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Two hundred and fifty invitations went out and we’ve had two hundred and thirty-two RSVP their attendance. I’ve worked with the venue’s event director and we’ve got twenty-five round tables arranged in a well-thought-out pattern that provides perfect views of the stage, the large drop-down screen where marketing videos and testimonials will roll, and a podium from which speeches will be given. I’m one of the speakers and I feel sick about it but I’m not only the new director, I’m one of the inspirations that led Brienne to start this foundation. My personal story is important for everyone to hear.
“This is my final draft of the agenda.” I’m seated beside Brienne at a table in her office and I use a laser pointer to highlight an area of the slide. “Verify this is the order of the speakers you want. And if you change your mind and want to remove me, I won’t argue.”
Brienne snorts. She wants me to be the face of the foundation since I’m a prime example of why it exists but she knows I’m scared to speak in front of all these rich people. I’m not an introvert by any means and I could get up in front of a crowd of my peers. But most of these people are nothing like me and it’s overwhelming. I also don’t want to let Brienne down.
She ignores my last-ditch effort to stay off the stage, instead nodding at the slide. “I think we serve the first course immediately after I speak so people can eat as we run through the speakers and videos.”
“Easy peasy to do that,” I say, jotting notes in my spiral planner. Brienne gives me hell that I don’t use the iPad she bought me for such things but I love the feel of pen and paper. “All the videos have been through post-production review and they are amazing. Do you want to see them ahead of time?”
“Yes,” she says, giving me a lopsided smile. “I want to keep crying to a minimum so it’s best I see them in advance.”
“I’ve got extra tissues in case, although I’m afraid I’m the one who’s going to be a snotty mess. I’ll forward them to you.”
The videos are of other widows, widowers and family members who lost loved ones in the Titans’ crash. Stone will also be one of our speakers, and of course I’ll be up there talking about what it cost Travis and me to lose Mitch, not just monetarily but emotionally. It’s going to be a rough night.
Brienne angles her chair toward me and covers my hand with hers. “I’m proud of you, Danica. You have impressed me so much and this gala is going to be a huge success.”
I blush but don’t try to hide it. Brienne went out on a limb by giving me such an important job and any compliment is like her hanging the moon for me. “Thank you. I want to do the best possible job.”
“You’re doing better than the best possible,” she says, staring at me with a look that says I should believe her.
I nod, a grateful smile on my face. “I’ll send you the final seating chart and videos. Let me know if you want any changes.”
I was given the final RSVP list yesterday and I worked to spread out all the players among the tables. That’s why the big donors are coming—to rub elbows with the Titans. I intentionally put Camden and me at tables on opposite sides of the room. I was afraid I’d steal too many glances at him and make a fool of myself.
Even as I think that, a warm giddiness takes hold. The last few days with him have truly put joy in my heart. Last night the stolen kisses when Travis wasn’t around and the banter among the three of us at dinner had me all up in my feels. It felt right to have him at my dinner table and it melted me to see the easy back-and-forth between him and Travis.
And of course, I cannot stop thinking about the time we spent in bed. I feel my face heat up at the memories, but Brienne will probably think it’s leftover blushing from her compliments.
There’s an insistent knock and without waiting for Brienne to welcome whoever it is, the door bursts open and Jenna Holland flies through.
Jenna is the media liaison for the Titans, a job Brienne personally hired her for last year as she built the new team. She and Brienne are close friends and by virtue of us all working together, I’ve gotten close to her as well.
“Look,” she practically shrieks as she runs over and shoves her hand between us.
I don’t have to look hard. The glint of a massive diamond on Jenna’s left ring finger catches my attention.
“Oh!” I exclaim in awe, taking her hand to look at it closer.
Brienne yanks her hand from me and holds it up for inspection before lifting her gaze to Jenna.
She sees what I see… a woman who’s utterly in love and filled with so much excitement she might implode.
Brienne and I fly out of our chairs and hug Jenna, who is clearly a newly engaged woman.
When we release her, Brienne demands, “Details. Now.”
“I’m so sorry to burst in on your meeting,” Jenna says, her voice quavering as she holds her own hand to gaze at the ring.
“Whatever,” Brienne says with a wave of her hand. “Give us the details.”
“It was perfect. Exactly how I’d want to be proposed to. It was over pancakes this morning. Gage got up early and made them… my favorite kind with blueberries. He had set the kitchen table with nice plates and linens, had coffee and fresh juice. I was still half-asleep when he forced me out of bed to come eat and there it was… a black box right beside my plate.”
“And,” I prompt because that’s totally swoony but clearly there’s more.
Jenna rests her hand on her chest and sighs. “It was all down on one knee and the most beautiful words. He didn’t even get them all out before I knocked him over. Just crashed right into him, flattened him to the floor while screaming yes.”
“And then what?” Brienne asks, truly intrigued by the romance of it all. I know enough about Brienne to know she’s about as unromantic as you can get, or at least she was until she fell in love with Drake.
