Page 39 of Perfect Enough
Sophia turned around and pointed at her cousin. “Go away.”
Karen’s eyes went wide. “I’m sorry?”
“Just leave us alone, will you, Karen? Josh ismydate, not yours. I’ll introduce him when I’m ready.”
“I was only trying to help.”
Sophia and I both stared at her. Was this girl for real?
“I’m suddenly not feeling well,” Sophia whispered.
“We should probably leave then,” I said, as I took her hand in mine. “If you’ll excuse us, Karen.” Sophia and I walked into the ballroom. We hadn’t even had a chance to find the table we’d be sitting at. “Should we let your mother know you’re feeling ill?” I asked.
Sophia looked conflicted. It seemed like part of her wanted to bolt, and the other half wanted to find her mother and sic her on Karen. “Um,” she whispered, looking around the ballroom.
It was then I overheard someone say, “She hasn’t been the same since her father killed himself.”
Turning, I shot the older couple a dirty look.
“Just ignore them, Josh,” Sophia said softly as she continued to search the room. “There she is.”
I followed her over to where her mother stood with a man who appeared to be about her same age.
“I wondered where you two went,” Gloria said as she smiled at us. When she looked at Sophia, her smile faded. “Is everything okay?”
Nodding, Sophia forced herself to smile. “Josh, this is David Walker. David, this is Josh Shaw.”
David’s brows shot up. “Are you related to the Shaw family here in Hamilton?”
“Yes, I am.”
He grinned. “Which one is your father?”
“Ty Junior.”
David laughed. “I went to school with him and your uncle Brock. Great guys.”
“Yes, sir, they are.”
“Mom, I’m not feeling well, so we’re going to go ahead and leave.”
Gloria instantly looked concerned. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m getting a migraine and feel sick to my stomach.”
Looking at David, then back to her daughter, she said, “We can drive you home.”
“No!” Sophia quickly said.
“Sophia, you can’t drive if you’re getting a migraine. You know how bad they can get, and it’s been since…well…it’s been a while since you’ve had one.”
“She’s staying with me tonight,” I interjected. With my arm firmly around her waist, I felt Sophia stiffen.
“Oh. I see,” Gloria said, a wide smile replacing the look of concern. “Cold compression on her eyes and the back of her neck often help.”
Nodding, I said, “I’ve got it covered, please don’t worry.”
“If you need anything, you let us know,” David said.