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“We were doing so well.” She clucked her tongue disapprovingly, eyes crestfallen. “You’re finally dating a nice boy-”
“Marshall is a nice boy,” I fired back, not sure why I was defending an ex that turned out to be quite awful in the end.
“Marshall Kellerman is a car salesman.” She crinkled her nose with disgust. The only reason his occupation was relevant to her was because she ascribed worth to status. Scott made a good living, but he didn't come from the Ivy League, manicured lawns and mansions that came prepackaged with status.
The only good thing I could say about Marshall was that he worked hard to build his business, Kellerman Autos. Locations were scattered throughout the East Bay. Hard work meant very little to my mother. Last names and good social breeding did.
My mother tucked her pale blonde hair behind her ears, her sign of a subject change. “I've been learning all there is to know about Xander Wade and let me just say that I'm so happy for you, Penelope.”
“Can't wait for you to meet him!” I planted a smile on my face as I maneuvered past her, headed back toward the food. I gestured at the waiter who was standing near the pitcher of orange juice and the good stuff. Victoria finally noticed that there were other people in the room, flashing me one of the smiles she usually reserved for banquets held in her honor. She followed the road our parents dictated, and worked as a pediatrician for Stanford. The catch? I knew that in truth, she couldn't stand children.
“Come over here Penny! We were just talking about you.”
I kept my smile on and the apprehension at bay. My sister was wearing a similar getup as me, an ivory blouse with black slacks, but she looked anything but ordinary. She shone as brightly as the oversized rock on her finger.
Since she was being nice to me, her circle of friends were suddenly my best buds, pulling out a chair and smiling warmly as I sat down. They leaned in like they were waiting for me to tell them a secret.
My sister spoke first, her voice hushed and reverent. “Xander is freaking gorgeous.”
A flash of pride cut through me as I sipped my mimosa warily. “Thank you?” It was a question, because with them, it was always best to ask before you made any assumptions.
“It's absolutely a compliment.” She leaned over and awkwardly patted my arm before she retracted her touch. She beamed like she'd just done a public service by showing me kindness. “We were all just wondering—why was he at the club?”
Almost as if some director had called action, Lara stepped into view. Red dress, black shoes, and a glittering, devious smile. Satan had arrived.
“Strange, huh?” Lara piped. “The last place on earth that you'd expect to find someone that sexy. Let's face it, Xander Wade has no problems getting laid.”
When laughter flitted across the group, my cheeks flared indignantly. “I'm not going to talk about my sex life.” Or lack of one. Or the fact that technically, we're not really dating.
“Oh, you're finally interesting, Penny,” Victoria scoffed dismissively. “You've gotta give us something.”
“Yeah, Penny,” Lara egged her on, her tone a singsong nightmare that made me want to crawl out of my skin. “Why else would he be with you? You must be amazing in bed.”
“Fuck you.”
The two words were a whisper in my head, words I often fantasized about saying to her. But from the way the room went quiet, all eyes turning to me, I knew I'd done more than just thought it this time.
My throat ached and my hands were balled into fists.
I'd yelled it.
I blinked, emotion taking over as I looked into Lara's face, smug and victorious. I didn't waste anytime casting glances in my sister or mother's direction. I knew I’d find horror and anger burning as brightly as the embarrassment that turned my face red.
I stormed out the front door, chest heaving as I fought dueling urges to vomit or sob.
I forgot my jacket in the restaurant and I was far from one of those hardcore San Francisco natives that could rock short sleeves while the wind chilled to the bone. Going back in there was just not an option.
I started walking, no destination in mind. I could BART back to Hayward, slinking back to my apartment and avoid all wedding festivities until Saturday. If I did that, I couldn't say that I was different anymore; that I wouldn't let them put me back in the bathroom stalls of Presidio Heights High, eating my lunch on the toilet because I was afraid.
I couldn't, wouldn't run.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I reached for my phone, scrolling down my contact list until I reached 'X'. A text was safe, but I wasn't in the mood to wonder if he got it. Even if I got his voicemail, just getting this toxic crap out of my system would help me regroup before I headed back to the hotel.
It only rang once.
“Hi gorgeous.”
My face crumbled. “The lunch was awful and all I ate was a shrimp and all my mom cares about is the fact that you're a CEO, and Lara is going to dig and dig until she figures out that this isn't real-”
