Page 14 of Space Cowgirl: Houston, All Systems Go
“I just thought you’d want—”
She raises her hands out in front of her. “Oh no. I’m still in school. Got to hit the books for finals and graduation, remember.”
I run a hand through my hair. “Well, just how the heck am I supposed to get the house ready for a wedding in such a short amount of time?”
“I’ve always heard the best man and the maid of honor make a good team. Maybe Jules can help you out.”
“Jules?”
Rose’s smirk is kicked up on one side. “I bet she’d love to get her hands on all your wood…paneling.”
“Jesus, Rose.” My head drops back in exasperation, which only gives me a better view of the popcorn ceiling and dropdown fluorescent light.
With an evil laugh, Rose walks out of the kitchen, through the family room and up the stairs. She’s still laughing when I hear her bedroom door close.
This is the second time today a conversation with my siblings ended with laughter at my expense.
Being the eldest sucks sometimes.
* * *
Jules
“Okay,it’s official. I have to get a bike,” Trish tells me, once again bouncing in the bench seat like a bunny.
“Oh yeah?” I spear a fried pickle chip on my fork, a must when eating at Boondoggles, but frown when the breading falls off. I hate when that happens.
“Well, maybe not. I think I could get used to riding on the back of one, though.” She takes her fork, dips the tines in ranch dressing and then scoops up a fried pickle, popping it in her mouth.
Hmm, she might be on to something with that maneuver.
“Now, I’m not too discriminating. All motorcycles are pretty cool.” I mimic her fried pickle strategy, pleased with the results. I swallow before continuing, “But there is something truly awesome about crotch rockets.” I sit back when the waitress brings over the fries and pizza chips I ordered. “It might have something to do with just saying ‘crotch rocket,’ but mostly I think it’s because it literally feels like a rocket under your crotch, and that’s just undeniably awesome for all womankind.”
“Hear, hear,” the waitress says before heading off to another table.
Trish laughs and picks up a pizza chip, taking a dainty bite out of the corner. “I think you should work that into your speech, should you ever land on the moon.”
“The NASA guys would never go for it, though.” I put a whole pizza chip in my mouth and talk around it. “All public speeches have to be vetted by PR. Armstrong’s whole ‘One small step’ was carefully considered and orchestrated. They even practiced it, in full gear, before he flew up in the shuttle.”
“You’re kidding.” She takes another small bite and I am reminded of the phrase ‘eats like a bird.’
“Nope. That’s why so many people cry conspiracy about the moon landing. They see the photos of Armstrong on a photo shoot with the moon landing mock-up and think it proves that the government staged everything. But those pictures were just dress rehearsal for the real thing.” I stare hard at the pizza chips at the table, wondering if I should eat any more. I give up resistance with a sigh. I’ll be damned if I’m letting pizza chips go to waste. I grab another one.
“Whoa. I guess it takes a lot to make something look spontaneous.” Another nibble. Then she puts the uneaten portion down and takes a sip of water. A legit sip, like we’re having tea.
God, I feel like a Neanderthal around this girl.
I try taking a small bite of my pizza chip. But then I look at the other half in my fingers, knowing it’s going right into my mouth too, and it seems like such a waste of time not to stick the whole thing in at once. So I do. “Quick question.”
She pauses in picking up her slice. “All right. Hopefully I can give you a quick answer.”
“Why did you have Jackie’s thumb drive to begin with?”
Trish’s eyes widen.
“I mean, the engagement didn’t happen until last night. And while it doesn’t surprise me that Jackie had a whole thumb drive on her dream wedding, as she is prepared for any scenario in life, I don’t get why you had it?”
Swallowing, though she hasn’t taken another bite of her food, Trish’s eyes shift to the side.
