That causes everyone to chuckle.
“You know,” Savanna starts, angling her body in the direction of the loveseat. “Wyatt, you’re single, right?”
He shifts beside me like he’s unable to help it, then confirms. “I am.”
No. No, she is not doing this. Savanna would never.
“You’d be a really big draw, you know. Especially if you put it up on your social media—you’re a pretty popular guy on there,” she continues, definitely not having heard my internal screaming at her.
“I mean, I could definitely promote it,” he responds, not commenting on what Savanna is getting at.
I pour a lemonade for Gran, my jaw clenching tightly while I listen to this ridiculous idea. Wyatt up on stage being bid on? By women? It’s preposterous.
Except it’s not, and I know it.
“I think she wants you for more than that, Wyatt, dear,” Gran says from the other side of the table. “I imagine you’d be an even bigger draw than Brody is, especially if you promoted it. And it’s for charity, so surely no one would be upset.”
My eyes snap up to her, narrowing because I know that last comment was for me.
“Yeah. I mean, all you gotta do is go up on stage, shake your butt a bit like you did that night with Brody, and I bet you even beat him,” Savanna continues where Gran left off, and I force myself not to glare at her or ask about whatever night with Brody she’s referring to as I half stand up to reach across the table and give Gran her lemonade.
She smiles pleasantly at me as she takes the glass, like she doesn’t know what she’s doing, and I sit back down, finally filling a glass for myself.
“Beat Brody?” Wyatt questions, offering me a cookie on the plate he’s still holding. I take one and then he puts it down.
Nate smirks. “Would you believe he’s gotten the highest bid each year?”
“Bullshit.”
I start to explain the real reason he’s always got the highest bid. “It’s because—”
“What do you have to lose?” Savanna interjects, talking above me as she leans forward on the couch, setting down her lemonade. “I mean, unless Bryn is uncomfortable with it.”
“Why would I be uncomfortable?” I ask, but even I hear the way my voice pitches higher. Trying not to look guilty, I don’t bother clearing my throat. “I’m not his keeper. He should do it.”
“I should?” Wyatt questions, sounding more surprised than I expected. He shifts in his seat to see me better, eyebrows pulledtogether. “You want me to?”
The thought of him going on some date with some random person makes me want to throw up, but what am I supposed to say? We’re not together. I’ve made it abundantly clear that we are only friends. I’d be a hypocrite to tell him not to go on dates with anyone else. He deserves to be happy.
I swallow the real answer to his question, and shrug. “It’s up to you, but it’s for a good cause, and it’s a fun night.”
He stares at me, eyes bouncing between mine, searching for answers to unspoken questions. His head angles towards Savanna, but his eyes don’t leave my face as he asks, “I’m just auctioning off my time? A date with someone?”
“Yep,” she confirms. “Nothing has ever come from one of these dates, either, if that makes you feel better.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure Tyson has fucked his,” Nate mutters.
In my periphery, Savanna hits him in the gut. “Not helping.”
Wyatt’s leg presses against mine. A subtle move that I don’t think anyone else would pick up. A silent question, if his imploring eyes are any indication.
Are you sure?
No, I’m not sure. My heart is wild in my chest, desperate for me to tell him not to do it, not to go on a date with someone else. But I can’t do that.
With the same muted softness as his leg nudge, I slowly blink, and with that blink, give a nod of my head.
I’m sure.
