Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas

My father steps up behind us and Krisjen takes Liv’s hand, pulling her
away to get in position, and I watch her go, the dress on her unlike anything
here tonight. She’s the most beautiful.
“Ready?” My dad takes my hand, hooking it over his arm.
“For anything.”
The music starts playing, the line forms behind the stage, and I’m
tempted to push myself and my father back a few spaces, so we’re not front
and center and dominating attention like my outfit no doubt will, but what’s
worth doing once is worth doing big. I’m not hiding another second.
“Please welcome the Daughters of St. Carmen in the Ninety-Ninth
Annual Debutante Ball!” Mrs. Wentworth announces on the stage.
Three-two-one…
We walk, stepping out from behind the curtain together and keeping in
time, slow and steady, as I come into view and the applause suddenly falters.
My skin warms as everyone watches us, my dad and I both in suits, me in a
top hat, and then the clapping turns to whispers, because I’m the only one in
nearly a hundred years who’s broken protocol. I snort, nearly failing at
holding in my laughter, and I look up to Dad, seeing him look down at me
with a wink. What are they going to do? This isn’t even the fun part.
We descend the stage and stop in the middle of the dance floor, bowing to
the crowd. A full curtsy is customary next, and I oblige, dropping to the floor
and lowering my head.
The orchestra plays, and I rise, hoping Krisjen took care of the next part.
Finally, I hear it. “Uh…” Mrs. Wentworth clears her throat, composing
herself. “Miss…um, Miss Clay Collins, escorted by…” I hear a heavy exhale.
“Escorted by Olivia Jaeger.”
A few claps, but I don’t expect more and don’t wait for it as I watch Liv
walk around the dance floor and stop at my side, slipping her fingers between
mine.
I gaze at her, the way the string of little flowers drape off her shoulders
and down her arm. The way the dress hugs her body and only complements,
doesn’t hide. How she looks fantastic in a little pink, and I know, in this
moment, that I have no intention of looking into any other pair of eyes for the
rest of my life.
I ignore the heat of my grandmother’s anger I can feel somewhere in the
room. The camera phone here or there that’s probably documenting this. And
anyone who might be whispering or laughing, because my mom’s right.