Page 70 of Not Just Gal Pals

“I can see.” Tom paused, walking around the truck, examining it closely. “Are you on the way to the fundraiser?”

“Yes!” I said, a little too loudly. Tom gave me an odd look, and I realized I was bouncing up and down on the spot, presumably a way for my body to release the nervous energy that had been building up all day.

“Me too. You’ll be hard pressed to get someone out here tonight to tow you. Why don’t I take you to the fundraiser, and we can sort this out tomorrow?

I started striding toward his car, Walter in my arms, keen to get back on track as soon as possible. “That sounds great! Thank you!” I’d collect my luggage tomorrow. Tonight, I had bigger things to worry about.

I opened the passenger door to squeeze into the back of Tom’s coupe, but Mom grabbed my shoulder. “I’ll sit back there so you can get out faster.”

Safely seated, Tom switched on the ignition, and we were off. A few minutes later, the welcome glow of the school lights appeared up ahead. I glanced at my phone again. Three minutes to seven. My heart, which had been thumping loudly in my ears for the last hour, sank. My plan to talk to Blake before the fundraiser was officially dead. But we still had a chance of reaching the auditorium before the event started.

Tom parked in a spot that definitely wasn’t an official spot, effectively blocking two people in. “I’ll duck out and fix it in the intermission,” Tom said with a shrug as he shifted into park.

“Thanks so much, Tom!” I jumped out of the car and raced toward the entrance with Walter. I felt guilty not waiting for Mom, but I knew she’d understand. Dad was saving her a seat anyway.

Olivia was sitting at a table just inside the hall, selling tickets.

“Can I have one ticket please?” Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I directed this question at Olivia’s bent head.

Olivia looked up from the cash she was sorting, her eyes widening with surprise. “Jenny! What are you doing here? I thought you were in LA.”

“Yeah, I…I was, but…” My voice trailed off. It didn’t feel right to tell Blake’s sister my plans before I’d had a chance to speak to Blake.

I couldn’t help flicking my eyes up to the front of the auditorium to look for Blake. Over the sea of heads—it looked like we’d had an amazing turnout—I spotted Blake moving toward the stage. While I knew Blake hated public speaking, it felt too late to run up and offer to take over. I knew she’d be fine. More than fine. Great.

Olivia followed my gaze and grinned. “I see.”

“I don’t want to distract her while she’s talking. Is there somewhere I can sit so she won’t spot me, but I can still hear what’s going on?” I looked around.

Olivia pointed toward some screens behind George’s refreshment stand. “You could hide behind those screens. I think George is using them to store some extra supplies. Do you want me to look after Walter?”

“That would be amazing, thank you!” Blake had reached the stage and was nearly at the podium, so I power-walked over to George, whose jaw dropped as she spotted me.

“Jenny! What the—?” George hissed.

“I’ll explain later. Is it okay if I hide behind here? I don’t want Blake to see me, in case it throws her off.”

George nodded, grinning, and gestured for me to come around the back of the stand. She pushed one of the screens so I could squeeze through into the space. I took a seat on a box of wine bottles. To my delight, there was a small gap in the screens I could see the stage through.

“I’m glad you’re back,” George said before taking her seat.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I’d been worried Olivia and George might be annoyed with me for fleeing to LA, but they seemed genuinely pleased to see me.

Hopefully, Blake would feel the same way. I’d been in such a rush all day, I hadn’t spent much time considering how Blake would respond. What if she didn’t forgive me for leaving? What if she really was an eagle flying alone and didn’t want to try anything long-term with me?

The thought sent my stomach tumbling, but it was cut short by a high-pitched squeal.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

BLAKE

While I was blown away by the turn-out, it did nothing to lessen my nerves as I made my way to the front of the auditorium.

Memories of me sitting on the very same stage for the careers panel, my heart bouncing as Jenny sauntered into the auditorium, looking incredible in her jumpsuit, flooded back to me. It was hard to believe that was less than two months ago and that now I’d give anything for her to saunter back in. So much had changed. Including my feelings about relationships. Jenny had reminded me just what I was missing out on by closing myself off to them. And while I was in pain now, I had no regrets about the time we’d spent together.

It was just past seven, so I took a deep breath and walked up to the microphone on the stage. You’ve got this, Blake. You’ve spoken to almost everyone in the audience before at the clinic.

Clearing my throat, I moved closer to the microphone, causing a high-pitched squeal to reverberate around the hall. I winced and shut my eyes for a second as heat rushed to my cheeks. You can do this.