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Chapter Four
Kimberley
I wishI could say that the third donut I ate out of nervousness was a mistake, but I never regret a donut. No, what I regretted was trusting my sister tonight. I regretted saying yes to this auction without asking what the hell the auction was about. Because my noninquisitive nature is now kicking me in the butt.
The auction isn’t for the dresses we’re wearing. Oooh no.
It’s for a date.Me!People are bidding for the chance to takemeon a date. It’s insanity! Those poor souls. I hope they were prepared to enjoy an awkward evening with me, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because that’s all I could afford at the moment. Added to that, I was nowhere as glamorous or stunning as the women around me. Sure, I was pretty and tonight my blowout was on-point, but I was a lemon bar among brownies—only someone with unique tastes would bid on me over these delicious morsels.
Great. I’ve officially lost my mind and am comparing myself to food.
Do I have time for another donut to calm my nerves?
“Do I hear one-fifty? One-fifty going once.”
“Two hundred!”
“Two hundred. Two hundred thousand going once. Twice. Sold!”
My eyes widen at the price the stunning woman in the gold dress went for. I can’t stop staring at her arms, they’re toned perfection.
“Gillian. You’re up next,” Jenna whispers to the side of me. I choke on my spit, stunned. No, that can’t be right. How did my turn come so quickly?
“Wait,” I whisper-hiss as Jenna prods me toward the end of the curtain. “I’ve changed my mind. I can’t do this. I’m not wearing the right shoes. Maybe I should have a puppy too, you know? To help get the numbers up. Everyone loves a puppy!” I cry just before she shoves me onstage. I stagger, catching myself quickly. I squint in the bright lights.
“Everyone, welcome Gillian!” The emcee laughs over the mic. “Gillian is an avid painter, lover of all animals and is currently training for her first half-marathon.” Lies! Everything he just said about me/my sister is total bull. Everything but the animal bit. That’s true. But I swear on everything that is sugary I will shut this whole thing down if someone bids on me with the idea of taking me for a romantic jog. No lie.
I run for no one.
“The bidding will start at fifty thousand.”
Cheese and rice, they were being ambitious. My eyes almost bug out of my head at the notion of someone spending that much, let alone for a date with me. I see Jenna waving her hands frantically, motioning me to move. Trying my best to smile through my fear, I walk farther down the stage. My body is shaking and I can’t stop it. Putting a hand on my hip, I try my hardest to look nice when all I want to do is break down in tears.
“Fifty,” someone shouts, making me stumble. What the—
“Eighty!”
“One hundred thousand.”
The bidding starts to go wild. Numbers are being called out and I’m standing in the middle of the stage like a damn fool. I must be dreaming.
“One twenty,” a new voice calls out. Something about it sounds…familiar. I can’t focus on that right now. Turning clumsily, I walk back and stand beside the podium. At least here, I can kind of see the audience. I can’t make out any faces but I can see the clumps of tables and shadowed figures standing at the back of the room. When the voice that sent shivers down my spine calls out again, my attention goes to that part of the room. There’s a dark silhouette at the far end of the room; his stance is strong and intimidating. I can see his arms cross over his chest.
Then it hits me.
Charlie is bidding for me. Paying for a date.
Oh my God, does he have a crush on my sister?
A sick feeling swirls in my stomach. I don’t like the thought of Charlie liking my sister. Romantically. Or the other way around. Surely, if she had a crush on him she’d have told me, right? Oh no, am I jealous? I met the man for a handful of minutes, but I already have a teeny-tiny crush on him.
“SOLD!” the emcee roars into the microphone, announcing some absurd number that freezes me in place. The crowd gets louder and I can barely hear what’s said next. “Sold to our fearless leader, CVR! Splendid! Congrats Charles.”
The audience cheers and I give an awkward wave and smile as I walk backward off the stage. Thankful that that’s over but fearing what comes next.
Charlie has no idea what he’s won.
A hair stylist, donut monster who doesn’t really have her life together.
