Page 63 of Space Oddities

I stand.

“What are you doing?” My father’s hurried voice is as much of a whisper as his annoyance will allow. “Sit down.”

When I answer, I don’t feel anger or frustration. I just feel done. “No.” The word frees a lifetime of baggage off my shoulders. “I’m going to find my girlfriend.”

Before my now wide-eyed father can retort, Brenda pipes up. “And just so you know, I’m a lesbian.”

Brenda’s father chokes on a sip of whiskey, and her mother drops her chin to her chest with a sigh.

Gale crosses something out on her clipboard. Probably Brenda’s name.

A mottled red flush that matches the hue of Trish’s shoes creeps up my father’s neck. Mother presses harder on the tablecloth.

Laughing, I lean down and kiss Bren’s cheek. “We’ll have to get together sometime and introduce each other to our girlfriends.” I pause. “Somewhere private. Just us.”

She smiles, patting my hand resting on her shoulder. “I’d love that.”

The rest of the table is unnaturally quiet when I leave, though I can feel my father’s eyes boring into my back as I walk away.

I couldn’t give one fuck.

* * *

I can’t find her.

I did go to the bar, despite the condemnation of Gale’s suggestion, because anyone normal would need a drink to deal with this shit show. She wasn’t there. Or in the bathrooms either.

I’ve called and texted her what seems like a million times, but no answer.

I’m about to interrupt my father mid-speech and ask him where the fuck my girlfriend is when I see the bodyguard standing by the ballroom doors.

“Where’s Trish?”

Besides one eyebrow arching up, the man doesn’t answer.

I’d be impressed with his poise if not for the feeling of foreboding building inside me. “Where. Is. Trish?”

A few people turn to look. We’re far enough from the stage that my father’s speech hasn’t been interrupted, but the nearest tables to the door are distracted.

The bodyguard sighs. “I walked the lady in question into the ballroom and dropped her by the bathrooms at the back as ordered.” He tips his chin back where I just came from.

Dropped. Ordered. These words dig at me like knives. “And then you justleft?”

Another sigh. “Yes. My orders didn’t include babysitting her for the night.”

I clench and unclench my fists a few times, trying to push back the fury rising up inside. I can’t tell who I’m madder at, my father or myself.

I’m about to yell just for the hell of it. Just to piss off the people pissing me off, when my phone rings. Slipping it out of my breast pocket, I’m relieved to see Trish’s name.

I step around the taciturn bodyguard, exiting the room and sliding my thumb across my phone screen. “Trish?”

“Hey there.” Her voice sounds softer, more a whisper than her usual light, southern lilt.

“Where are you?” I pace in front of the ballroom doors, blocking a few people from entering, but not caring.

“Rose and I are waiting for valet.”

I stop in my tracks, forcing a couple behind me to pivot last minute so they don’t run into me. “Rose?”

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