While everyone was eating, the Drag Queen came out, as promised, and she wore high heels and a short, flouncy dress. Her hair was piled high on her head with a trail of curls down her back. She sauntered around and waved at people before taking the mic. “Hello, darlings…I’m so glad to meet you. I’m Mya Dinky, and I’m here to host this lovely breakfast.”
We gave her a round of applause and she bowed gracefully. “Just a reminder before we get started. This is all to raise funds for a worthy cause,The Trevor Project, so I expect those wallets to open up, y’all.”
There were some wolf-whistles amid the applause, and I was sure they were going to raise a good bit of money. “We have tip jars all ‘round the room…” She pointed to several places. “If you just want to stuff that cash in there, okay…you do that, Honeys. But we’re also going to do an auction. Mm-hmm…No, not me.” She fluttered her eyes and pressed a hand to her chest. “I’m so flattered, but no. We have other things to bid on, and our host Jax assures me that whatever you buy will be shipped to your address, so you won’t have to haul it around for the rest of your trip.”
The auction started after that, and with Cody nudging me, I bid on a few things, but got outbid each time. I wasn’t upset, since it did push the price higher, which meant they were making more money forTrevor Project, but then I saw something I actually wanted. A four-day vacation for two to the Four Seasons Hotel in Vale, and it included first-class airline tickets.
When I made my opening bid, Mya put her hand on her hips and made a whole-body dramatic eye roll. “Are you actually going to follow through on this one? Hm? So far, you’ve been all pump.” She made a lewd hip thrust, and everyone laughed.
I held my hands up. What could I say? She wasn’t wrong.
“Okay, okay. Let’s go then. That’s three thousand dollars to open. Do I hear four?”
Someone bid to keep it going, though I didn’t see who. I bid again, and the war was on. I did not want to lose. After a few minutes, and a lot of teasing from Mya, the bid topped ten thousand, and Cody looked at me, eyes wide. “Daddy? Are you really spending that?”
“Shh…Daddy’s bidding on the Vale trip.”
Morgan Jackson, who worked at the firm, bid ten thousand five hundred. I’d pushed the bidding up for the painting he bought earlier, so I couldn’t blame him for doing the same thing to me.
I held up my hand, “Eleven thousand.”
“You’re determined this time, huh? Did that little hotty beside you slip you some of the V?” She made a lude gesture, and I was sure my face turned bright red while everyone laughed, but that was all part of the show, so I didn’t take it personally. I simply waved my hand. “Alrighty then. Y’all heard the bid. Anyone gonnatophim?”
Cody put his hands over his mouth and bent forward, laughing so hard I thought he’d fall out of his chair. “Calm down, boy.”
Cody snorted. “Funny…”
“Yeah, yeah.” I was so caught up in Cody’s hysterics that I almost missed the next bid. “Oh shit.” I raised my hand. “Twelve thousand.” Was it even worth that? Well, I’d learned long ago that if you really wanted something, however much you were willing to pay was what it was worth. I wanted this, and I was going to outbid everyone.
Crow leaned over and bumped his shoulder into mine. “You know, dude, that package is worth less than your opening bid.”
“So?”
“I know because I donated it. For twelve grand, you could get the same trip four times.”
“It’s a good cause. Now shush.”
I held my breath, waiting for the next bid, but Mya said, “Going once.”
I literally crossed my fingers.
“Going twice.” No one said anything. “Sold to Mr. Viagra.” She held her hand out to me. “For twelve thousand dollars.” She walked closer to our table. “Welcome to the big spenders club.”
I stood when she motioned for me to get up. “Thank you.”
“Actually, thank you. Guess you got tired of losing.”
“Uh, no, I just really want to go to Vale.” Everyone in the crowd chuckled, and I saw Crow shaking his head.
“Well, this is probably the largest bid to value ratio of the morning so far, and seriously, the kids who needTrevor Projectwill benefit from your generosity.”
I nodded and sat back down as Mya moved back toward the front to auction off the next thing. Having spent so much money on one thing, I wasn’t even going to bid on anything else, unless they had something Cody wanted. I scooted my chair closer. “Let me know if you want something.”
He shook his head. “I can’t believe you spent so much on that trip.”
“You’re coming with me, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” He smiled brightly, making me wish it was a honeymoon trip, but it didn’t matter. Rushing things wouldn’t work with Cody, and I simply wanted a great vacation with him, away from everything. It could be romantic and fun.
