Page 101 of Space Oddities

Giving up on getting warm, I lean back, the rough cinder block wall tugging at my wild hair. Doing a running leap off a stripper stage to perform a swing mount on an inebriated, violent man does wonders for creating a volumized hairstyle.

That’s just one of the many things I did wrong tonight. Well, not protecting my friends from being backhanded by a Neanderthal, sure, but even suggesting we go to Heartbreakers to begin with.

I shouldn’t have let loose. I should’ve given Rose my shots like I always do. I should’ve stayed out of the limelight.

I lean forward, elbows on my thighs, head in hands, wincing as some of my hair stays attached to the cement wall, and sigh. My life is just one big ball of should’ves.

Soon everyone will know about the warrant, the ring, my past. I’m sure they’ll be thinking they dodged a bullet not being caught up in my drama.

My only comfort is that I don’t have to see their disappointment. That I’m alone in this small, cold cell.

“Where’s T.D.?”

I whip my head up at the familiar, sassy voice. It can’t be.

I stand, leaning against the bars so I can see down the hall. My mouth drops open.

A police officer is walking Rose down the hallway.

“Rose?”

Rose looks up, smiling. “What’s shaking, girl?” She raises both hands and waves. The metal of her handcuffs jingles.

“What…” My voice breaks off, my mind simply not understanding what I’m seeing.

The police officer, a woman, looking as annoyed as I am cold, reaches my cell with Rose in hand. “You have interesting friends.”

All I can do is stand there, wondering if jail hallucinations are a thing.

Rose nudges the police officer with her shoulder. “Ah, come on Lydia, you know I made your night.”

Lydia’s lips twitch on one side, but she kills the expression with an even heavier frown while she unlocks the cell door. She looks at me. “Stand back.”

I do.

The metal bars slide open just wide enough for Rose to step through before slamming shut again.

“Hands.”

Rose dutifully turns and sticks her hands through the bars so that Lydia can remove her cuffs.

Drawing her now free hands back, Rose rubs her wrists with a grin. “Thanks, girl.”

Lydia shakes her head and turns to leave, but not before I see a small, fleeting smile.

“What did you do?” I ask Rose, but it’s the police officer who answers.

“Public indecency,” she calls over her shoulder as she walks away. “She’s a pain in the butt, that friend of yours.”

Humming, Rose skips over to the cell bench, her boots lightly scuffing the floor. “I’m beginning to think that no one appreciates me.”

The door down the hallway slams shut, making me jump.

“I once heard that a good friend is always ready with bail money.” Rose leans back against the cement block wall, hands behind her head. “But agreatfriend will be sitting in the cell with you.” She lowers one hand to pat the empty spot next to her. “Might’ve been a Hallmark card.”

Wordlessly, I sit down next to her.

“Either way, that greeting card platitude is a damn sight more informative than that lame-ass letter you wrote.” She arches one blond brow in my direction, making me cringe.

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