Page 65 of Space Cowgirl: Houston, All Systems Go
Change is what my mother wanted. Always something new. Always something different. Alwaysmore.
A list flutters off the wall, sailing past Jules’ shoulder. I catch it.
Jules’ handwriting is just like her—bold, in all caps. “Wedding Shit 101.” A long, numbered list follows under it, each one crossed off in red ink.
“Hmmm?” Jules lifts her head, her normally wild curls that much crazier. Her heavy eyes land on the list in my hands. “Oh. Those are just basic things I researched about weddings in general before centralizing my attention on more Jackie-specific wedding information.”
“At the risk of annoying you once again—Jackie-specific?”
She smiles lazily. I think I like this smile of hers the best. It’s pleasure-drunk and focused solely on me. “Viable options for barn weddings.” She points to another list, this one still hanging on the wall. “That one is a list of all cleaning products that can be used that won’t harm the animals once they are relocated back into their stalls.” She points lower. “That one lists viable rustic elements usually found in barn weddings that willnotbe used in Jackie’s.” Her look gets serious. “FYI, we will not be using hay bales as any type of seating during this wedding. People have allergies out the ass, and according to my research on bridesmaid dresses, I’m pretty sure stiff spikes of hay will tear any of those girlie contraptions to shreds.”
All I can do is blink at her. “You researched all of that?”
“Well duh, I’m the maid of honor. It’s my job.”
I’m about to question that statement when we’re interrupted by the sound of my loud and either very shocked or very pissed-off brother slamming open the front door.
“Holy shit!”
One of Jules’ eyebrows lift. “I think it’s safe to say Flynn’s here.”
I sigh. My brother has the worst timing.
The thud of footsteps gets closer. “What the hell is going on here?”
“How many times do I have to tell him to take off his dang boots?”
Jules bites her lip, like she’s trying not to laugh. “Um, didn’t you tell him about the reno?”
“Uh, no. Must have slipped my mind.” Truthfully, I’d been too busy thinking about the astronaut in front of me and not much else.
“Holt!” Flynn soundsmuchcloser.
Regrettably, I pull out and help Jules down off the dryer. A lighter, more feminine voice can be heard mumbling in between my brother’s exclamations.
Jules stills. “Jackie.” Now she looks panicked. She jumps off the dryer and snags her jeans off the floor.
I grab a hand towel from the small linen closet and hand it to her.
“Thanks.” Not missing a beat, she cleans up and shoves the towel into the bottom of the dirty cloths hamper before tugging on her pants.
In seconds we both look presentable. Somewhat.
Jules holds out her torn thong.
“Thanks to you, looks like I’ll be going commando.”
“What?” I whisper. “There are workers out there.”
She shoves the shredded lingerie in my front pocket. “So?”
“So you’re just going to walk around without panties?”
“Calm your tits, it’s not like any of them have x-ray vision.You’rethe only one who’s going to know.” The smirk she throws me is downright evil. “Think you can handle that, cowboy?”
“Holt! Where are you?” From the sound, Flynn must be in the kitchen.
Jules puts her finger to her lips.
