The dance had started out perfect.

You’d never really felt beautiful before—at least not in a way that felt like you. But the moment you stepped out of the little makeshift dressing room at the Jackson community center, wearing that forest green dress, low-cut and flowing just right, you felt it. Kat’s jaw dropped like something out of a movie, her eyes trailing up and down your body before she gave you that lopsided, tattooed smile.

“Damn, babe,” she muttered, pulling you in by the waist, “you tryna kill me tonight?”

Her arms stayed wrapped around you like that the whole walk over, even when Jesse yelled from across the street about how you two looked like trouble. You didn’t care. Not when her warmth against your back made you feel safe. Not when Kat’s mom had pressed a container of dumplings into your hands earlier that afternoon with a soft kiss to your temple and a, “You let me know if he says anything again, okay?”

But then… he did say something again.

It was during one of the slow songs. Dina had just kissed Ellie right in the middle of the dance floor, and people actually cheered—because everyone knew, and most everyone loved them. But not him. Not Seth.

You hadn’t even noticed he was there until his voice cut through the music like a blade.

“Disgusting,” he spat, and it wasn’t even under his breath. “Place is turning into a goddamn freak show.”

Joel was on him fast. You barely saw it. One second the music was playing and people were laughing, and the next, Joel was grabbing Seth by the collar, shoving him back and telling him off in that growl he used when he meant business.

“She’s your daughter,” Joel snapped, his voice low but dangerous. “You ever talk like that in front of her again, I’ll put you through a damn wall.”

Seth looked stunned—but only for a second. His eyes found you next, narrowing on the dress, the way Kat had her hands firm on your hips, her chin resting on your shoulder like she owned the spot.

“You look like a whore,” he muttered. “Just like her.”

That’s when Kat moved.

She didn’t hit him—not like you kind of wanted her to—but she stepped between you and him, arms spreading slightly, like a shield. Her voice was quiet but brutal.

“She’s not yours,” she said. “Not anymore. And if you can’t see how lucky you were to be her dad, then maybe your wife had the right idea leaving.”

You had never seen your father look so small.

Maybe it was Joel behind him, glaring. Maybe it was Kat, fierce and steady and wrapped around you like armor. Maybe it was you, finally standing tall in a dress that made you feel more like yourself than he ever did. But either way, he walked out.

Didn’t say another word.

And when the doors slammed shut behind him, Kat looked at you, her hands still on your waist.

“You okay, babe?” she asked, brushing her thumb gently over your side. “’Cause we can leave. I’ll take you home and make you dumplings and you don’t have to see his face again.”

But you shook your head.

“No,” you said. “I wanna dance.”

Because for the first time in your life, you weren’t hiding. Not who you were, not who you loved. You had a girl with tattoos and fire in her heart wrapped around you. You had Joel in your corner, Ellie and Dina dancing again with big goofy grins. You had Kat’s family who fed you, loved you, claimed you.

Seth might’ve been your father.

But they were your family now.