Page 10 of Space Oddities

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Rose plucks a hanger from the rack, looking over the dress more closely. It’s still strapless, but at least this one is full-length. “I don’t know why you don’t just hog-tie the man and ride him into the sunset.”

When she looks up at me expectantly, I realize she’s talking to me. “Who, me?”

“Uh, yes. YouandIan.”

“I don’t hog-tie,” I say, trying to deflect. “You’re mistaking me for the West groupies over there.” I point to Jules and Jackie. “I’m from Georgia.” I study the coral fabric draped over my shoulders, not pleased with how the one-shoulder strap style makes my boobs look lopsided. “Besides,” I say, brushing off invisible lint on the thick strap, “I’m not interested.”

No one holds back their laughter.

I stomp my foot, and the narrow, spiked stiletto slamming into the carpet sends a shock of pain up my calf. “Dang it.”

“Watch yourself there, Shortstack.” Jules can’t stop laughing. “You’ll break a heel, and then where will you be?”

“In Munchkin Land with the rest of the Lollipop Guild,” Rose mutters, sending all of them into another fit of giggles.

I narrow my eyes. “I hate all of you.” Trying to walk in a dignified manner and not give in to a limp, I grab two dresses off the rack and storm into a fitting room.

Over time, they’ve gotten more and more of a kick out of teasing me about Ian. Jules is the only one who knows I’m staying with him. She’s surprisingly good at keeping secrets. Heaven knows what the other two would say if they knew my trailer was parked in Ian’s boat garage. I’d never hear the end of it.

But then again, I won’t have to. Jules is already setting up house with her boyfriend Holt and their pet cow, soon Jackie will be hitched, and Rose—well, I’m pretty sure Rose is well on her way to taking over the world.

And I’ll be… somewhere. Somewhere that isn’t here. Even Jules doesn’t know I’m set on leaving after the wedding.

I shake off my momentary blues and leave the dressing room, a smile plastered on my face and yet another god-awful dress threatening to trip me. Five mimosas later and still no closer to a decision on bridesmaid dresses, we’re sprawled out on the floor in a cloud of varying shades of coral chiffon. Well, all but Jackie, who’s still in her trademark ripped jeans and T-shirt. She flipped off her sneakers after her second mimosa. I’m sure the sales staff would normally be appalled if it weren’t for the West family name keeping them at bay.

“I love my brothers,” Rose says, “but I’ll take you guys as sisters over them any day of the week.”

Jackie, lying star-fish style, smiles. “I will be your sister, by law, in a few weeks. So there’s that.”

“Yeah, that’s cool.” Rose nods, eyes closed. “Always wanted a sister.”

“Only child here,” Jules adds, arms behind her head. “Don’t even know what having a brother is like.”

“I just always wanted a family.”Sugar. Why did I say that?

“Really?” Rose props herself on her elbows. “You mean you’re an only child too?”

I nod. “No parents either.” I shrug, my shoulders dragging across the plush carpet I’m sprawled out on.

“I get the no siblings, but how do you not have parents?” Jackie pushes up her glasses. “Oh, was the egg you grew from fertilized in a petrie dish?”

“What, like a test tube baby?” Rose asks, the question a bit slurred.

I snort, loving how Jackie’s mind works and how Rose’s filter doesn’t. “I don’t mean biologically.” I flick my high heels off. “I mean after I was born my mom left me with my grandparents. They raised me until they both died right after I graduated high school.”

In the following silence, I watch the chiffon fabric billow a little from the air conditioning vent blowing down from above us.

“That is some seriously depressing shit,” Jules finally deadpans. “I mean, I don’t get along with my parents, but at least I know where they are at all times. First rule of war, know where your enemy camps.”

“What about your dad?” Rose presses, eyes not leaving me.

I’m not sure what it is. The champagne, the girlfriend bonding, or the burr twitching under my skin that reminds me moments like this, with these women I’ve come to love, will be ending soon. But for once I don’t change the subject. Instead, I answer honestly. “Mom never told me who he was. And she never got in contact with Pops and Nana after she left.”

“Oh.” Rose’s eyes are as wide as her mouth.

“We need more alcohol,” Jules states, making me smile. “And FYI, you’re the winner of worst childhood. While we’re at it, let’s also blame your mother for your vertical challenges as well. Make her a well-rounded villain.”

Laughing, I flip her off before grabbing the champagne bottle from Rose.