Page 51 of Space Oddities

“I highly doubt that,” Jackie says. “Day one you were inebriated and passed out.”

Rose rolls her eyes. “Fine. Maybe day two.”

Jackie opens her mouth again, but Rose waves her quiet. “Whatever. I’m just saying I knew first.”

Jules points a fork at Rose’s face. “Now wait a min—”

“Hold your damn horses.” I’m breathing hard as they stare at me in shock. “Youallknow?”

“Uh, yeah.” Rose says, ignoring both my rare use of expletives and obvious dismay. “Is that a problem?”

Before I can sort through the various emotions I’m feeling or find the words to answer, our waitress comes over. “Can I get you guys anything else?”

“Yes.” Rose glances at me. “Allthe alcohol.”

I nod vacantly. “And a straw.”

Thirteen

Payload

Trish

“I’m fine. Totally fine.”Hiccup. “Everything’s fine.”

Rose snickers in the back of Flynn’s Mustang. We had to take his car as Jackie’s restored ’62 ‘vette is a two-seater. It’s a symbol of just how much Flynn loves Jackie that he didn’t even blink when he turned over his keys to her after lunch.

Jules and Jackie smile like only sober people can at those who aren’t, seeing as they couldn’t drink today due to some sort of astronaut training tomorrow.

For the first time in our friendship, I’m the tipsy one. But after the bomb they dropped about Ian’s father, followed by them revealing theyallknow about my romance novelist alter ego, the anxiety wouldn’t stop climbing.

Hence the glass or two of champagne I knocked back at the bridal salon. For medicinal purposes, of course.

“Did you hear that, ladies?” Jules asks. “The porn writer is just fine.”

Throwing my shoulders back, I give Jules my haughtiest look. Which is somewhat hard to do as I’m still in sneakers, trying to look down my nose at her while looking up at her. “I’m aromanceauthor. I don’t write porn.”

“Okay, Shortstack.” Jules claps me on the back, causing me to stumble against the Mustang. “Whatever you say.” She leans down, whispering so only I can hear. “You may have come clean about a few things today, but you still owe me an explanation about the private eye, you know?”

I nod, the reminder sobering me some.

At the bridal shop, I’d told the girls what I told Ian. I grew up dirt poor. I write romance. And I once was a stripper.

Okay, so I haven’t told Ian that last part yet, but with the way my friends didn’t even bat an eye at my less than stellar origins, I’m feeling more confident about my newfound decision to confess to him.

Before, I had tried to play uninterested, avoiding the topic of Ian at all costs. But now that they think he and I are together, it’s easy asking the girls to tell me everything they know.

And so I heard how Ian has never dated anyone that they knew of. How Jules and Ian often lament their power-hungry, douchebag fathers. Jackie confessed that if it wasn’t for Ian helping her be less awkward at work when they were both EVA officers, she never would’ve had the courage to become an astronaut.

Rose, not to be left out, waxed poetical about Ian’s ass.

All of it making me like Ian that much more.

“Shortstack, you are the least fine I have ever seen you. But it’s a good look on you.” Jules hands me the keys to my truck, which she had to drive home from Boondoggles for me, then raps her knuckles on the top of Flynn’s car. “Pop the hood, hooker.”

“Do not mess with Flynn’s car, Julie Starr,” Jackie threatens, ruining the effect when she adjusts her glasses.

Hands up, Jules backs away toward the rear of the car. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Darling.”

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