Page 11 of Space Oddities

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“Did you ever look for her?” Jackie’s voice is soft.

Filling up my glass, I try for an unaffected tone. “Nope.”

Rose grabs the bottle back. “Her loss.”

“Our gain,” Jules adds, popping the cork.

Jackie side-hugs me awkwardly on the floor.

I’m going to miss these girls.

Four

Nadir

Ian

“Hello?”

“Ian. It’s Gale. I have your father on the line.” With a click, my father’s secretary connects the call.

I shift in my bare feet and rest my forehead against the locker in front of me. I shouldn’t have answered. I only have so much time before I need to pick up Trish from dress shopping. I wanted to make the most of it with a swim workout to burn off my frustration with Trish.

“I’m bringing someone to the fundraiser.” My father’s voice cracks across the line. He never bothers with pleasantries. “Make sure you’re ready to make a good impression.”

“Had to round up a date for yourself? Did Mom finally leave you?” Though I know that isn’t possible, one can hope.

“Don’t be a smart-ass. She’s for you.”

I figured. “Don’t bother. I’m already bringing someone.”

A moment of silence, followed by, “What do you mean, ‘you’re bringing someone?’” My father does not like his plans interfered with. But just as he strategizes his political career like a game of chess, I’ve learned to do to the same with my life. The best offense starts with the best defense.

“What with our last conversation, I thought you’d be pleased that I’m introducing you to the woman I’m dating.” I nod at Ricky, one of the dive specialists at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab, when he walks into the locker room.

“And just who is this woman? Who’s her family? Where’s she from? What does she do?”

I remain silent, not because I’m trying to be a brat, but because I don’t know the answers. Pissing off my dad is just a bonus.

“You can’t date just anyone, son. We have a reputation to uphold.”

Ignoring his use of the royal we, I pivot the conversation. “What time do I have to be at the event?”

“Gale set up a photo op for us in the ballroom at six, before the dinner begins.”

Gale. My dad’s long-time chief of staff and sometime fuck buddy. I learned that last tidbit of information the hard way when I walked in on them going at it in his office in the middle of my fifteenth birthday party laser tag battle.

A memorable birthday, to say the least.

“We’ll be there.” Before he can ask more questions that I probably can’t answer, I hang up.

“Hey man, you ready for a swim?” Ricky asks as I place my phone in the locker and slam it closed.

Agitation funnels through my muscles, and I shake out my arms before stretching them overhead. It’s going to feel good burning off this energy. “You ready to lose again?”

“Aw, man.” Ricky shakes his head. “You keep trash talking and I’ll revoke your pool privileges.”

“Nah, you won’t.” I smirk at him.