Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 112884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” I reply softly. “You look just as amazing.”
“Please check and see what table you are sitting at,” Cheryl urges him, “and keep a dance open for each of us.”
He looks at both of us. “It’ll be my pleasure.” He nods before walking into the room.
I stand up with Cheryl, smiling and greeting everyone, and when I finally go in, the music is in full swing. I’m making my way to the table when I look to the side and see Trent with a group of his friends, walking out of the room toward the outside, probably to go and smoke the cigars he usually has. He hasn’t even come to look for me or check in on me once.
“If I can have everyone’s attention,” I hear Cheryl in the microphone, “and if I can get my co-chair up here.” She looks around. “And, of course, our ten bachelors up for auction.” She laughs as I make my way to the middle of the dance floor where she is. I look to the side and see Darryl coming from one side with Kirby beside him. “Our two co-chair bachelors,” Cheryl introduces them and Darryl goes to stand at her side and Kirby stands by mine. The rest of the guys line up beside them. “Thank you all for coming.” She starts her speech. “When Lexi and I came up with this idea, we didn’t know if we could pull it off. But Darryl was our saving grace.” She points to him. “He helped get us in touch with these fine men so that we can have what I think will be the best bachelor auction ever put on.” She laughs and I nod my head. “So get your checkbook ready.” She holds up her hand. “We will be opening the dance floor with the bachelors.” She nods to the DJ, who waits for her cue, starting a soft ballad. “Darryl,” she says his name, “you are my number one dance.”
I see Darryl put his hand out for her, while he puts his other hand on his stomach and bows just a little. “It would be my honor.” I watch them and then I hear him from beside me.
“So what do you say, Lexi?” Kirby says my name. “Care to open the dance floor with the second co-chair?” He holds out his hand. I look around to see if I spot Trent, then look back to him, the twinkle in his eye making my heart speed up. “I dare you.”
ten
Kirby
I stand next to her as Cheryl starts talking and I’ve never in my life felt a pull to someone like I do to her. Even though I know it can never go anywhere. Even though I know she’s not that person who would ever step out on her husband. Even though I know in a few weeks I’ll leave here and I won’t see her. The thought alone makes my stomach lurch.
I hear clapping and then look over to see Cheryl reaching for Darryl’s hand, leading her to the dance floor when I turn to Lexi. “So what do you say, Lexi”—she stops mid-clap to look at me—“care to open the dance floor with the second co-chair?” I smile at her, holding out my hand as she nervously looks around her. No doubt looking for that piece-of-shit husband of hers, who’s been mingling the whole fucking time, not once going to check up on his wife. Her hands are in front of her, one hand in the other, as she contemplates my question when I tease her, “I dare you.”
She smiles and looks down at her hands before she looks back up at me, side-eyeing me while she tries not to smile too big. “I mean, if it’s a dare,” she replies, reaching out her hand to put in mine. “I sort of have no choice but to dance with the bachelors.” She steps into me as my hand goes to the middle of her back. “I guess so.”
“Well,” I laugh, “I’ll take it.” She puts her hand on my shoulder as I sway her to the side. “On a scale of one to ten, how nervous are you?”
She chuckles. “A million.” She looks around at the dance floor that seems to be filling up faster and faster. “I think I’ll only be able to do a sigh of relief once the bidding is over, and we see how much we’ve raised.”
“I don’t know how the last one went, but from the looks of this place”—I look around at the decorations—“it’s kicking the last one’s ass.” I laugh.
“You just said you didn’t know how the last one even went.” She shakes her head. “So you can’t compare it.”
“Well, I think this one is going to be better than the last one because you put your heart and soul into it.” I pull her even closer to me. “All of the touches with the dances, the videos, the silent auction. Look around, everyone is having a great time and you did that. It’s just—” She looks up at me and I can see the compliments are all new to her. “You look beautiful,” my mouth says before I have a chance to stop the words from coming out of it. Her smile goes sideways as if she’s embarrassed.