“Good.”
“Good evening, everyone.” The team owner calls everyone’s attention to the stage, where a spotlight shines down on him. “I want to thank you all for joining us here tonight to raise money for the local children’s hospital. I know how much it means to them that we host this event, so I urge you to open up those pocketbooks during the silent auction to help us this evening. I don’t want to monopolize your time, so enjoy your dinner and I’ll be back with a surprise before the dancing starts.”
Everyone claps as Chloe leans over. “Okay, that has to be Genevieve.”
“I don’t want to get my hopes up.” Stevie leans across Bode to talk to Chloe. “Do you really think it’s going to be her?”
Chloe nods as a plate is set in front of her. “I mean, it has to be, right? Wouldn’t they just say otherwise?”
“I really hope so,” Harper says from Chloe’s other side. “I’ve never gotten to see her perform live.”
“Me either,” Chloe says. “This would make the best night if she did.”
“Thatwould make it the best night?” I whisper, grabbing a knife and cutting into my chicken.
She rests her chin on my shoulder, staring up at me. “Well, it’d make the night better. It’s already pretty great.”
“Yeah.”
We all eat our chicken—rather dry, if I do say so myself—chatting about our upcoming game and road trip while the girls talk about what else the surprise could be.
I love that they bonded so quickly. I’ve only met Harper and Stevie a few times, but I knew that they’d get along.
After dinner is cleared out, the tables are moved away to make room for the dance floor, while a dessert bar is spread along another table against the wall.
Before anyone can go far, Coach Andrews takes the stage.
“Hi everyone. I’ll keep this short and sweet because I get to introduce the big surprise tonight. I think everyone knows her, but please welcome to the stage Genevieve!”
“It’s her!” Chloe smacks me on the arm as we head toward the dance floor. “Oh my God!”
“This is so cool!” Harper grabs Chloe’s arm and drags her and Bode closer to the stage.
“Should we go up there with them?” I ask Marcus as Jasper joins us.
“Nah. Let them enjoy it. I’m fine standing back here.”
Dropping an elbow onto the cocktail table, I listen as the music starts. It’s a song I don’t recognize, but I recognize her.
Genevieve is the biggest pop star in the world right now. How they got her to come perform here, I don’tknow. Jasper’s jaw drops as he takes in the curvy star. His eyes are focused only on her.
In a black, one-shoulder dress with a cut-out on the side, glittery fabric flows down from her shoulder. Long, silver earrings catch the light as she moves around the stage.
She’s powerful and captivating while she’s performing. But my eyes aren’t looking at her. They’re looking for the woman dancing to the music up front with a smile lighting up her face.
I don’t know the lyrics to this song, but she’s talking about finding the right person to fall in love with at the wrong time.
Huh. I guess you could say that was what happened with me and Chloe. All these years in each other’s lives, but nothing happening until she left my brother.
I sip my drink, not bothering to hide my happiness. Because if it weren’t for him being a dick, I wouldn’t be here with her right now.
The song ends, and she starts singing another one that I recognize. Given the fact that Chloe loves her, I know most of these songs.
When there’s a break in the set, the girls come back up to the table, smiles on their flushed faces.
“Having fun out there?” I ask, wrapping an arm around Chloe.
“It’s so cool getting to see her perform like this,” she says.
