Page 94 of One Last Rodeo
I swallow hard and dial Raf's number without another thought.
“Hey,” he answers. "What's up?"
“You didn’t go out with Joel and Micah tonight?”
“The twins who keep getting arrested? Fuck, no.”
I chuckle. “Do you have June’s phone number?”
He pauses. “What the fuck?”
“Chill, angry cowboy. You know I wouldn’t do that to you.”
I hear him let out an almost imperceptible sigh through the line. “You're a dumb ass. She wouldn't go for you either."
"Yeah, we both know that's a lie. I'm everyone's type."
He scoffs. "She’s not your type. Why do you want it?”
“Just text me her damn number, asshole.”
He grumbles something that sounds a lot like ‘fine fucker.’I hang up before he can change his mind. A few seconds later, the number comes through. I don’t hesitate. I text it immediately.
Jensen:Hey June, it’s Jensen. Gotta question for you.
June:What’s up?
Jensen:Do you happen to have red nail polish?
June:Um, what now?
Jensen:Yes or no? Don’t make me hunt down your room.
June:Um, yes.
June: Oh my God. I freaking knew it!
Jensen:Say nothing to anyone or I'm going to start posting photos on social media and tag you so that people think you took the shitty ones I've taken and question your credentials.
June:Geez, that's a bit low even for you.
Jensen:I'm serious. She's already pissed off at me. If you start talking about it, she'll be even angrier.
June:Come get it from my room and I’ll paint it for you. Be warned. Noa’s in here.
I’m on my feet before the screen goes dark—sweatpants yanked on, T-shirt pulled over my head, bare feet padding down the hotel hallway like I’m afraid she's going to chuck the bottle of polish out the window if I don’t get there soon enough.
When I knock, June throws the door open, her grin bright enough to hurt.
“Come in. Have a seat." Her voice pitches higher. "Welcome toJune and Noa’s Nail Salon.”
I roll my eyes but step inside anyway.
“Hi Jensen!” Noa chirps, waving a pizza slice in the air from where she’s seated on the bed, her gaze fixated on the TV in the corner that appears to be playingReal Housewivesreruns.
I drop into the chair by the window, the small table between June and me is lit by the last streaks of Seattle daylight bleeding through the curtains. The skyline looks soft out there. Distant. It's nothing like the gorgeous sunsets we had in California during our short stay.
I wonder if Catalina's looking at a different view this evening. That makes me want to spend every sunrise and sunset with her even more. So that we never have to miss another one again.
