“I think that’s between us,” I say.
“You know my sister is very special to me,” Xander says. “And she’s not as tough as she looks. She’s going to test you. She has a hard time letting people in. We both do. And I swear to God, if you do anything to hurt her … well, I don’t care who the hell you are. I can do some scary shit with my clippers.”
“I don’t doubt that.” I bite my lip because, although I’m sure he’s being sincere, the Ferris Bueller costume is ruining it for me.
“But Xander, it’s not just up to me. It’s up to her. I’m crazy about her. If I haven’t made that clear enough already, I intend to do my best to remedy that.”
“Good.” He nods. “We’re good. Now you better get your ass into that costume she made for you before the guests start knocking the door down.”
He’s right. There’s a line forming out front.
Once inside, I look around for Georgia. Is there time to talk to her before the event begins?
“Hudson, you better get dressed! I put your costume in your loft.” Ashley is carrying a clipboard with sign-up slots for loft tours.
“Go light some candles in the breezeway! We’re almost ready to begin.” She barks an order at one of the interns from the management team.
Then Ashley shoves me inside the elevator. In the last seconds before the door closes, I see a green-winged fairy flit by and I recognize her. My battle pixie. But the elevator is already on its way up, and I’m already running so late. I need to get into my costume.
Perhaps she’ll like me better when I’m dressed up as her Ragnar.
georgia
The next hour is a blur.The uncles have me plating food. Emily asks me to sprinkle confetti in the bid envelopes. I fetch ice for a cooler full of “pupcicles” and grant permission to one of my cat toy vendors to place tins of catnip-stuffed “anchovies” on each table.
Angie asks me to help her tie her den mother kerchief and then excuses herself to check on the pet valet attendants. Someone scanned her entire photo album for a slide show. Kismet’s greatest success stories are being projected on giant screens all throughout the venue.
As we get closer to opening the doors to the public, Jackson and the livestream crew make their rounds from area to area. Periodically, they give me the thumbs-up sign, which I take as a good sign.
I’m too busy to check the site, but Xander assures me it’s all set up for the livestream, online bidding, and the costume contest.
The only person I haven’t run into again is Hudson.
When I make my way back to the table up front, Xander grabs my arm. “Thank goodness you’re here. We need more help with check-in!”
“I should probably check on Cookie,” I protest. “She’s been up in the roof garden for a couple of hours already.”
“I’m pretty sure Cookie is having the time of her life.” He points to a chair, inviting me to take a seat. “I was just up there, and she had four people playing fetch with her. We need you here, G. It’s showtime!”
“Wait, where are you going?” I ask.
“To greet my fans!” Xander rolls his eyes. “Can you believe Mac made me a step-and-repeat banner? I’m doing photos and signing autographs.”
Out front, I spy Mac’s flaming-red hair, which even a surgical cap cannot fully contain. He’s rocking a sexy doctor costume. I wave hello to him, and he smiles widely and waves back.
“He sold so many tickets,” Xander gushes. “He hit up all of his patients.”
“Mac’s been so generous. I don’t know what we would have done if he hadn’t opened up space in his clinic for the last few months.”
“He’s all right.” Xander smiles. “I think he’s actually going to miss it a little when the shelter reopens.”
“I’m so happy you have him,” I say. “At least I don’t have to worry about you being homeless if all this doesn’t pan out.”
“Are you kidding me?” Xander’s mouth is hanging open. “Are you really sitting here, still worrying about losing the house?”
“I know everyone’s doing their best,” I say, “and I think it’s awesome. But do you have any idea how much it costs to relocate a shelter?”
“Uh … yeah, I have some idea,” he says.
