The amount of crying emojis that accompanied the message took away any fear Rose had first felt that this betrayal was serious. Shaking her head at Keys’ antics, she responded.
Gl!tch.OS: How dare they?! Need me to come kick some biker ass for you?
WiseWave620: Would you? I’d really appreciate it. I can give you my address. Just let me know when you’re on your way.
Rose snorted, rolling onto her back so she didn’t disturb Oscar with her typing.
Gl!tch.OS: Fine. You called my bluff. What’s going on?
WiseWave620: The ladies signed me up for a Bachelor Auction! Me?? Are they serious?
In all her past relationships, both platonic and romantic, Rose had never felt such an immediate connection with someone. Which was also strange—because she’d never met Keys before. She didn’t know his real name, didn’t know what he looked like or his age. She pictured him like a mixture of Spencer Reid and Penelope Garcia.
But what she loved, and appreciated, the most was that he didn’t even attempt to seduce her. Rose wasn’t sure why, and sure that stung the ego some, but at the end of the day, Rose wasn’t in a position for a romantic relationship. She was a single mom on the run, and the world thought her dead. What could she even offer a man beyond bringing untold chaos into his life? So despite the growing affection she felt for Keys, the truth of the matter was that she just needed a friend. Someone she could connect with, joke with, lean on, and occasionally, hack multibillion-dollar industries with to get stock tips.
Gl!tch.OS: Why? That seems random.
Rose tried to ignore the way her skull itched at the thought of Keys being auctioned off to the highest bidder. A bachelor auction implied a date and romance and… Rose didn’t want to think what else. And yes, she was very aware of the fact that she had no right to be jealous. Keys was her friend, and that was all, but that didn’t mean she approved of him being auctioned like a stud.
And clearly neither did he.
WiseWave620: It’s for the fall festival. The ol’ ladies are pimping us out.
Knowing what she did of the VDMC, Rose was very confused. The women—or the men for that matter—who were in committed relationships seemed the type to put on a bachelor auction.
Gl!tch.OS: I’m going to need a bit more detail than that. What’s going on?
As she waited for Keys’ response, she looked up the annual fall festival on Mount Grove’s website.
WiseWave620: Okay, long story short: it’s a fundraiser the ladies are putting on. Those of us who are single have to go on dates, but the ones who are partnered up are offering labor or a specific task.
That made slightly more sense.
Gl!tch.OS: When is this event?
WiseWave620: October, the weekend before Halloween
It was the middle of September now. As much as the idea left a sour taste in her mouth, Rose typed out her suggestion.
Gl!tch.OS: Okay, so that gives you 5-6 weeks to find a girl/boyfriend.
WiseWave620: GIRLFRIEND!
Gl!tch.OS: I didn’t want to assume.
WiseWave620: Hardy-har-har.
Gl!tch.OS: I’m serious, though. If you get a girlfriend, then you can offer labor too.
WiseWave620: It’s sweet that you think I could get a girlfriend in 5-6 weeks.
Rose’s eyes narrowed on her phone.
Gl!tch.OS: Don’t make me reach throughyour computer and bitch slap you. And if that’s not threat enough and you start putting yourself down, I will call every single one of your brothers and have THEM bitch slap you for me. Don’t think I won’t.
WiseWave620: Uncle! Uncle! Down, girl. I just meant that there’s no one around here that I like or would want to ask out.
Gl!tch.OS: Oh.
