The thought of ruining my friendship with West, of losing him completely, made my chest tighten painfully. I rinsed my hair, letting the water wash away the suds and some of the shame I felt for using him in my fantasy.
But as I stood there, surrounded by steam and the faint scent of my body wash, I couldn’t help but wonder, what if? What if West felt the same way? What if all those lingering looks and casual touches meant something more?
I shook my head, reaching for the towel.
As I dried off, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My hair stuck up in all directions, and my cheeks were flushed from the hot water. I looked exactly like what I was. A guy hopelessly crushing on his best friend.
Well, at least tomorrow’s auction would be a good distraction. Nothing like being paraded around like a piece of meat to take your mind off unrequited love, right?
With a final, resigned sigh, I headed back to my room. Whatever these feelings were, whatever they meant, they’d have to wait. We had a fundraiser to pull off, and I wasn’t about to let my messy emotions get in the way. West and the foundation we’d worked so hard to build from scratch deserved better.
2
WEST
Too fidgety to sit down, I stood at the back of the large events room at the Botanical Gardens, praying for my heart to stop pounding so hard.
Tonight, everything was at stake—the help that the Star Finders Foundation so desperately needed and the possibility of a future I craved but didn’t know how to bring into existence.
The scent of peonies hung in the air, but the beautiful perfume did nothing to ease my nerves. My palms were sweaty as I gripped the auction paddle, debating whether I’d actually have the guts to use it.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, Mr. Andrew Carter!”
The crowd erupted in applause as Drew bounded onto the stage, flashing his beautiful, bright smile that never failed to make my knees go weak. Damn, he looked good in his gray suit. He stood tall and confident, the suit hugging his lean frame perfectly.
“Okay, everyone!” The emcee’s voice boomed through the speakers. “Who’s ready to bid for a chance to learn how to makecocktails from the best bartender in the city?” More cheers and whistles. “But first, let’s have a word from the man himself.”
A smile tugged at my lips despite my nerves. Drew had a way of lighting up any room—or, in this case, the Botanical Gardens. His enthusiasm was infectious, but I knew the real Drew beneath the facade.
As he launched into his spiel about the Foundation’s work, I found myself hanging on his every word, entranced. It wasn’t just his looks—though let’s be real, the guy was unfairly gorgeous. It was his passion, his genuine desire to help kids who’d been through the same crap we had.
Then, the emcee took over to sell what was really being auctioned.
“All right, folks, let’s start the bidding at five hundred. Do I hear five hundred?”
This was it. My moment of truth. Could I actually go through with this? Bid on my best friend like he was a prize to be won? But if I didn’t, who knew who might snatch him up? And what if they really hit it off during the cocktail class and then wanted more?
I knew Drew dated occasionally, but I’d never met any of his boyfriends. He was a private person, so I assumed things had never become serious enough for him to bring a guy into our space. It was selfish, but I liked that.
I raised my paddle, heart in my throat. “Five hundred,” I called out, my voice shakier than I would’ve liked.
Drew’s eyes found mine in the crowd, his smile giving me confidence that I was doing the right thing. Before I could count my wins, another voice rang out.
“One thousand!”
Crap. Game on, I guess.
A gentle nudge to my ribs made me jump. I turned to see Noah grinning at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Well, well, look who’s finally making a move,” he whispered, waggling his eyebrows. “About damn time, West. I was starting to think I’d have to auction off your backbone.”
I felt heat creep up my neck. “I’m not—it’s not like that,” I stammered, unwilling to admit it really was like that.
Noah snorted. “Sure, and I didn’t slip and fall on my husband’s dick when I saw him in the suit he’s wearing tonight. Come on, man. You’ve been pining after Drew for months. This is your chance!”
I shot Noah a glare, but my focus was pulled back when the bidding continued to climb. “Two thousand!” another voice called from the opposite side of the room. I scanned the crowd and spotted Patrick McMartin, smiling like he’d already won. My stomach twisted.
“Noah, what do I do?” I hissed under my breath, panic rising as the numbers soared far beyond what I could responsibly bid without dipping into savings meant for emergencies.
