I’ve managed to avoid the auction twice. Freshman year, I dislocated my shoulder. Sophomore year, I got a stomach bug. It wasn’t an especially good time, but it got me out of being part of the auction.
Now in my junior year, I’m—I can’t believe I’m saying this—unfortunately not hurt or sick, so I have no other choice but to participate. It’s not been announced who will have to, but as captain, I know I’ll be one of the four picked.
“I know you’re all dying to find out who will be the four to join the other athletes on the stage,” he voices flatly, probably feeling about it the way I do. “If I call your name, I don’t want to hear it and no, I can’t be bribed. Dress up, show up, and kiss ass if you have to.” His eyes scan each guy in the locker room, then he glances down at his phone. “Everett Frost, Marcello Galante, Rowan Jovanovic, and Sylas Lenoir Alves.”
He has an excellent read on me because as he speaks my name, he looks up.
“It’s one night, so make the best of it,” Coach instructs us, but based on his stern expression, I know it’s me he’s singling out.
I swallow back the grumble that threatens to leave me as he switches the conversation to tonight’s game. After giving us his usual celebratory speech, he bids us good night and leaves the locker room.
“Cheer up, princess.” Berlin St. Clair, our defenseman, smirks. “You act like this is the worst thing in the world. It’s a win-win if you ask me. You do your due diligence and you get laid.”
My scowl only deepens as my teammates break out into laughter. “Fuck you.” I turn, giving them my back.
Berlin might not consider it a nightmare, but I know who will be bidding on me.
“You know…” Frost, our center, tugs his jersey over his head. “You could always pay someone to bid on you. You have the money. I don’t see why it would be an issue, and no one would have to know.”
Why didn’t I think of that? Sure, there’s the risk of it backfiring. They could end up keeping the money or find a way to actually get me to go on a date with them, but…
“You’re not actually thinking about it, are you?” Berlin cocks a brow, humor lacing his voice.
I shrug. “I don’t know…it’s not the worst idea.”
Rowan, our goalie, regards me with a patronizing look but stays quiet.
Marc laughs. “You’re fucking stupid. It’s one night with Florence.”
I flip him off, not saying a word to him but still consider Frost’s idea.
“Stop mulling it over. It’s not until next week.” Marc drapes his arm around my shoulder as we step out of the locker room. “We got more important things to think about. Like skipping dinner with our parents to go to Salt. How mad will your dad be? Mine already threatened me.”
“I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.”
He’s going to be furious, but I’ll think about the consequences later.
4
ANNA
Friday, December 6
“No cokeor accepting drinks from guys.”
Jenny places a hand on her chest, feigning offense. “What do I look like?”
“Like you’re easily influenced and a ‘yes’ girl when you’re drunk.” I give her a pointed look as we take a step closer to New York’s newest and hottest nightclub. We’ve been waiting in line for thirty minutes now, but it won’t be long before we’re in.
I had no desire to go out tonight, especially after the argument I got into with my parents and sister, but Jenny forced me to. She needs the distraction after being with her family, and she knows I need it too. Still, this is the last place I want to be. It’ll be crowded and busy. I don’t want to wait forever in line for a drink that’ll cost an obscene amount. I can’t afford to be spending money.
But it’s one night and I’ll be with Jenny, so I guess it couldn’t hurt.
“Trust, after taking those edibles that one time, I’m afraid to even pop a Tylenol,” she states with a shudder, making me laugh.
At the time, it wasn’t funny, but now that it’s been a year, we can look back on that night and have a good laugh. She was so overwhelmed by the edible she called 9-1-1, thinking she was dying.
I wasn’t with her; otherwise, I would’ve been able to stop her from taking so many. She hadn’t realized they take a while to kick in.
