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My smile felt brittle. “Worst car ride ever.”
29.
***Memphis***
Jakepulledupoutsidean ornate hotel and opened the door for us. Remy, Wells, and Boone all stepped out of the car before me and when it was my turn, I considered playing dead so I didn’t have to go. The women who’d fixed my hair and makeup had spoken nonstop about the gala we were going to. Everyone who was anyone would be there, apparently. The fancy affair they’d described terrified me.
Remy leaned down and held his hand out to me. “Are you coming?”
I was supposed to be used to galas. Memphis King, classy woman from high society, went to galas and got dressed up all the time. The woman they wanted would walk into the ballroom of that hotel and strut around like a damn peacock. Too bad the real Memphis King was more likely to be found at a petting zoo, trying to get close to a peacock.
Still, I had a part to play. I gripped Remy’s hand and was struck by flashing lights as soon as I was on my feet next to him. He gripped my upper arm and turned his body into mine while Boone stayed close to Wells. A red carpet welcomed us into the hotel and voices rang out around us, giving directions and calling out questions.
I couldn’t understand any individual comment, but then Remy’s voice was in my ear, speaking calmly to me. “Up the stairs, sweetheart. This is just normal bullshit. I’ve got you.”
The noise faded completely as soon as we were inside the hotel and the large glass doors closed behind us. I glanced back at the small gathering of people standing on either side of the red carpet, their cameras aimed and ready. “Is that really normal for y’all?”
Wells twisted his head back and forth while taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly. When he looked at me, his gaze was unfocused. “I need a drink.”
A wave of dread rolled through me and I moved forward quickly to wrap my arms around his waist. Unsure if they wanted me that close to them in front of their gala friends, I cleared my throat and stepped back to put space between us. He immediately dragged me back into his side. I could feel his hands shake as he held me. It broke my heart for him to know he was suffering. It also terrified me. Jackson had turned to substances for help, too, and I’d watched the downward spiral his life went on afterwards.
“It’s been worse since Don died. It’ll fade soon enough.” Boone watched over Wells and adjusted his bowtie. “Let’s get inside and find our table. Then I’ll get you that drink.”
Remy and Boone walked in front of us as we made our way through the immaculate hotel. The ceilings looked like carved stone that’d been painted gold and the marble under my heels was so pretty that I wanted to get down on my hands and knees to study it. Large vases of flowers decorated every flat surface, a soft jazz played throughout, and everyone I saw was dressed like royalty.
Wells kept his arm around my waist as we entered an even larger and more beautifully decorated ballroom. A jazz band played on one side of the room and a long bar ran the length of the other side. Tables lined with luxurious linens circled a dance floor and even more floral arrangements sat on each of the many tables. The room was lit with a soft glow and it would’ve felt magical if I wasn’t going insane with anxiety. I could see the table settings and the impressive line of silverware on each side of the settings. There were multiple glasses in front of each setting and I knew that I was going to embarrass myself. I was in over my head.
Remy led us to a table at the very front and center of the room, a table meant for special guests, judging by the placement and the way heads turned to see who would be gracing it. That was as far as I could look at the people around us. I didn’t want to see who I’d be rubbing elbows with. I just wanted to keep my head down and then get the hell out of there. I missed the guest house already. I missed not feeling scared of saying the wrong thing in front of people who would know instantly that I was a joke.
“The gala is for a charity we donate to.” Remy held my chair out for me and trailed his fingers over my bare skin before sitting next to me. “It secures funding for kids who lack the resources kids like us had growing up. The charity supports several after school programs, as well as summer camps and sports teams. At no cost to parents or guardians.”
My heart thumped a little harder, but I told myself that the Hawke brothers were just donors. They just threw their piles of money at the charity. There was no reason for me to get all soft. “Are resources available for children who may not have parents or guardians all that involved?”
“An adult has to sign off on participation, for liability reasons.” He stared at me and I had to stop myself from squirming. “Maybe there’s a workaround, though. I’ll mention it to Megan. She runs the charity with her wife, Sam.”
I crossed my legs, trying to put a stop to the fluttering between them at the attentive way Remy listened to me and considered my question. “I hope there’s something. I knew a few kids growing up that would’ve been left out of any assistance programs because there was no one to sign for them.”
He leaned closer. “Where were their parents?”
I fought to keep a neutral face. “The dad ran off when the youngest kid was born. As far as I know, they never heard from him again. The mom was too busy with men to care for them. Then she died, too. Even when she was alive, though, she was never around to care for the kids.”
“Jesus. That’s rough.” Remy’s hand rested on the back of my chair. “What happened to them?”
I licked my lips nervously and looked around the table, seeing that more people had joined us. I stared through them as I thought about my brothers. “The same thing that happens to most of the kids raised that way. Jail, drugs, poverty, the works. Nothing good.”
“Shit. That’s depressing.” He frowned. “Surely there’ll be a way for this charity to offer programs to kids who have no one to speak for them. We can raise the funds for it, whatever it is.”
“Remington Hawke! In the flesh.” A booming voice spoke from behind us, startling me. “You’re a hard man to get ahold of.”
Remy stood up and shook the man’s hand. “Good to see you, Frank. Let me introduce you to our guest. Frank, this is Memphis King. She’s new to the area from Georgia. Memphis, this is Frank Cartwright, another major donor for the charity. And this is his wife, Presley Cartwright.”
Cursing Remy for calling attention to me, I stood up and smiled brightly at the couple. Frank looked like he could’ve modeled for any golfing magazine while Presley looked like an actual angel. She was so dainty and beautiful. Ethereal was a great word to describe her, I decided.
“Hi! It’s nice to meet y’all. Remy was just telling me about the charity and I’m just in love with it. It’s amazing.” I questioned every word I said as soon as it came out of my mouth. I didn’t sound like I belonged at a gala. I sounded like an idiot. Digging my nails into my palms, I kept my smile in place and tried my hardest not to make a bigger fool of myself.
“A real life southern belle, huh? Leave it to one of the Hawke brothers to find something so rare in Chicago.” Frank smiled at me. “What’s your story, Memphis King? Your name promises something great. Don’t let me down.”
I panicked and felt my stomach roll. I didn’t know what to say. I hated questions like that. I didn’t know my story. “I’m sorry to tell you that it’s just the name that’s exciting, Frank Cartwright.”
