Sparks - Wendy Higgins Page 0,32
selfish, but this was beyond low. And despite all of that, I really hoped she wasn’t in danger. I recalled how those two guys were sandwiching her at the bar and the room began to spin. Way too much vodka in a short time.
I rubbed my forehead with my fingers. “They’re probably double penetrating her right now.”
“Whoa—”
“I know. I’ve never said those words before…double penetrating.” I shivered.
“Um, would you like to say it again?”
“No, that’s so dirty.” I sat up and grabbed the blanket, hugging it and trying to get those words out of my head. Wait, what the hell had I been talking about? I regretted those shots. “Anyway, Captain, how are you?”
“Fine. Boring compared to you. This week I’m supposed to be finding out my new duty station. If I stay here another stint, I’ll be back in the desert in two months. There’s also rumors about an international deployment which would come with an early promotion. No idea. The military does what they want with you.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “That has to be hard. Not knowing. Will your, um, fiancé and son come with you if it’s far away?”
He was quiet for a long pause, then nonchalantly pushed out the words, “Not sure. We’ll see.” He said it too lightly, as if he didn’t care, but I knew otherwise.
“I hope they do,” I said softly. “It hurts my heart to think of you being alone.”
He let out a long breath with a small groan at the end. “Harlow…”
“Yeah?” Uh-oh. My voice was breathy. I was lying down now and wriggling on the couch with the throw blanket like a kitten. I must have let out a mewl because Shawn made a manly little growling noise too.
“Don’t make that sound.” His own voice was pained and guttural.
“I didn’t mean to. I’m a little tipsy.”
“You’re killing me.”
I giggled.
“Ugh, not the giggling.”
“You’re so cute,” I said, not able to contain more giggles.
“Cut that shit out.”
“All right,” I laughed.
“Tell me about your apartment,” he said. “Where are you now?”
“I’m on the futon couch in our living room. Random furniture all around. The only other girls here are Holly and Cheryl. They’re asleep in the big room. There’s a really small room with bunkbeds, but it’s only used when lots of us are home. It’s the overflow room because the bunks are not so comfy. And then there’s the passion pit.”
“The what?”
I loved the silly interest in his voice. It made me giggle again as I looked at the door across from me.
“The passion pit is what we call the closet that we’ve turned into the make-out room.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
“Nope. It’s got a squishy twin pad with silky blankets. We strung some fairy lights, which have to go outside of the door to be plugged in. And there’s a red mandala tapestry tacked to the wall. If any of the girls brings someone home, that’s where they get to stay. I’ve never been in there.”
“That’s…God…”
I giggled again, but the room was really swaying now, and my eyes fluttered. “I should go.”
“Already?”
“Yes.” I snuggled the blanket close. “I really appreciate what you did tonight. You saved me.”
“That’s what friends do, right?”
“Right,” I said, pulling a face that I was glad he couldn’t see. “Good night, friend.”
He chuckled. “Night, Harlow. I’m really glad you reached out.”
“Me too.”
I hung up before either of us could say anything else. Maybe this had been why God introduced us—so Shawn could help me tonight. Yeah. That had to be it. My good buddy-ole-pal, Shawn. Friends forevah. My eyes fluttered shut.
A quiet whistle woke me, and I cracked my eyes open in the darkness. What the…?
Oh, I was on the couch entwined in the throw blanket. I kicked my way out of them and looked at my screen. A text from Beth.
OMG! I just saw this. Ru okay? I’m so pissed. I ordered your ride and the driver canceled but I didn’t hear it!
Before I could type a response, she texted again: Ru okay? Plz answer!
Ugh, she was worried. I couldn’t even be mad at the stupid hooch.
I’m okay, I sent. I got a ride.
Omg. Ok. On my way to the apt now.
I looked at the clock. 4:12am. The shower was going in the bathroom and I heard Cheryl zipping up her bag in the bedroom. I snuggled back down, still dizzy from my vodka hours earlier. I had dozed off again when the click of the door woke me. Beth tiptoed in