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He sent me a laughing emoji and promised me that I could peel him out of it later. Despite all the nerves, I’m looking forward to my first event as the foundation’s director, but I might be looking forward to the evening with Camden a little more. His schedule is heating back up with games and our moments alone are stolen.
A hand circles my wrist and I can tell by the soft skin and delicate fingers it’s not a man. I turn to see Kiera smiling at me. We lean in for a hug, then she holds me at arm’s length to check out my gown.
I’ve attended my share of black-tie events throughout my time here in Pittsburgh and while I love to dress up for a party with full hair and makeup, I’ve never been the flashy type. For example, Brienne is in a silver lamé gown with a plunging neckline, the formfitting bodice and skirt accented with all-over crystals. She glows like a diamond.
I know I can carry off something like that, but I don’t like to. I prefer to be comfortable in formal wear so I chose a simple sleeveless black silk gown ruched at the waist. The collar cuts across the base of my neck and the material feels divine against my skin. It’s so light it floats when I walk. A modest slit stops above my knee and shows the barest peek of leg.
“You look fabulous,” Kiera said.
Arching an eyebrow, I give her a critical look. “Pot calling the kettle black.”
She’s a sexy bombshell who will have almost every man in here tonight sizing her up. She chose a cherry-red gown with a daring neckline similar to Brienne’s. Her dress fits like a second skin with a side slit that goes above her mid-thigh.
I smirk at her. “I can only imagine what Drake is going to say when he sees you in that outfit.”
I find it more than hilarious that her brother is so overprotective because Kiera certainly doesn’t need such oversight. She’s a strong, confident and sexually open woman. If she decides she wants one of those players, it doesn’t matter what Drake says. She’s going to get him.
On more than one occasion, she’s dropped her voice to me and said, “Mmm… I’d like to get a piece of that.”
And she’s the type to get the piece if she wants it.
Kiera rolls her eyes at my mention of Drake. “One day my brother will learn that he’s not the boss of me.” She flourishes that statement with a dismissive wave and then asks, “Are you ready for the big speech?”
I wrinkle my nose. “In a million years, I will never be ready for this speech.”
Kiera’s hand slides to take mine and she gives it a reassuring squeeze. “Speak from the heart. It’s what you do best and you’re going to be fine.”
As if Brienne’s assistant was waiting for Kiera to say those exact words, I see her up at the podium as she taps the microphone. “If I can have everyone’s attention, please. We will be starting in about five minutes, if you can make your way to your assigned tables.”
Brienne turns from her current conversation to glance at Kiera and it’s apparently the first time she’s seen her tonight. They hug and Brienne exclaims, “That dress is amazing. Please tell me I can borrow it sometime.”
Kiera laughs. “I love the irony of this. Drake will hate it when he sees it on me, but he’s going to love it when it’s on you.”
“That’s because he knows no one would dare leer at me when he’s by my side, but he can’t keep his eyes on you twenty-four seven,” Brienne quips.
Kiera snorts. “What my brother doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
Brienne winks. “That will be our secret.”
Giving me a last good-luck hug, Kiera disappears into the crowd and Brienne leads me to the main stage. Behind it is a massive drop screen that has been running pictures of the Titans people who died in the crash. Every once in a while, I catch a glimpse of Mitch as he flashes by. It doesn’t make me sad tonight but makes me feel more secure. As if he’s watching over me. I know he would be so proud of what I’m doing right now.
“You good?” Brienne looks at me with genuine concern. She knows how nervous I’ve been.
An anxious laugh pops out of my mouth. “No. But I’m going to do this and I’m going to make you proud.”
Brienne’s expression turns triumphant. “That’s my girl. I knew I picked the right one for the job.”
From my clutch purse with its long gold shoulder chain, I pull out the index cards I jotted my notes on. I’ve been working on these remarks for a while now, but I’ve managed to condense it into a few key phrases to prompt me. I know it will be more natural than reading a typed speech. I set the clutch on the edge of the stage to retrieve after I’m done.
Brienne’s assistant waves me up to the podium and I take a deep breath. I let it out slowly and reassure myself nothing horrendous will come out of my mouth.
“Good luck,” Brienne says.
Up on the stage, I find an immediate benefit to the lighting. It’s focused directly on me, which leaves the rest of the crowd shrouded in dark shadows. This gives me a tiny boost of confidence because I can sort of pretend no one’s out there.
I throw a short prayer up:Please don’t let me pass out.
Taking my notes to the podium, I trace the front of the first card as I look at the words written there.
