Page 65 of Space Junk: Houston, We Have a Hottie
She grabs hold of my shoulders in her hands. “Jackie. What’s happening? You okay?”
“Something’s wrong on the station. I have to go.”
She looks down to my wet shoes for a beat before looking me in the eye and squeezing my shoulders briefly. “Okay, good luck, sweetie.” She pulls me in for a quick hug and steps out of my way.
“Thanks,” I say, already on the move to Ian. When I get there we both jog down the stairs to his car. I glance over my shoulder and see Flynn shoving Holt while Rose is rolling on the porch floor with Beth and the other blonde.
“Jackie, you coming?” Ian asks.
I pull my gaze from Flynn and back to Ian. He’s holding the passenger door open.
“Yeah. I’m coming.”
Flynn
I refuseto focus on Beth. My tunnel vision is all for Holt and the desire to punch his face in. It was bad enough he showed up today, but then dragging my past in with him? In front of Jackie and her co-workers? I’m not letting that slide.
“I can’t even believe you, man,” I say, stepping into Holt’s face.
He steps back, hands up. “Get a hold of yourself, Flynn. I didn’t fucking invite her.”
Holt saying ‘fuck’ makes me pause mid-shove. My brother hates cursing.
“I haven’t seen her since I tossed her out of my bed,” he continues.
I can see and hear people milling about, in more of a hurry than usual, but my mind isn’t processing it. I’m having a hard time understanding Holt right now. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I slept with her one time, Flynn.One time. I haven’t seen her since.”
He looks so fucking earnest I can’t help but believe him, which oddly makes me more mad, as I’d been looking forward to releasing some of this pent-up anger.
A small hand rests on my arm and I turn, expecting Jackie. Instead, Trish is there, eyes wide.
“Rose. I need help with Rose.” She tugs me back toward the stairs where Rose is currently rolling around on the ground, beating on both Beth and Pam. If she’d had a rope I have no doubt my sister would’ve had them hog-tied by now.
“Jesus,” I mutter, striding over and lifting Rose off the pile by her armpits.
“Let me go! I’m not finished with these bitches yet.” Rose twists in my grasp, wrenching my shoulder.
“Calm down, Rose.” I glance down at the torn dress and bloody nose on Beth and the swollen eye on Pam. “Relax, sis. You won.”
Rose’s breath is coming fast and her eyes are still glued to Beth. “Damn straight I did.”
“Like fuck.” Beth scrambles to get up. When she finally manages, she’s listing—one of her heels has snapped off in the fight. “Your sister needs her head examined.”
Rose lunges again. “I’m going—”
I pivot, turning my back on Beth. This creates a barrier for Rose, and also keeps me from giving Beth a moment more of my time. Rose wipes her nose on her arm, leaving a smear of blood.
“What the heck, Rose?” Holt joins the group, stepping up to our sister.
“Don’t start with me. Someone needs to take a stand against this waste of a human, and I’m not real keen on your way of doing it,” Rose snaps at Holt, who visibly flinches. “This one,” Rose continues, jerking her thumb over my shoulder at Pam, “thought she’d get payback for Flynn rejecting her ass at my party. She called the bitch from hell over there and told her where he was. Once they got a glance at Jackie they decided to have a little fun with her.”
“Wait, what?” I glance at Pam, who has the decency to flush and look at her feet, embarrassed. A glance at Beth shows her looking far too pleased with herself for having just had her ass handed to her. “Jackie?”
“Oh, is that her name? The unfortunate one with the glasses?” Beth snickers. “You used to have standards, Flynn.”
A band tightens across my chest at the thought of this venomous woman spreading her poison on Jackie. “Yeah, and they were a lot fucking lower than they are now, Beth.” The smile leaves her face fast, but the pull in my chest remains.
