have to be so goddamn violent?” she huffed pushing away. “Listen, I played with fire and got my ass burned.”

“What?”

“My brother...you know that asshole boyfriend of yours...wellhe filled my lotion with sunless tanner before he left.” Her shoulders slumped. “I’m assuming as a payback or something. After I realized what he did, I thought maybe it wouldn’t look so bad but then it kept getting orange and now I smell like burnt popcorn. Mr. Jangles was licking me all night. Long story short...I’m salt lick for your pussy.”

“You’re so strange.”

“You’re telling me.” Emma lied down beside me, scrutinizing me with a wide grin. “Why don’t you feel good?”

“Fuck if I know, maybe I have Lane’s flu.” I turned to look at her. “Why are you still here, don’t you have fan club shit to do?”

“Jameson made me stay,” Her grin still wide. “He said I was to make sure you were okay and now,” she gestured towards her skin. “I realize why.”

“How long have you been feeling like this?” Emma placed her tiny clammy orange hand against my forehead.

I slapped it away, barring my teeth. “Stop touching me. You stink.”

“Sway,” Emma smiled as though she’d just solved a crime. “Is there a chance you’re pregnant?”

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