Chapter 4 #2
Jess pulled on an old USC sweatshirt—the cuffs were frayed but it fit perfectly—and headed up to the roof.
She propped open the gate behind her and settled into an old lawn chair on the side of the building where the streetlight was out.
The night was warm, almost too hot for a sweatshirt.
Jess set up her telescope, running her hands affectionately over the black casing.
The night was clear, and Venus and Mars were side by side.
Sunside was far enough away from the big city lights that the stargazing was decent.
Before she looked through the lens, Jess tipped her head back and examined the sky with her naked eye.
The sight gave her a thrill every time. Hundreds of pinpricks of light …
or thousands, even, more and more the longer she gazed, looking back in time billions of years.
How many of those stars were gone now, their last rays of light still traveling across the unending blackness of space to this pale blue dot?
It made her feel insignificant but also in awe of the gift she had been given—a life, however brief, however tiny, a particular arrangement of atoms that allowed her to be here for a few breaths.
She put her eye to the lens.
And lost herself in the stars.
Jess dreamed of stars and planets, a spaceship adrift in the cosmos, desperate to reach home, all but lost to the infinite nothingness. The cockpit buttons beeped and flashed at her. She slapped at the controls, trying to make it stop. The beeping grew louder and more incessant.
She jolted awake and fumbled with her sleeping mask, squinting against the white light of her room.
She looked at her phone. Twelve texts. Oh shit. Horn Beach. The bus. Fuck.
Ten messages from Tania—Are you almost here?
Jess.
Jess???
Jess!!! Where the fuck are you?
Seriously, the bus leaves in five!
Hurry up!
The bus is leaving, Jess.
You’re not dead, right???
Winston says you’ll have to get a ride with Vivienne. She’s driving separately.
Jess!! TEXT ME BACK!
Jess’s brain spun. The bus had left half an hour ago. And she had to get a ride … with Vivienne? Oh hell no. Horn Beach was three hours away. Maybe more with traffic. Three-plus hours trapped in a car with Vivienne was a cruel and unusual punishment for sleeping in.
She also had a text from Winston—the league manager—confirming the plan, then another from a number she didn’t know.
This is Vivienne. Apparently I’m picking you up. What’s your address?
Jess stared at the message, dread building in her belly. This had to be a bad dream. She closed her eyes, willing herself back to the spaceship. It didn’t work.
She replied to Tania. I cannot sit in a car with her for three hours!
Well, you kind of have to … unless you rent a car and drive yourself but a) I don’t think you can afford that and b) it would look a little insane.
Only a little, though?
Jess. It’ll be fine. Just pretend to sleep or something.
Jess frowned. Not a bad idea, actually.…
Tell me how you missed the bus??? Is everything okay?
Ugggggh. So stupid. I slept through my alarm.
Were you at least up late having amazing sex or something?
Ummm yes?
Making love to your telescope doesn’t count.
Another text from Vivienne interrupted her snarky reply for Tania. Hello?? We need to hit the road. Traffic is going to be a bitch.
Jess fired back her address then replied to Tania. I gotta get moving.
See you in Horny Beach, space girl.
Vivienne replied. Can you be ready in fifteen minutes?
Jess chewed her lip. I need at least thirty.
I’ll be there in twenty.
Jess rolled her eyes. How was this happening? How could the universe play such a cruel trick on her? Ugh. Unfortunately, it was true that renting her own car would be insane. There was nothing to do but get ready. Vivienne would undoubtedly be there in twenty minutes. Nineteen now.
She sniffed her armpits. A shower would be ideal, but a fresh coat of deodorant would have to do the job.
Served Vivienne right for rushing her anyway.
Jess brushed her teeth, threw the rest of her things in her duffel, filled up her water bottle, tucked some banana bread into her tote bag, and scooped up Fleming.
“I thought you said eight?” Nelson said by way of a greeting.
“I did. I’m late.” Jess placed Fleming at Nelson’s feet.
“Okay, you be good for Nelson, do you hear me? When I get back I don’t want—” She turned as a person approached them from behind.
It was Vivienne. Her hair was loose and extra shiny, swinging in time with her steps and her jaw working a piece of gum.
Her romper was adorable, tie-dyed pink, her hands in the pockets, and lips and sunglasses a matching glossy pink.
She strutted along the walkway with the confidence of a runway model.
Jess suddenly felt like a cave troll again, hair up in a messy bun, wearing the shorts she had slept in, makeup free.
“Uh, hi,” Jess said, wishing she had at least brushed her hair.
Vivienne stopped. “Hi.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Picking you up?” Vivienne said, like Jess was slow.
“I know that. Why are you here, like … up here by my door?”
“What, was I going to honk from the street? I saw you come outside so I just … came to pick you up.”
Nelson looked back and forth between them, brows raised in amusement.
Jess shot him a warning look.
“And who is this gorgeous thing?” Nelson asked anyway.
“This is, uh … Vivienne.”
“Oh, Vivienne,” Nelson said, as if that was profoundly interesting. “You haven’t mentioned Vivienne before. And you two are…?” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Vivienne plays in the league,” Jess said quickly before Nelson could get any other ideas. “I missed the bus this morning so she’s giving me a ride.”
“Nice to meet you…?” Vivienne extended a businesslike hand to shake.
“Nelson. Neighbor and dog nanny. Girl, what moisturizer do you use? Your skin is glowing.”
Vivienne tilted her head. “That would be telling, wouldn’t it.”
Nelson studied her some more, face blank, but eyes glimmering. “You know what, I respect that.”
“And who’s this?” Vivienne crouched to pet Fleming, tossing her hair on the way down.
“Careful, he doesn’t like strangers.…” Jess started to warn, but Fleming wagged his tail and sniffed her hand like they were old friends. “Traitor,” Jess murmured.
“He’s precious.” Vivienne looked up. “What’s his name?”
“Fleming.”
“Hi, Fleming.” She gave him another head scratch. This time he licked her hand.
Jess frowned at him.
“I always wanted a dog growing up, but my sister was allergic.”
“Why don’t you have one now?” Jess wondered.
Vivienne shrugged and straightened. “I don’t know. I’m never home, he’d just be sitting alone all d—” She stopped. “I mean, I don’t think any of my neighbors are as helpful as Nelson.”
Jess’s throat tightened. Vivienne had to show up at her home now and criticize her pet ownership?
“We should go,” she said stiffly. She turned to Nelson.
“Thanks so much. We’ll be back by dinnertime tomorrow.
I’ll text you when we’re on our way.” She picked up Fleming for one more snuggle.
“Be good. No growling.” She kissed his head and passed him to Nelson, negligent-pet-owner guilt clogging up her throat, then hefted her duffel and marched toward the stairs.
“Nice to meet you, Nelson,” Vivienne said. “Fleming.”
Jess’s skin crawled. They could not get to Horn Beach fast enough.