ioned fundraiser, f

but frilly room fil

e. Don't ask me

rooftop where we had be

kling wine I had ever had

nd rather extravagant-ar

ounds in a

er spheres of the Big

orf

ybody here. Actually, w

to the football world.

his past and his family i

introduced to a coup

aster, and a number of

iar with but that I nodd

people we had talked to

s whose corporations, e

r heard

ered a new group of p

not adding any kind of

ped me lose all that te

d definitely aided with

to enjo

t an event like this one

he least I could

I'm so happy to see yo

ad in a dress that was pr

smiled. "Especially wit

o I distracted myself, t

e gl

ith her for a few minu

tly watching the woman

e in awe. And unlike mor

act that she was the min

the cherr

lips inched higher-"y

presume? I still haven't

inal

aron answered from

iscuss what the deal wi

e I had somehow pulled

tor and into the party.

people to the next, so I

ate him

She took a sip of her d

nest." Angela threw he

... intense. Very enterta

e. Glancing at him, I c

he was slightly uncomf

ation w

ued my c

d thing you brought so

ive." She turned to me. "

some fierce

ng some more. Which p

rce competition?" I repe

you'll be bidding on to

t perhaps that was e

ass grew a little tigh

y ab

g moment, my curiosity

ng with something that l

d." A smile tugged at m

ar to Angela's. "I'm

aining

s resigned sig

I think I'm going to lea

ed and added in a hushed

ore captivating. Especial

e

h

or the details I was d

by something-someone-

please excuse me,

dded, body still all

s moving on to someone

Ang

olite smile. "It was

ge

ine, Catalina." She lea

f the hook too easily."

the section of the roof

ith high tables that looke

ker floor lamps that ser

mina

n, finding that pair of

ht blush climbing up

ackford." I brought my gl

e I had been nursing for t

u fill

about his words for a

tonight's main event

I repeated slowly. "Ju

ght activit

n si

in the air. "Keep going.

much else to say." He b

a

kford, but I think ther

derstand the concept o

rec

t me a

Right. So, during this a

re acquired

rre

e, single wo

nod

" I pointed out. "All in

ur

her

y chin. "I just wonder

up

red glance. "Out w

g-buying-all these ba

on written all over his

is acquired, what

pressed in

is is not like bidding f

he bachelor for a ride.

cally take someone for

ride," I rushed out, wat

in his jaw. "Not like a

one takes cars for a ride

least, I have never taken

t worse, and the more I

"You know

ply, bringing the glass

not, I don't know what

ight temple. "Whoever off

use, gets to go on a date

e bachelor is

up,

dat

knit. "Yes

a date

u know, normally, two

often involves eating. S

me with a look. "Like go

d. No, my mou

.. had h

heeks heated. But I d

at meant ... "So, do we

t

exac

lained, lowering my voi

ur fake bidder. So, do

you said I'm here to fak

kn

ession, there was somet

found particularly unple

if he were swallo

e it out later. I guess

imbing out of this hole

part in the auc

r a heartbeat and then

New York. This

ese bidders on dates?" O

nversation, but a part o

f

It's part

r words ca

't go back o

act

part of the deal bit,

rtment, I had thought h

t pull out of our deal. An

of me had also felt spec

that for me and I coul

ortant it was for me, h

een wrong. This was th

ve anything

. The dumb thing to

erw

these dates?" I asked w

get a chance to see anyt

ake t

dmitted with a sigh. "T

everything together. S

nized something at one of

there, volunteering and h

ogs for

nerous and kind and wa

f my heart skipping a tee

ise was any

g my fingers were playi

's where you took las

silently asking me not

had mentio

ly. "Speaking of last y

during th

, his face falling with

rprise. "So, this fierc

e I should not be scared

ps twitch and th

On Aaron

ver?" I pressed, getti

or the first time e

outing, which in turn

Not that I would. I

d. "I'm sure getting

urrence for you then, B

when he looked all ... m

e had teased me first an

themselves at you? Or

heir money at your feet

lity to blush, I would

turning red

embarrassed about. Yo

p his forehead. "Yes, w

closer. "I can

that." My voice came o

e l

e step, and something

loser, fixating his b

ton

d. Which did not make

What should I h

id will be yours.

oked up at him, feelin

negative for how cl

instead, he continued

ll take care of the mone

o don't be shy with the

money at my feet, if you

felt my throat drying

rsto

seemed to echo in my

on in my belly, ma

back to force myself to

'd be able to donate more

ood thing Aaron had conc

ok and

er one of two possibil

ause, or he was wealthy

is name as long as

to go on after this, i

real. Because this wasn't

, Blackford," I told hi

and hazy thought of goi

seeing him play with a b

ll gea

I have to stop all

but before he could

Aaron's shoulder. The la

n as he took in th

yes." He patted Aaron'

us with his company ton

a

short and light noise,

w that you are here too

bent with the ghost

d was or had been cl

as any indication-shook

d to his chest as the d

s it been since I last

you ask me." Aaron's

, opened up. His body s

ow are you, TJ?" I coul

The fam

r," TJ-according to wh

ck, believe it or not. D

the c

he exchange, as I was

in front of me. One wh

joked-barely-with wh

ie

lonely ass has com

rin taking over his face

. His frame was just as w

h an interest that caught

me, nope. He seemed to

e by his side. "Aren't y

r manners?" He elbow

inch at the friendly

sually was; he was Big A

later. Those lips that I

ened, but they

myself to the lady,"

do so himself. He stret

re to make your

from Aaron. Something v

or

ough to call me a frie

k it with a light laugh

Martín, but plea

y hand, head slanted.

, Li

nce, hesitating as to wh

ted for an answer that

y tha

not having any idea wh

ance and opened my

lly. "TJ and I were te

iend. "Catalina is h

s he still waited in sil

ntroduction. All right, t

ndant, but I could de

es, we came here togeth

... picked me up and t

ded my head, seeing T

me uncomfortable. Whic

I have a driver's license

ared driving in the city

it's a really good thin

ared of the traffic. Actu

I chuckled, but it died o

I wouldn't have gotten i

aser eyes boring holes int

ay and a much more absor

we came her

eminded myself that this

the fir

, bringing both his han

s jumped between us, hi

e and then right back. W

his head with somethin

ou

ugging his shoulders.

e winked. "Me, on the

miled, just glad

dy know, there is a ba

am I a bachelor myself

his face. Then, he peere

gers at him-"but I hav

sure I'll be expensive,

h yo

his friend. "That

shifted closer to m

ernel that had been plan

s body, the way his prox

of a sudd

inding his eyes already

o

yourself," he told his

host of a touch on the s

one far too quickly to b

bidding on

aron's eyes and how clo

the skin of m

that," I heard TJ say,

omeone who sounded more

te

me, landing on his fri

the two men, and for a

d int

s head and laughed, br

e around us. "I'm just

your face. For a second

me to the floor or some

ever go after a

opened to correct TJ

s delimiting our deal were

ot in my mouth. I was his

his fake girl too? Damn,

pain. This test run wa

had expected. "He wasn't

to relax with a sigh

hest brushed my arm just

I see that's something th

hilarious you

d. "He was just teasin

eeling all tingly and we

oint where my shoulder

rmless

rl. I was just pushing

up his whole face. "

in my head then. Why

s this how they were wit

territorial in a matter

wh

mes," TJ said, his face

Coach, and I'm sorry, ma

he is st

is friend off. I could f

I could sense how uncom

nks, but there's nothing

ing him pinning his frie

y

d, his face taking on a

cause you have lived thro

to make amends, man.

friend with something

o understand where it w

and what did it have to

ed C

come tonight. I signed

as back. "It's time he g

He's very excited." Bef

he still looked a lit

understand why-TJ turned

ace, just know there are

e on the

ber that." I smiled at h

ink I have my hands

eyes on me, war

d I sa

said. "The auction will

gly bastard away. So, if

get g

my gaze roam around, re

to the stage, which was

vousness washed over m

"I can spare the compan

ure you know how chatty

y ears can us

you sure you want to

'm tell

friend. "Quit it a

just saying, man."

out a little strangled

ated us, my arm fully c

a sudden, I didn

aron, who was looki

lue of his eyes. I must

on was feeling bad for l

my head, telling mysel

TJ," I answered TJ's i

face. "Go. I'll b

not moving from my si

like he needed

I'm fine, and you have t

my palm freez

hand very slowly, just

and immediately, not hav

the fact that the touch

leaving me alone-probab

ed my puppy-and I had

l contact. A friendly pa

uldn't fo

, seriously." I lifted m

or the umpteenth time to

tting a

nger, explain to you ho

It made me uncomfortable

o

again-to reassure him

can figure it out on my

be all th

ll want to tel

him-to attempt to get

pushed me to rise on my

ll figure it out. And if I

ney on something stupid,

But I make no pro

ng to find him rolling

icate I had succeeded a

mfortable with. Instead

... something that chur

. "Okay." That was the

No scolding comment

e to spend his money on

oning Elvis

, excep

y t

TJ said, encouraging Aa

see you later,

then shook my head a

elt. "Woo those flocks of

fist in

Aaron remained lookin

er asking me to do this

i

turn and then walked

not to follow them with

how TJ leaned into my

for him. Aaron's head ne

was a shake of his raven

as sure would have se

J's cackles reso

nning as I watched the

around all these people

clue existed-one that h

ing else-was as outlandi

cord, catching

he lady in the beautif

harge of conducting the

microphone stand with

aking it impossible f

aci

man being because I h

someone. A man. A

t wasn'

old man I had just bid

the stage, relief taking

n my di

le and guilty and honest

ut smile at the

y put-and not to jump

age, waiting for his turn

nse of guilt that had set

ll. Someone else would

little push to

what I had done. Or w

minutes of awkward an

king man stepping on the

. It had been the same

sixteen hundred for P

through t

in the air.

mm

J's pops, Patrick, stoo

d back a little curved wi

ared with every other

that night. He smiled, s

having one bidder, whic

Because I was here to bi

la's introduction, was

ce not in love, b

date if I had to. I hadn'

a man who reminded m

eason, a man I knew wa

bid on him. This was a

e supposed to be do

one. Only perhaps I h

hat was

rim

at Aaron, L

on with my own funds.

I bid for t

really h

ing the sweet man on t

dinners, and he is a bel

tin

nodded. No hand

mierda

on. Not even when I co

e. I'd bet he was fuming.

.. ex

onado, an activity he

utiful sailboat. One that

e on hi

my eye, I tracked dow

or a sailing date

stantly that I felt ab

ron then. And it didn't

to know exactly wh

caught for

stupid

up in what was happeni

top of that stage, caught

k continued in the bac

ey were narrowed. Probab

that, he looked ... fine.

r the distracting tux tha

ov

ort in the fact that

rugged my shoulders and

urther, and then his he

hed his lip

I am, I mo

, very sor

gain, disbelief in

rds Aaron had mouthe

had sort of anticipated i

irrit

, thi

the lady in midnight

ed my

what

ed my hands to my side

nfirmation of what I had

ound her pointing

h

ron, I watched him roll

a thi

a tight smile that I

hoped Patrick had ano

ebody else to bid on

next sum, not obtaini

ogether with a pinch

ith a serious look as I

. Making sure he unders

t

, one of those deadpan

s form the silent word

lips into a sad face, ke

accidentally bid on any m

thed like a

hat was. Although a

sent me a fair share

, and I kept my lips ben

y. Although, if you ask

e to do something that I

o

en truly something bec

shoulders shook a cou

ds went to the back of hi

so I had no clue of wha

ustration and anger and t

he lifted back that ravenhaired head of his an

d handsomest smile was

f his eyes. Transformin

ough. A man I had never

it really, really

the sight. I felt my

st as big, just as wi

aughing. His head tilted

he was doing it on a st

me, as if he didn't h

y. Because in that momen

about was Aaron's unexp

at my fingers itched to

at this had happened. So

ord, someone who had t

had fucking lit up the

me ever since I met

that? Or furthermore

e about it being messe

from it-the effect of s

are in the man my eyes c

oward the cent

speakers. "Lovely. I'm s

e blue fan, will enjoy w

ke date who knew how t

one bidding

t, we have Aaron Black

undred and remember-" An

I guess I don't need to

achelor tonight if you

us

the reason why. More t

rms already

nvolvement," Angela c

hundred for th

involved with the caus

and she looked about tw

didn't want to be judgme

uld imagine how generou

e stage, clashing again

eatures now hard and

t I had no ti

and I was failing at

sed a breath. I couldn't

lly shocking yet pointle

or l

ngela announced, and I

Too late. "For

n me-and around anoth

aga

s tense shoulders told

it as

lders, focusing on Ang

nto the microphone. "Le

ckford is after all in

teen

air, keeping an eye o

ster than m

inted at Lady in Red a

i

se, Lady in Red turned

ile on

ell no. This wasn't abo

n per

ext amount, and I laun

o much that I almost pul

de up for pos

midnight blue." Angela

an

weird burn in the pit o

my sh

alled, and it

that, Lad

her head whirled aroun

r lips pursed. The woma

d dismi

at I had been right to a

on. And I wasn't going

orrected myse

ng to let he

id came, and before Ang

in Red sent me a look t

rk summer day, and I w

minding myself that woul

e, I limited my

led for about five or

ur arms flashing up fast

reath quickened, and the

Central Park like I was

, it was worth it becau

Just ...

by this duel we had goi

n the stage. I had barely

bloodshe

turn my attention to Aa

igh as the ridiculous

this time, i

ection. "Going once fo

she c

nst my chest harder.

a tight-lipped Lady in

d in front

a continued as I wat

ed's ear, to which she

ctan

, come on. Aaron

assionate lady in the midnightblue gown

holler climbing to my t

on. I wanted to do a litt

o. I also felt the urg

hich, in hindsight, I

d I would have imme

view, that whirling e

silent on its own. He

.. looke

ot finding that grin I

wondered if it would be

smile and him keepin

hoving those stupid th

less of all that, and I

odded, looking like he

Something tha

ron's long legs climb

e ignoring how the way h

nstead, I focused on ke

uine smile

just bought for a date

He dipped his head, his

ited, but he did

g to say and came up e

sile

en familiarizing myself

came rushing back, raisi

w weird, how strange, a

hat we'd found each oth

dn't even

er the weight of Aaron'

ble of taking in this he

come with a boat, Blackf

off. "Otherwise, I might

ric

ver. They held mine. A

up for just a heartbea

with the smile I now kne

n my chest. Something ve

idn't help the pace of my

auction-to re

r. "Sometimes, I'm con

deep voice sounded hushe

ought q

th opened, but I still

every right to be pisse

uld have warned me it wo

had known, I would have

have definitely come in

ort height, quiet and st

me shift on

us once more, bringing

d by the crowd that had

ur of voices accompanied

m the other sid

silence, saying,