Page 104 of Personal Foul
Cameron stifles a laugh behind me, while Mom looks scandalized. “Fine. You have five minutes.”
Victoria gives Mom a mock salute and pushes through the doors, Cameron and I following close behind her. We spill into the hallway, all of us looking side to side. Victoria grabs my arm. “I’ll check the ladies’ room. You guys split up and look in the hallways. I doubt she’s gone far. And if she didn’t grow up coming to these things, I don’t know that she would think to go into the service hallway or the kitchens.”
I shake my head. “No. I don’t think she would do that either. She’ll be in one of the public parts of the hotel if she’s not in the bathroom.”
I head to the right, and Cameron and Victoria head left. It doesn’t take long for me to complete a sweep of the immediate vicinity, turning to head back for the doors we came out of. There’s no sign of Charity, but there’s not really anywhere for her to hide here either. Hopefully Victoria found her in the bathroom.
But when I stop in front of the doors, Victoria’s headed toward me, alone. A second later, Cameron reappears from around the corner, shaking his head in defeat.
“You guys go back in. You can’t miss the toasts. I’ll check the lobby. Like you said, she has to be here somewhere.”
Victoria grabs my sleeve as I turn to walk away. “You know Mom will have your head if you miss the toasts too.”
“Mom’s already pissed at me. Adding more fuel to the fire won’t make that much difference. Let me know if I miss anything awesome.”
Victoria laughs, releasing my sleeve and nudging me in the direction of the lobby. “Alright. Go. Hurry back once you find her.”
I nod, but I have a feeling that we won’t be going back to the party.
Hurrying through the hallways, glancing into the lobby bar just to make sure she’s not in there, I breathe a sigh of relief when I catch sight of her waiting in line at the front desk. She stands with her shoes dangling from one hand, her other arm crossed protectively in front of her body. She looks lost.
“Charity!” I call, my voice echoing off the marble tiles.
Her head jerks up, her eyes widening as she sees me. She starts shaking her head, and I see her lips forming the words, “no, no, no,” before I hear them. She holds out her hand as though to stop me. “Dylan, no. You need to go back to the party. That’s where you belong.”
Slowing, I come to a stop in front of her, my forehead wrinkled in confusion. “I’m not going back in there without you.”
For some reason, that makes her look even more distressed. “It’s your sister’s engagement party. You have to be there.”
“I’m well aware that it’s my sister’s engagement party. But if you think that party is actually for my sister, you are mistaken. That’s my dad’s gubernatorial race kickoff party.”
Now it’s her forehead furrowing. “Seriously? I knew they were using the party to make different connections. But I didn’t realize they were going to hijack it that badly.”
Nodding, I stuff my hands in my pocket to keep myself from reaching for her. From her body language and her protest, I get the distinct feeling that she wouldn’t welcome my touch right now, even though it kills me. I want nothing more than to fold her into my arms and tell her that everything will be okay. That I don’t care about my parents or their politics or even about missing my sister’s engagement party. Victoria understands. More than anyone.
But I’m not sure she would hear me. Or believe me.
“What are you doing?” I gesture at the front desk. “Planning on getting a room?”
She scoffs. “No. I don’t even know how much the rooms here cost, but I know I can’t afford one. No, I was going to call my mom to come pick me up.”
I jerk back in surprise. “What? You were just going to leave? Without telling me?”
Her hands lift in a gesture of helplessness. “What was I supposed to do, Dylan? Make a scene? If I told you I was leaving, you would insist on coming with me.”
“Damn right I would.”
She ignores my interjection. “Your parents have made it abundantly clear that I don’t belong here. As though I didn’t already know anyway. I never belonged here. No amount of dresses or shoes or coordinating handbags would change that fundamental reality. I’ve never belonged in your world, Dylan. Not in high school. Not in college. And definitely not now with my dad apparently days away from being charged.”
I rock back on my heels. “Did your mom tell you that?” I really hope the answer is yes. Because the only other way she would know is if she heard my mom say that.
Shaking her head slowly, her mouth forms a silent, “No.” She clears her throat and looks away. “I was sitting in the hall for a few minutes. Just to rest my feet and get away from the crowds.”
I nod my understanding, waiting for her to continue.
“Your dad was out there too. Talking to some other people. But he saw me.”
She falls silent, and I wait for her to continue. But when she doesn’t, I prompt, my voice raw, “What did he say to you?”
