"It is," Jessie agreed. "Those are some of our most popular programs. But—" she shrugged. "Funding for the arts is usually the first to go, I'm afraid."
Liam's nostrils flared, as if he'd been personally offended.
"How much money are you looking to raise?" he asked.
I had a sudden vision of Liam whipping out his checkbook, right then and there.
"Why don't we go play some games?" I interjected as I linked my arm through his. "You can be all macho and win me a toy."
The frown on Liam's face melted into a soft smile as he looked down at me. "I thought you hated all that macho-caveman stuff?"
"It's for a good cause."
"That game over there has some donated stuffed animals as prizes." Jessie pointed to a wall with dozens of balloons taped to it. People were using plastic darts to try and pop them. Her eyes drifted over my shoulder. An alarmed look appeared on her face. "Stop—!"
"Oomp," Liam huffed as a teen boy rammed into him from behind.
"Shit, sorry, man," the kid said as he righted himself. He looked to be fourteen with long, gangly limbs.
"Language!" Jessie admonished.
"Whoa, hey, you're Gael's sister!" the kid gaped at me. "You're the lead singer of his band!"
"That's me." I hid a smile. I recognized the kid as one of the guitarists in the youth center's rock band.
The kid's eyes flicked to Liam and the awe faded a bit.
"Who invited Douchebag and Gabbana?" he asked.
I nearly burst into laughter. I'd told Liam not to wear that shirt.
"Zain!" Jessie scolded the kid, exasperated. "Be careful who you call names. You'd kill to one day be as successful as Liam Knight."
"Who?" the kid asked dismissively.
I held back a snicker. Liam's expression was hilarious, both confused and affronted at the same time.
"Whatever," Zain continued, ignoring Liam. "I just came by to tell you that Gael said we're almost out of bottled water at the bake sale."
"Tell him I've got some more in the trunk of my car."
He nodded and hurried off to relay the message.
"Sorry about that," Jessie apologized for the second time. "Kids these days."
"It's cool," Liam said, although his lips were twisted into a frown. "I was a little shit disturber when I was his age, too."
"He's actually a really sweet kid," she said. "He's just at that age where he thinks he has to play it cool."
"Do boys ever grow out of that stage?" I asked.
Jessie and I shared a grin.
"Why don't we go get some tickets?" Liam asked, still looking vaguely disgruntled.
I agreed and kept my arm looped through his, tugging him out of the way when stray children ran by us.
"I've never been around so many little tiny humans in my life," Liam said. "How does Jessie deal with it?"
