Page 112 of Space Oddities

“Considering the lack of condom, there’s a good chance we might just have to write our own story.”

He glances down at my stomach, as if envisioning our baby there. His smile is wide and bright. “Yeah?”

“Yep. And besides, as a writer I know that there is only one hard and true rule.”

“And what’s that?”

“A happily ever after.”

We both stare at each other, basking in the moment, too happy to be embarrassed about how corny we are right now. My hands on his waist, him cradling my jaw, we keep eye contact, slowly leaning toward each other.

And just before our lips meet— someone bangs on the door.

“Get your slutty ass out here, T.D.” Rose’s voice booms into the night. “Julie freaking Starr, maid of honor from hell, says we have to do something called a reception line into the barn now that Jackie and Flynn are done with pictures.” She mumbles something about everyone sneaking off to have sex but her. “Get a move on!” She bangs one last time before her footsteps retreat from the trailer.

Sighing, Ian hugs me to him, kissing the top of my head. “We need to add a step to our plan.”

“What’s that, sugar?”

“Get Rose a man.”

I bark out a laugh, even my romantically-inclined imagination failing to come up with a man who could handle all that is Rose West. “How about we start checking off the other things first?”

“Like what? Marriage?”

I lick his collar bone. “Baby.”

His body tenses for a moment before springing into action. Once more I’m in his arms, though instead of the kitchen counter, he takes two steps to the left, laying me down on the bed. “Sounds good to me.”

Smiling, I talk into his neck between kisses. “What about the reception?”

Once more his belt hits the floor. “It’ll be fine.”

Epilogue

Sequel Bait

Ian

“How’s thepampered life in first class?” Bodie leans over the empty aisle seat next to me.

Trish’s seat.

“Just fine, thank you.” And it is true. So far this flight is going a hell of a lot smoother than the one from Atlanta to Houston.

Maybe it’s because this plane is a beast, nearly twice as long and twice as wide as the small puddle jumper plane I took just a few days ago.

But most probably it’s because the Xanax Dr. Brown prescribed for me kicked in while I was sitting at the gate.

No more bouncing legs or nervous sweats. It’s a weird feeling, because although the dose isn’t high enough to make meforgetI’m in a small space, it makes me oddly undisturbed by it.

“Yeah, I bet.” Bodie slides into the leather recliner that is more like a fancy cot than an airplane seat to let the last of the people boarding pass by on their way to coach. “And here I thought your recent promotion wouldn’t change you. But the first chance you get you’ve separated yourself from the riffraff.” He thumbs back toward coach where he and the rest of the NASA contingent heading to Germany sits.

“Yeah, yeah.” I roll my eyes. “They haven’t given me the job yet.”

He scoffs. “Good as yours. Everyone knows it. Well-deserved too.” He gives me side-eye. “Just thought you’d like to sit with the rest of us poor civil servants.” He smirks. “You know, try bonding with your underlings and all.”

As government employees, our travel expenses are paid for by Uncle Sam. Which means coach and the lowest bidder. Unless you shell out the extra cash to upgrade. Which I did. “You’re never going to let me live this down, are you?”

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