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I shrugged. “Haven’t seen him.”
Her frown deepened. Word had gotten out around town that after a string of unsuccessful blind dates, Remington County’s most sought-after bachelor may be, in fact, making an appearance on the auction block. This year, it meant big money for Remington County Child Protective Services. My chest pinched, thinking back on my time in the system.
She checked her list again and handed me a small cardboard circle with the number eight on it. “Please meet by the stage in ten minutes.”
I swallowed hard. “You bet.”
Lark rubbed her hand along my bare arm. “It’ll be fun! You got this.”
I sighed and laughed. “This town is so weird.”
* * *
“Before we begin,please recall our very strict set of rules.” Mabel, a sweet older woman in the Bluebirds, cleared her throat and spoke loudly into the microphone as she read from a piece of paper. “The Matchmakers' Date Auction is for entertainment and charity purposes only. No one shall be entered into dates against his or her will.”
A snort shot out of my nose, and all eyes turned toward me.
Fuck.
I looked behind me, pretending it was someone else who’d made the noise as my face grew hot.
Mabel smiled and continued: “There are a set of six prearranged dates for each winning couple. For each date the couples attend, the board of directors for the Matchmakers' Gala will happily donate additional funds to the chosen charity. We have a list of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes, each assigned a number. We will pick a number at random. Once a bachelor or bachelorette is won, he or she is already committed and may not be eligible for dates with anyone else. So let’s get started!”
The crowd cheered, and the band played a drumroll.
“First up...” She dug around the small basket, and my heart raced. “Chad McClintock.”
He was known in Outtatowner asOther Tall Chad.Because, you know, the nicknameTall Chadwas already given out, and at six foot five, he wastall.
Other Tall Chad strutted up the stairs and walked across the stage with a friendly wave and wide smile as the band played along. He even turned and did a little butt wiggle, which spurred the crowd to life with whoops and hollers. It was hard not to laugh. I released my clasped hands and tried to lean into thefunmy town was trying to have.
Not everything had to be so serious.
“Let’s hear it, ladies and gentlemen. What do I hear for this young man?”
“Five dollars!” Ms. Tiny shouted over the crowd, opening the bidding.
“Ten dollars!” Aunt Sissy smiled widely as her husband frowned down at her.
“Fifteen!” another called from the back.
“Twenty!” Ms. Tiny clutched her handbag closer to her chest.
“I have twenty dollars from Ms. Tiny. Going once. Twice. Sold!” The crowd cheered as Ms. Tiny made her way up to the stage and Other Tall Chad bowed to kiss the top of her hand.
Mabel swirled her hand into the bowl again. “Number four, Huck Benton!”
Loud claps erupted from the crowd as our burly resident baker made his way onto the stage. Unlike Other Tall Chad, there was no showboating. Instead, he stood with his feet planted wide and his thick arms crossed over his chest.
I leaned in to whisper to Lark. “I thought onlysinglepeople were in the auction?”
Lark giggled. “Word is, Sylvie King penciled his name in as a joke, and it slipped past everyone.”
“Twenty!” Before poor Mabel could even open the bidding, someone in the back shouted above the crowd.
“Thirty!”
“Forty!”
