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“Well I will be by your side all night long, looking after you, and we are going to have fun.” She links her arm through mine. “The car will be outside in a moment. So, let’s hold our head up high and have a blast. Remember what a kick ass business woman you are, what an incredible person you are, and how cool you are…”
I giggle allowing her words to wash over me. I don’t know if I fully feel that way myself but it’s always nice to be complimented by someone. And I do need it tonight more than ever to get me going.
“Come on then, let’s get going before I change my mind and sit on the couch at home in this dress.”
Me and Eve have a couple of drinks in the car on the way to the event which doesn’t necessarily give me a buzz but does take the edge off. The nervousness manages to dissipate, and an excitement takes its place instead. I feel good, this is going to be a good time, I am going to make sure that the world sees my head up high, my shoulders rolled back, the fact that I am still standing despite everything that has happened to me.
“Wow, this is nice,” I declare as soon as we enter the room. “Paige has done a good job of yet another charity event. She kicks ass, doesn’t she? We should go and find her and say hey.”
“Is that her over by the silent auction?” Eve points and I follow her eye line. “Yeah, that looks like her.”
“She’s doing another silent auction? Wow.” Although I suppose the disaster was more on my end than for the charity. Clearly it worked out well for Paige which is why she is doing it again. “Do I have to bid on something? Oh God, if so then I am doing it on my own this time. I can’t trust you again, Eve.”
She giggles and blushes, knowing that I am referring back to the blind date. “Okay sure, I understand. I can’t even argue with that since the date didn’t exactly work out like I thought that it was going to. You go ahead, I’m going to get us some more drinks. We need champagne to go with our amazing outfits.”
I let go of her and head over to Paige. My friend’s eyes light up the moment that she sees me, and she pulls me in for a hug that goes on for longer than I’m sure it would normally. I wonder if that’s because she has some guilt as well. Not that the sex tape was her fault, but her charity event started it.
“How are you?” I pull back and smile at her. “You look good, Paige. And you have pulled off another blinder.”
“Hmm, sure.” She nods and turns away from me. “Yep, sure have. Anyway, are you going to bid on something? You know that every penny is helpful for charity. The homeless always need something.”
“Well, when you put it like that, I don’t have a choice do I? Not that I mind. I’m going to take a look now and see what I can bid on. I’m hoping that there are some spa treatments in there or something.”
The way that Paige averts my eyes makes me thinks that there aren’t which is a shame, but then she has pulled off two incredible events in such a short period of time, so I guess it isn’t always the easiest to get the best prizes. I’m sure that I will find something that I want anyway so I’m not worried. And if not, I will donate regardless.
“I’m going to get some drinks,” she replies instead. “Do you want anything or does Eve got you?”
“Eve is already on it. I will come and find you around. I know you will be busy.”
Paige hugs me one more time before she leaves me alone with the auction. There are other people around, but I guess they aren’t ready to bid yet because I am the only one at the table. Sometimes it takes just one person to get the ball rolling and I don’t mind being that person for Paige.
I grab the pen and run my eyes over everything, drinking it all in as I go. Nothing stands out to me at first, I don’t get that burst of inspiration to bid on anything in particular, none of it feels right for me…
What the hell? All of a sudden, I spot something that makes my heart stop in my chest. I actually can’t believe what I am looking at. I blink a few times, sure that I must be dreaming, but the words don’t change. They remain there, taunting me, giving me a choice that I didn’t know I would ever have again.
