AllFreeNovel
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We stand side by side and check ourselves in the mirror. It was hard for me to decide which dress to wear, but the tutu style skirt won out. It’s fun and helps me channel my love of theater.
I’m packing as much into tonight as possible, complete with a little song and dance number to Marilyn Monroe’sDiamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.
We join Cindy at the edge of the curtain. The poor girl’s shaking.
I wrap an arm around her. “You’re going to be fine. Those bidder paddles are hot, just like your bottom’s going to be before the evening’s over.”
She pulls back and puts her hands over her face. “I don’t know if I can go through with this.”
Turning toward Cindy, I tease. “We convinced Bianca. We’ll convince—”
Jefferson’s voice elevates. “Going, going, gone. Bianca is sold to bidder number three.”
A ruckus at the back of the room draws my attention. Leather, flannel, ripped jeans, swagger—Big D, Jack, Travis, and Calvin. I can barely breathe. “My stepbrothers…”
“What?” Cindy says. “I thought her brothers were winning?”
“No. My stepbrothers. They’re here. No, no, no.” The velvet curtain slips from my fingers.
Cindy says, “They have a concert tonight. They can’t be here.”
Wendy checks. “It’s definitely them.”
As she holds the curtain open, Mark growls orders at Bianca and is carrying her off the stage.
Cindy thinks fast. “Somebody grab Bianca’s bag. I think they’re leaving.”
“All right, everybody.” It’s Big D’s voice followed by a loud hand clap. “We’ve got to get back to our concert, so what’s the ‘buy now’ price for Aurora?”
This can’t be happening. Flashbacks of the high school talent show pin themselves in my brain. My helpful big brothers catcalled and cheeredbeforemy performance. It drew the audience’s attention to them. I had to wait for their fans to calm down before performing Annie’sTomorrow.
It was one of the moments that led me to distancing myself from them. Along with so many times my peers pretended to be my friends in hopes of getting to meet my brothers.
Tonight was supposed to be safe. I don’t want to wait until tomorrow for the sun to come out. I want to be seen for me. I grab Bianca’s bag. “I’ll take it to her.”
I step out from behind the curtain, startled by how quickly Calvin made his way to the front. He’s the oldest and always in charge. Probably barged through everyone with his lean build and broad shoulders. And if they met his gaze, yeah, he has a super power with those intense eyes.
“Sorry bro, I’m not up for bid yet. Besides, I’ve got to run this out to Bianca.”
Calvin hops on the stage and takes the bag before I can resist. “Who can take this to Bianca? Our stage manager’s already blowing up our phones. No time to waste.”
“You can’t just come in and change the order of the auction. Cindy is next.” Annoying little sister isn’t a good look or sound for me, but I’ll own it.
Jefferson speaks into the microphone. “Anyone object to a ‘buy now’ price of five hundred thousand?”
The crowd goes wild. My head jerks toward Jefferson. He’s serious.
I’m numb. My brothers can easily pay that. How can I deny the women’s shelter getting such a huge donation?
Jack, the youngest, and the bad boy persona in the band, hops on stage and holds his hands to the side. “Anyone object?”
I object to him having his shirt unbuttoned. Those ripped abs and his sly smile make him irresistible.
I blink hard as he turns, extending an offer for a handshake toward Jefferson. Not again. Why won’t they just let me do my thing? Channeling Marilyn, I try to own my fifteen seconds of the spotlight and I slap his hand away.
“I do! I object!”
If only the brief contact hadn’t sent sparks of excitement racing through me.
