“This won’t actually make them believe we aren’t dating,” Bram says with a grin.
I lean close enough that I can whisper in his ear, “No. It won’t, but it will make them feel silly when they actually find out that we’re just friends.”
Bram laughs out loud. “You have an evil streak in you.”
“Possibly.” It might also be true that I came up with most of the crazy ideas for the Spinsters’ Club growing up.
“Love that about you.”
How did I forget that wild, crazy streak when I married Darrel? “I do, too. Now, tell me more about this town so I can see if we can raise enough money to pay for all four years of college for a kid instead of one.”
***
This is the first time I’ve put anything on my new coffee table. Spread across it are all the papers from the file Bram gave me today. Whoever was running this before me was organized and efficient. There isn’t much to do for their standard event…but who loves standard?
The best two options after live music to bring in money are a ball or a carnival. A carnival would attract a lot more people, but it’s very expensive, and there isn’t a huge amount of room in the town square after we add a concert. A ball that evening or the next would be perfect. This town has plenty of disposable income to afford the tickets. All I’d need would be a venue, a caterer, entertainment…Kia could do a private performance. The florist here in town might not be able to handle all the florals needed.
A motorcycle pulls in next door.
That must be Creed since his father took the SUV after dropping me off. I can give him the money I owe his father and ask him a few questions that Bram might have found weird.
Before he can get inside, I rush out to meet him. “Hey, Creed.”
“Everything okay?”
Huh? “Fine.”
“You sure about that?” He looks me up and down like I’ve lost my mind.
What am I…sweats. I’m wearing the same sweats I bought in college, with the school logo and everything. My hair’s in a messy bun. I probably don’t look at all like myself. “I’m good. Really.”
“You sure? I can call my dad.”
That’s literally the last thing I want. “No. I just ran out to catch you to give you this.” I take the envelope out of my pocket that I stuffed with cash from my safe room. “Could you give this to your father and tell him it’s from me?”
“Sure.” Creed takes it with a smile. “What is it?”
“Money. I forgot to carry cash in town.” That’s a mistake I won’t make again. Rothswyler will have to make sure I receive more regularly. There’s no way I want to be raiding my emergency cash.
“Do you want to give it to him yourself? He’ll be home in like twenty minutes.”
NO. “I have some things I need to get done.” Very far away from him. “Do you mind if I ask you a strange question?”
“Sure. Weird questions are my specialty.”
“Do people around here do date nights?”
Creed tips his head to the side. “Did you find someone you want to go out on a date with?”
Me? “No.”
“Um. Sure, all the time. There isn’t much here, though. The diner, the drive-in, and the coffee shop are the most common places here.”
Well, that makes even more sense why Bram’s friends think we’re dating. “What about for a fancy date?”
“Usually, people have to drive a couple of towns over to find a nice restaurant. Some people even head into Urbium. Why?”
“Research.” Yeah, that sounds totally not weird. “What about for teenagers? Do you guys have a lot of dances or whatever?”
