“Let me help.”
“How?”
Here’s where he comes up with a multitude of solutions. Many brains are better than one is my motto, and my brain is fried after writing a ton of essays using APA formatting.
“I’ll give you the money.”
That’s not the solution I was fishing for. “You can’t. You barely know me.”
“Then let me.”
“Let you what?” My brain isn’t following where he’s taking the conversation.
“Spend time with you.”
I shake my head. “Five thousand dollars for time with me is not an equal exchange. How about we start with a car wash, then maybe an auction for fancy pottery, or even better, time with you and some of your friends? Kind of like, win a date with a hottie, or hide and seek with a baddie?” I tip my chin in the direction of Gage’s lookalike, Mr. Snarly Face.
Bobby looks where I’m looking and ducks his head, his body shaking with his closed-mouth laughter.
Joy bursts through me, and I smile, unable to stop staring at his dark head of hair. Bobby is handsome and boyish looking when he does that, but underneath his clothing, he’s all man.
“How about it?” My voice comes out a little too out of breath for my liking, but being near this man . . . His large body and confident presence suck the air from around us, leaving me lightheaded.
Bobby lifts his head. “A car wash won’t bring in enough money. The auction won’t work either. I don’t have friends, Ever.”
I scoff. “That’s difficult to believe. You’re easy to talk to. You came right up to me, a stranger, and helped me feel like I belonged. I’m sure you have a lot of friends.”
He shrugs and says, “I’m a workaholic,” as though that sentence is the answer to all his problems.
My lame excuse for going out is similar, and I throw in, “I’m behind and have to study.”
Bobby toys with our napkins before sliding them to me. Wondering whether he feels as lonely as I do, even in a room full of people, I shape our napkins into two hearts. Except sitting here with him, I am more seen and alive than I’ve ever felt since Carlos’s death.
“When you say you want to spend time with me for 5K, how much time are you asking for?” I spell everything out so there are no misunderstandings.
“One day and one night.”
That’s it? “There’s a catch, isn’t there?”
“None. Unless you want more time with me. The ball is in your court.”
“By ‘with you,’ do you mean between the sheets?”
“Up to you.”
“I . . .” My gaze strays to his cupid’s bow, the luscious fullness of his lips, and the tan column of his neck. Dark, curly hair shows just above the open collar of his shirt. Can I resist wanting to stay with him longer than one day and one night after being in his sexy, charming presence?
I’m confident I can. “Are you sure it’s what you want?” I give Bobby a chance to back out and keep his pride. “I won’t think less of you if you change your mind. Five thousand is a lot for twenty-four hours with someone you don’t know.”
“The world needs someone like you.”
It doesn’t. I’ve been nothing but trouble for my brother, the crew, and my father. What the world needs more of is someone like Gwen, who forgave a stranger too easily for landing her brother in prison for five years.
“Let me do this for you, Ever.”
I think it over. The silence stretches on, and Bobby doesn’t fill it. Usually, someone in my friend group or the crew does. Instead, Bobby lets me breathe and think.
With the money in my account, I’ll head to the registrar’s office on Monday. Skylar is on shift and can accept payment. Then, I’ll draft a letter letting Gwen know that an alumnus has made a charitable gift and paid for the overdue tuition of five lucky seniors. She can’t refuse what’s been done. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.
