Page 59 of Space Oddities

“That should be it.” The photographer lowers her camera. “I got some wonderful shots.” She nods at my father. “You have a beautiful family, sir.”

My father preens at her words while I try to unfreeze the forced smile from my face. It really did only take ten minutes, but those ten minutes felt like forever.

There’s a knock on the door, and I’m so beyond over being here with my father that it takes a second to register the familiar face that enters the suite.

“Ian?”

I blink, surprised. “Brenda?” The blond-haired, blue-eyed girl I knew from high school enters the room, followed by former Dallas Mayor McGowan and his wife— Brenda’s parents.

My father walks forward, hand outstretched. “Teddy. Glad you could come.” The two old cronies pump hands while my mother compliments Mrs. McGowan’s gown. Turning to my old friend, my father takes both her hands in his. “Brenda, dear, you look lovely.”

“Thank you, sir.” She smiles, but with the pinch between her brows, I can tell it’s forced.

“Call me Richard. After all, you’re all grown up yourself now, aren’t you?” He spreads his arms wide, forcing hers to do the same before looking her up and down. “Graduated from Baylor and now running charity functions in both Dallas and Houston.” He eyes me over his shoulder. “An impressive woman, eh?”

And here it is. I should’ve known something was coming when he didn’t make a fuss after I said I was bringing a datedespitehim wanting me to meet someone of his choosing. He let me think I got my way, then did what he wanted anyway.

My clenched fists practically vibrate.

“It’s good to see you, Bren.” I take a deep breath. Brenda and I both grew up in the shadows of politically important men, so she understands that my hostile demeanor has nothing to do with her and everything to do with our family dynamics. That understanding helped bond us as friends back in the day.

She grimaces as she’s passed from my father to my mother for a hug. More shoulder clapping and murmured compliments follow before Brenda can slip past them to stand next to me. Our parents continue their usual posturing. And though my father keeps trying to catch my eye to urge me forward, I don’t engage. I just watch the spectacle from a short distance away.

“It’s good to see you all, but I have to get back to my date now.”

My father dismisses my statement with a sip of his drink. “Now, now, Gale said the girl is fine, I’m sure she’s fine.”

I dismiss him right back. “Please excuse me.”

Brenda’s hand on my sleeve stops me. “Could I talk to you for a minute?” She gestures to the balcony behind us.

My father smirks at me from the bar, his earlier pique squashed at the sight of Brenda and me together. The drink in his hand is even slightly raised, as if he’s saluting his own machinations.

It’s enough to make me storm out, but the look on my friend’s face stops me. She was always there for me in high school, whenever the pressure from public life got to be too much. I’d be an asshole if I shook her off now.

Turning my back on my father, I lead Brenda out through the French doors, the warm, fresh air on my skin a relief after the stifling atmosphere inside. Reaching the railing, I look over, the lights of moving cars visible, but the traffic noise a distant hum from this height.

“I’m gay.”

I blanch, turning away from the view below to blink at my childhood friend. “Uh, okay.” When she continues to stare at me, I add, “Congratulations?”

That breaks her stone façade, the smile I remember from years ago making an appearance. “Idiot.”

We laugh, the awkwardness vanishing.

Shaking my head, I cross my arms and lean back against the railing. “Not that I’m not happy you confided in me, but is there a reason you needed to tell me you’re gay?”

“Because I’m hoping my sexual preferences will get you to stop your father’s rather obvious and archaic arranged relationship plan.”

“Ah.”

“Yes, ‘ah.’” Brenda steps up beside me, her eyes scanning the nighttime cityscape. “It took a lot of courage for me to come out to my super conservative parents, but I did. Dad took it better than I thought when I announced that not only am I gay but I’ve been dating a woman for over a year.” Brenda pauses to reflect. “It probably helped that he was already out of office at the time.” She nudges me with her shoulder. “But nowyourfather has him all riled up, trying to convince me that I should marry you and keep my girlfriend on the side.” Her knuckles whiten on the railing. “Like this is the 1950s or something.”

The familiarity of our friendship, based on each of us understanding what it’s like with parents in the public eye, falls over me like the well-worn country club blazer from my youth.

“I’m glad you came out, Bren. I was rooting for you.”

Her eyebrows jump up. “You knew?”

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