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Pretty.
Cute.
Girl next door.
Quirky.
Those were all the typical ways I was used to being complimented.Beautifulwas rarely among them.
I exhaled nervously. “What did you think of the Matchmakers' Gala?”
He smiled. “I think it’s a unique way of raising charitable funds.” Charles let out a small laugh. “Outtatowner sure is something else.”
My eyes went wide and I laughed. If he could see the humor in the situation, maybe I could too. “I know, right? Especially the date auction. So silly.” I let out a laugh in hopes of sounding relaxed, but the way it bubbled out of me made me sound on the wrong side of unhinged.
“I guess I didn’t realize the auction would be so...” He cleared his throat. “Competitive.”
I smoothed my hands down the denim on my thighs, remembering how Charles had tried to bid for me before Lee and Royal screwed it all up. “Oh yeah. I’m sorry about that. I think Lee was just feeling protective because of Royal trying to get under his skin. It was nothing.”
Charles offered a soft smile. “Look, I believe you, but I also don’t want to get in the middle of something.”
“There’s nothing!” My words were hurried, insistent, and completely hollow.
“Still,” he continued, looking at me with soft eyes. “I think we should focus on enjoying the dates. For charity.”
I blinked at him, not really understanding what he was getting at.
“Oh, I suppose you left before it ended.” Charles gently sipped his water. “I put out another bid, and I’ll be escorting Mia Bradley.”
Oh.
I wanted to feel...something, but surprisingly, there was nothing. Mia was a townie and had always been kind and friendly. Before I could respond, my phone vibrated with a text.
My stomach tightened.
Lee
You get lost or something?
My head whipped up to scan the crowd, and I saw my best friend across the bar, leaned against the wall with his thick arms crossed and a mile-wide grin. It looked as though he was having a few beers and some food with several of his fellow firefighters.
My heart flopped over in my chest at his grin.
Why was it so hard to stay mad at him?
I looked at Charles, who was attempting to signal our server. “I’m sorry. I have to take this.”
Charles smiled as he stood. “It’s no problem. I’m going to walk over and see if we can’t get our server. Sit tight.”
As he walked away, I immediately started typing a reply to Lee.
I’m surprised you didn’t run over here as soon as you saw me sit down and throw a temper tantrum.
Lee
A tantrum? You’ve got me all wrong. I have the patience of a saint.
A true, genuine laugh burst from me, and I willed the butterflies in my stomach to settle.
