Page 64 of Space Oddities

“Yes.” A small laugh. “Can you believe it? She surprised me. Found me waiting in the back and kept me company while I waited for—well, Rose kept me company.”

The knives dig in deeper. I spin around, nearly taking out yet another couple, and walk fast through the lobby. “Why are you at valet?”

“Well, you seemed so busy, and there are so many people…” She clears her throat. “There really doesn’t seem to be any reason for me to stay.”

She didn’t see any reason to stay? Am I not a reason? No, the problem is because I didn’t give her a reason.

Because I’m an idiot.

“I’m going to sleep at Rose’s tonight, so don’t worry about me. You can, um, do whatever you need to there. Or want to, I guess.”

Brushing past the sloth-like doorman, I push open the heavy glass doors. The first thing I see is Rose, larger than life and hands on hips, sparkling under the lights of the Ritz’s porte-cochère. It isn’t until she flips her hair to the right that I notice Trish, standing off to the side, shoulders curled in, the arm not holding the phone to her ear wrapped around her waist.

“Is that Captain Asshole?” I hear Rose both in person and through the phone. “You should tell him—”

“Rose, hush,” Trish admonishes with a wave of her hand.

I take a few quick steps and she’s within touching distance. “Trish.”

“Ian!” Startled, Trish drops her phone, fumbling with it like a hot potato until she finally grabs it tightly, bringing it to her chest. “You scared me.”

I place my hands on her shoulders, hating the way they’re still hunched. “I’m so sorry.” I don’t know if there are enough sorries to go around tonight.

“Where’s your date?” Rose’s sarcastic comment makes Trish flinch, so I know Rose didn’t mean her. Rose is tapping her foot awaiting my answer, setting everything else about her to jiggling.

Out of politeness, I keep my eyes on the top of her closer-to-God hairdo. “Brenda?”

“Brenda.” Rose snorts. “Of course her name isBrenda. That’s so…” She huffs, not finding the word she was searching for. “Whatever. Brenda’s a stupid name.”

“She’s not my date, she’s just a family friend. I’ve known her since high school.”

“I see.” But Rose’s tone implies she doesn’t see at all. “And did you escort thisfriendinto the event and seat her next to you by accident, or did you deliberately replace your real date because your daddy said so?”

“No,” I grind out before turning back to Trish. “It wasn’t like that. Really. I didn’t mean…” I run a hand through my hair. “Her family was invited upstairs to the suite after the picture was taken. We just happened to all go downstairs at the same time.” I know that isn’t precisely true, but I don’t think telling Trish that my family purposefully stashed her in a corner because they thought I could do better is going to help my cause.

I search for anger or a hint of forgiveness in Trish’s expression, but there’s nothing. It’s as if her features have been carefully schooled to blanket her true feelings.

I squeeze her shoulders tighter. “I looked for you before we went in. I was told you’d be by the door but—”

“Car’s here!” Rose calls out triumphantly.

Trish takes a step forward, but I shift my weight. “Please don’t go. Iamsorry.”

The blank façade breaks, and Trish gives me a small smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Nothing to be sorry for.” Her voice is unnaturally bright. “You can have yourself a swell time at your father’s fancy shindig, and I’ll spend the night with Rose.” She smiles brighter. “We can see each other later.”

“Not necessary.” I let go of Trish and dig in my pocket for the valet tag, walk over, and hand it to the kid holding Rose’s door open. Along with a c-note to get him moving. The young man looks at his palm and takes off. “I’m leaving too.”

She frowns after the sprinting valet. “But I thought you wanted—”

“Coming here was a mistake. I’m sorry.” I can’t help but laugh. “Jesus, I’m sorry for this whole fucking night.”

“Are we leaving or what?” Rose breaks in, stepping up to her car.

I want to beg Trish to come with me, say sorry a few more times, but I bury the urge. If Trish wants to go with Rose, I won’t blame her. I have no one to blame but myself for how tonight turned out.

Trish searches my eyes for something, though I’m not sure what. Thankfully, after a moment she looks at Rose and shakes her head.

Rose rolls her eyes. “Figured.” They hug, and Rose whispers loud enough for me to hear, “Remember, I own a lot of private land and a bunch of shovels.” She narrows her eyes at me over Trish’s shoulder. “All you need to do is say the word.”

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