They both nod and introduce themselves. Victor shifts his glass to his other hand and shakes with Luc and then Alex. “Larue, right? You just got traded here from San Diego? Brie mentioned you were volunteering. Taking the kids jogging something.”
“Yeah. Among other things,” Alex says with a nod.
“Just don’t teach them how to cross-check or slew foot.” Victor chuckles. “Hockey’s violent, but Daphne’s House isn’t.”
I think he thinks that’s funny, but even I don’t and I’m one of the only people who laughs at his jokes. Before anyone can react, or I can figure out how to subtly apologize, Victor looks at me. “They’re going to start the auction, honey. The MC wanted me to get you. I guess he has some questions before he starts.”
“Oh. Okay.” My eyes move from Alex to Luc to Rose. “Excuse me. It was so great meeting you and I hope we can chat again before the night is over.”
I take Victor’s hand and tug him away with me because I don’t want him to stay and keep insulting their profession. My dad is by the side of the small stage we set up under a tent on the patio. He’s talking to the MC, a local radio personality he knows. His face lights up when he sees me and he pulls me into a hug. “There’s my girl.”
I close my eyes and absorb his hug, which I swear is a cure for everything. I instantly feel better and calmer as we break apart. He introduces me to the MC, who asks a few quick questions and then walks to the back of the stage to check on the mic.
My dad leans in and shakes Victor’s hand as Victor says, “Good to see you again, sir.”
My dad nods. I’m not sure he’s a huge fan of Victor’s, but he’s never been a big fan of any of my boyfriends, so I don’t let it bug me.
“The event is going well,” my dad says. “Everyone is raving about the food and there’s been a big buzz about the auction items.”
“Good. I’m glad!” I reply. “Thanks again to you and Mom for letting me host this here. And strong-arming all your rich friends into coming.”
He laughs at that, his gray eyes crinkling in the corners. “My friends didn’t have to be strong armed. They know a good cause when they see it and they’re more than willing to support it. Except for William. That cheap bastard had to be strong-armed. But I reminded him about all the damn stuff he made me donate to when Len, Lance and Louis were kids and involved in all those ‘Save the Everything’ campaigns so he owes me.”
I laugh. The whole reason I know Len is because my dad and her dad have been best friends since they were children. “All those things Len supported were good causes too.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he says, winking at me. “Your mom is very proud too. She’s around here somewhere probably pressuring people to bid on auction items.”
I grin. “This is why you guys are the best parents. Because you’re not above squeezing cash out of your friends to help your daughter.”
He kisses the top of my head. “I’m going to go find her. Be back in a minute.”
I watch Dad retreat into the crowd as my program manager Selena walks over to the stage. Victor looks confused. “She’s announcing?”
“Yeah. She’s so excited, she practiced her speech all week,” I explain and smile at the memory.
Victor’s not smiling. “But it’s your show. It’s your business.”
“It’s not a business,” I argue softly. “I’m not a CEO and besides, I speak every year. I thought it might be nice for everyone to hear from someone else. Selena’s been a dedicated employee since day one.”
Why am I trying to justify my decision to him? Why does he care? He’s still frowning. “I’ve just been telling everyone you’re speaking. I wanted to show off my girl. It’s strange to me that you wouldn’t want that moment.”
I just shrug. I can’t trust myself not to start a fight if I respond. I’m not a prize Pomeranian to parade around on stage so people can pat Victor on the back for having such a pretty girl. What the hell is wrong with him? Luckily Selena is holding the mic and walking to the front of the stage so there’s no time to argue.
She gives a great speech, talking about how many young lives she’s seen changed thanks Daphne’s House and how much she loves her job and then she surprises me with a part of the speech I hadn’t heard her practice—she talks about me. Selena tells everyone that I’m the best boss she’s ever had and that she’s never met anyone with a bigger heart. I start to tear up a little.
She introduces the MC, and I hug her as he starts the auction. Everything is going for more than I expected it to, which makes me excited. We really are going to meet our goal. The last prize to be auctioned is the entire row of seats, right behind the bench, to a Barons home game. Like with every item, the bidding starts at three hundred dollars, but this item escalates even more quickly than the others. By the time it hits two thousand dollars it’s basically a battle between two people—a sixty-ish man and a forty-something woman.
I notice Alex in the corner of the patio, he’s holding a drink, head tilted down, surveying the bidding from under his dark lashes. I get that odd, intense wave of déjà vu for a fleeting moment. He notices me noticing him and our eyes connect, but the woman bidding says something that spins both our heads toward her.
“Five thousand dollars, if the donor will throw in dinner.”
“What the fuck?” I whisper as Victor and just about everyone around me chuckles at the brazen request.
The MC looks at the card in his hand, which I know also contains the donor’s name. It was also posted on the printed card everyone was given detailing the auction items so she knows exactly who she’s asking to have dinner with. “Mr. Alex Larue?” he says into the mic. “Is this item sold?”
I spin around so quickly I almost lose my balance. Our eyes connect, like he was looking for me too and I slowly and clearly mouth, “You don’t have to.”
If he understands what I say, he doesn’t make it clear. Instead he slowly looks away from me and to the MC and starts to raise his glass. “Sold!”
