Free Lennon's Jinx by Chris Myers

believe you.”
    “I
didn’t even take advantage of the completely blitzed Iz and Gabby the other
night.” Not that I didn’t consider it.
    “They
did not hit on you.”
    “Don’t
get your panties in a wad. You have nothing to worry about. I’d never touch them
or you.”
    Her
tiny fists knuckle against her small hips. “Why, I’m not good enough?”
    Ah,
she is interested. “Of course not. Little girls like you are great fun for a
big guy like me.” Now I’ve done it.
    Her
face lights up like the aurora borealis. Flames shoot everywhere. “Keep your
distance, or I’ll find another drink to throw on you.”
    I
shake like a wet dog. “I’m scared. It’s not the first time a girl has dumped a
drink on me, and it probably won’t be the last.”
    “You’re
a pig.”
    “Thank
you.” For some reason, it bugs me that she thinks I’m one, but she’ll never
know that. Currie’s normally right when it comes to working with people, but my
lips can’t seem to form I’m sorry again. It was hard enough to say it the first
time, and Jinx certainly doesn’t make it easy. She hasn’t mentioned the roses,
and she’s had plenty of time.
    “What
do you have to wear to the wedding? The slutty outfit will work great for the
clubs, but this is a black tie affair.” Though I’m surprised she wore it and
came alone to the audition.
    “I’ve
got dresses,” she says in a haughty tone.
    “Bring
them and shoes tomorrow afternoon. We’ll need to approve them first.”
    “You’ve
got to be joking.”
    “No.
I’m not.”
    I
open her car door that squeaks so loud it could be used in a horror movie for
special effects.
    “I
can get that myself,” she says.
    “Okay.”
I slam the door shut.
    She
huffs and reopens the door.
    “Why
did you dress that way if you were afraid to come here?” I ask.
    Her
face puffs up. “I really need this job.”
    “Honestly,
you would’ve gotten it based on your talents,” I say, walking away from her.
    “Really?”
she asks in her usual timid voice.
    I
don’t turn around. “Yes, really.”
    I
slide into my SUV and fiddle with the glove box while waiting for her car to
stutter to life. Once she’s headed down the road, I pull out. I’d hate for her to
be stuck at the back of the warehouse after dark, even if she is a pain in my
ass.

 
CHAPTER
SEVEN
LENNON
     
    That evening, I hold Currie’s
hand to escort her backstage to the recital. She’s decked in a fluorescent pink
tutu.  
    “You
can’t let Jinx wear any old dress to that wedding,” Currie says. “She has to
match you guys.”
    “You’re
right,” I say, fantasizing about spending the day shopping with Jinx in Chicago.
“I’ll text her later to let her know the good news.”
    “Zoe
and I will help, so don’t worry.”
    Even
better, Jinx will see me with the girls and know I’m not a scary guy.
    Soft
cries come from the dumpster on our way to the staging area of the theater
where all the little ballerinas crowd together, wearing bright costumes. Currie
tugs free from my handhold and races for the trash bin.
    Despite
the fact she’s wearing one of her coveted recital outfits, she goes dumpster
diving and yanks out a box of kittens. I amble over to help her down from the
bin. Something greasy smudges her tutu. I try to clean it off with Kleenex, but
it’s not working.
    Currie
caresses one of the little fur balls.
    “Don’t
touch them,” I say, calling the Humane Society, which is on my favorites list.
This isn’t the first rescue mission I’ve been volunteered for. Harry being one
of them.
    She
picks up another kitten. Its tabby fur is matted down, and its eyes are gummy
with goo. “Can we keep one?”
    “Put
it down,” I say to her before telling Kiki at the shelter our location.
    That’s
right. We call so often I’m on a first name basis with half of the staff there.
    When
I get off the phone, I say, “You weren’t scratched or bitten were you?”
    She
suspiciously sucks her finger.