AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes!” Furio replied. “Since I was five years old! Did you not?”
Owen rolled his eyes, but he was laughing, too. He and Furio got along well these days.
I don’t know if anyone noticed that I was dancing—and kissing—multiple men on the dance floor. I didn’t really care, to be honest. I was beyond giving a shit about what other people thought. I was going to do what made me happy.
After dancing, we returned to our table for the charity auction. There were dozens of items that had been donated: trips to Europe, river cruises, a twenty-foot fishing boat. Owen had donated a private evening on the rooftop deck ofMarcello’s.When I opened my mouth to make a joke about him stealing it back from whoever won it, he aimed a finger at me and told me not to say a word.
Jimmy Garoppolo donated several Forty-Niners paraphernalia, including an autographed football. When the item was announced, he waved to everyone from his spot at our table while Melinda clung to his arm. The massive diamond engagement ring sparkled on her finger, so big that I wondered how she didn’t drag her hand on the floor.
“Let’s start the bidding at five hundred dollars,” the auctioneer said.
Someone at another table made a bid. Another person bid seven hundred, and then it was countered at eight.
“I have eight hundred dollars for the signed football,” the auctioneer announced. “Going once…”
“That’s not nearly enough.” Owen raised his paddle. “One thousand.”
“I have one thousand, do I hear twelve hundred…”
“Two thousand!” Furio said happily, raising his paddle high.
“You don’t even like American football,” Owen hissed at him.
“No, I do not! But I could learn to.”
Owen set his jaw stubbornly. “Three thousand.”
“Four,” Furio replied instantly.
My head swung back and forth as the two of them battled for the football. Melinda cleared her throat and said, “You know I can get you guys autographed items whenever you want, right? I’m kind of sleeping with the guy.”
“It’s for charity,” Owen said, smiling at me. “Nine thousand.”
Furio glanced at me, then said, “Ten!”
That’s when I realized what was going on. It was a pissing contest between them. Two billionaires throwing their weight around to impress me. A year ago, that kind of wasteful display of wealth would have disgusted me—even if it was for charity. But now it gave me a warm, comforting feeling inside. Even after being together for nearly a year, the guys still wanted to impress me.
Suddenly, Jude’s paddle flashed. “Twenty thousand.”
Someone at the table behind us gasped. The auctioneer blinked in surprise at the sudden jump in bidding.
“If you guys are going to measure dicks,” Jude said curtly, “then I’m going to whip mine out on the table, too.”
Melinda and Jimmy laughed, and then so did the rest of us. Owen put up his hands to admit defeat, and Furio nodded politely to the spectacled billionaire.
“Going once, going twice… sold to Jude Cauthon for twentythousanddollars.”
Everyone applauded the large number, and Jude blushed and looked embarrassed. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, and Jimmy gave him a fist-bump.
“Next item up for auction is a signed Olivier Giround A.C. Milan jersey…”
Furio’s eyes widened with excitement. Owen smirked at him, and raised his paddle.
“One thousand.”
“TWO!” Furio practically shouted. Then, to Owen, he hissed, “You do not care for soccer!”
“I’m learning to like it,” Owen replied, raising his paddle again.
