There was no rule that athletes couldn’t bid on each other. Because the date isn’t tonight; it’s anytime in the next two weeks. And while I may not have the money to bid on her tonight, I know who does. The only problem is, her dad just walked in behind her, and something tells me no one is outbidding that dude.
“You wantme to do what now?” Cash says, his eyes narrowed, not from anger, but pure confusion. “And also, how much money do you think I have, Hunt?”
“Dude, your dad is a retired NHL player; you’ve got it. Don’t even play that card with me,” I rib him. “Please, bid on Isla. And before you say I’m being possessive, that isn’t it. I just need this night, man. I need to tell her how I feel.”
“I already had someone I was going to bid on though,” Cash says, clearly overwhelmed because that dude has a plan for a plan, and if anything falls out of order, he fucking panics.
“So, bid on both?” I plead. “But aren’t you and Cam Hardy close?”
“I mean, we don’t, like, hang out, just the two of us, no.” Cash looks at me like I’m a nut. “Our families are close, yes.”
“Great.” I nod. “How about this? You give me money to bid on whoever the hell you’re bidding on, and I will give you everything I have—which, I’m warning you, isn’t a whole lot—but you can bid on Isla.” I cringe. “But here’s the thing: you should probably go convince Cam that you want to bid on his daughter because there’s no way in hell that dude is going to get outbid by anyone.” I stop, rolling my eyes. “Besides a true golden-child motherfucker like yourself.”
“Now I’m a motherfucker?” Cash grumbles. “You want me to help you out and lie to Cam Hardy—who could still kick my ass even in his older age—and you have the nerve to call me a motherfucker.” He shakes his head. “You’re unreal.”
“Is that a yes then?” I stare at him in anticipation, hoping like hell I can convince him to do this for me.
He throws his head back, pondering it before looking back at me.
“Fine,” he says. “But if I get my ass kicked by her dad, I’m going to send him your way next.”
I look across the room at Cam, tilting my head from side to side thoughtfully. “I think I could take him.” I shrug before throwing my arm around him. “You’re good shit, Hale. I take back all of those things I said about you.”
“What—”
“Don’t worry about it,” I mutter. “Now, tell me who I’m going to be bidding on. I’m dying to know the sweet girl who caught your eye, Cashy.”
Releasing him, I wait for an answer while he drags his hand over the top of his head nervously. Finally, he moves closer, whispering it to my ear.
“Margo?” I blurt out, rearing my head back. “You, the nicest kid I know, want to bid on Margo Pickering? Debatably one of the meanest people I know.”
“Shut up,” he growls, swatting my back. “You going to do it or what?”
“I mean … sure.” My shock turns to a grin, and I poke him lightly. “Damn, boy. I didn’t know you had it in you to go after a wild card like that. Good for you.” I cringe. “Isla isn’t going to love that though. She’ll think I want her.” Before he can respond, I shrug. “Oh well. Once she realizes my master plan, she’ll have to give me another chance.”
Cash looks me over before, finally, he gives my shoulder a pat. “Well, good luck, Hunt.”
As he walks off, leaving me alone, I catch sight of Isla again. I watch her as she talks to a group of girls, but none of them holda candle to her. Even in a room filled with women, she’s the only one I see.
My breath hitches, and I can’t pull my eyes away. As if she can feel my gaze, she turns toward me, her eyes staring into mine. This place may be packed right now, yet it’s just the two of us, and I feel like I can hear her every thought, even when we’re all the way across the room from each other.
She doesn’t look away from me, even though I told her more of my past than anyone else. And she doesn’t look ashamed either. Instead, she just looks sad.
Her parents step beside her, pulling her attention away from me, and for a few more seconds, I just drink her in before I tear my gaze away, knowing I probably look like a fucking weirdo.
I haven’t asked for much my entire life because I knew it would be rare for me to actually get anything I wanted. But right now … I want her. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything. And to be honest, I’m fucking terrified that I can’t get her back.
ISLA
The guy athletes go first, and the room changes with each one—from laughter, to cheering, to whistling. And when Brody flashes his cheeky grin and announces that NEU’s bad boy, Hendrix Hunt, is next … I kind of want to vomit when the entire room goes crazy.
My dad stands beside me, but he doesn’t say a word. But when Hendrix struts up to the front of the stage, slowly pulling his shirt off, my mom’s body knocks against mine before she leans over and puts her lips to my ear.
“All right. I see the appeal,” she whispers, careful not to look too impressed with my dad standing next to us.
“Well, the thing about this guy is … an anonymous donor put a pretty significant bid on him. So, what I’m going to do is announce the bid, and if you want to challenge it, you just hold up your sign, all right?”
Hendrix looks surprised and also suddenly nervous, though he quickly hides it with a smirk.
