I closed my eyes and waited. Going once, going twice… And then silence. I opened my eyes and looked at the stage.
Tiffany wore an almost manic grin on her face. “If no one’s gonna take the action, you know what they say: do it yourself. I’m feeling bold, I’m feeling inspired, and I’m putting my bid in for one million dollars!”
The crowd roared. My heart fell to the floor. Out of all of them, she was the one I least expected to do something like this. I forced myself again to retain my composure, setting my Champagne glass down and making my way towards the backstage area.
I felt sick. I felt betrayed. But did I have any right to feel that way? I have no real claim on any of those three men. I’d even told my friends there was nothing going on. They probably had no idea I’d be so hurt by their actions. They probably just wanted to get in on the auction fun themselves. Why not bid on the campus’s most eligible bachelors?
Knowing I had no right to be upset didn’t ease the hurt I felt. I had no idea how to process these feelings. The last thing I needed was to be enveloped in a jealous haze as I trudged up the steps to the stage, disappearing behind the side curtain.
All three of my boys stood together, patting each other on the back.
“That went quite well,” Luka said.
“Three million dollars…” Riot said, trailing off in wonder. There was the barest hint of a smile on his face. He was the first to spot me, and that smile grew wider. “My share is easily more than enough to guarantee Aubrey’s entire education here.”
“Guess you’re stuck with us,” Jaeson grinned.
“Frankly, I’m astonished at the amount we raised,” Luka said, still marveling.
“I’m proud of you,” I said. It was easy to return their smiles. They gave me so many reasons, too many to count. But the hurt was lying behind that smile, and if I wasn’t careful, they would see catch it. “I need to start working on wrapping up the event, but I’m happy for you all. You did so well.” I quickly disappeared behind the curtain again. I stepped down the stage and back to the floor as quickly as I could. I needed to be somewhere, anywhere else, right then.
“Aubrey!” I heard Tiffany calling.
I stopped, only ten yards away from making my escape. I turned, dread rising in my chest.
“Tiffany, hey,” I said.
“Did you hear us out there?” Jessica asked from her place at Tiffany’s side.
“I’ve never taken part in a live auction like that before,” Sunny said. “It was stressful, but exciting.”
“I’m glad you two went first,” Tiffany said. “Saving the best for last, in my opinion.”
“I’m happy for you,” I said, trying my absolute best to sound genuine.
Like all good friends, though, they saw right through me.
“Are you okay?” Jessica asked.
I forced a smile. “I’m fine.”Just dying of jealousy, is all.
“Is it because we bid on the three boys that stare at you like you hang the moon?” Sunny asked with a hint of tease in her voice.
“What? No, I—”
They all grinned at each other and simultaneously shouted.
“Happy birthday!” they exclaimed.
I blinked, non-plussed.
“It was my idea,” Jessica added.
“It was a team effort,” Tiffany said. “Aubrey, we’ve all been thinking. You’ve been getting it rough from all sides lately.”
I was still confused, but I did have to stifle a smile at that comment. If only she knew.
“We thought, what’s something we can do to cheer up our friend?” Tiffany finished.
