Everyone turned to look over at the woman in silver.
Christ. It was like a goddamn ping-pong match.
I hopped down from the stage—to a gasp of delight from the MC. The ladies at table three all dropped their jaws on the table.
The crowd craned to watch me make my way between the tables—over to the guy at table twelve. I grabbed an empty chair from a nearby table along the way, dragging it with me, and sat down right next to him.
He smirked at me and looked me over. When his eyes met mine again, I asked him, “You gonna let them win?”
I wasn’t exactly accustomed to flirting with dudes, but I was fucking motivated.
That look on Courteney’s face as she got up and walked out? It was burned uncomfortably into my brain.
“We’ve got a generous bid of one-hundred-and-twenty-thousand dollars from the lady in red, for a date with Xander—”
The guy next to me raised his paddle. “Two-hundred-thousand.”
Jesus.
His eyes crinkled at the corners, and he sipped his wine. That look said,This is amusing. And I’ve got every penny it takes.
“Ohhh!” The MC practically came in his dress. “Nowthat’sa bid. Do I see two-hundred-and-five? No? Lady in red? Silver fox?”
The lady in red was shaking her head. She smiled at me and shrugged.
The lady in silver sat back and gave a little head shake.
“The lady in red has laid down her paddle,” the MC said dramatically, “and it appears the silver fox has retired for the night.” The crowd played right into it.Awww.“But! We’ve got an incredibly generous bid of two-hundred-thousand dollars from the gentleman at table twelve. Going once, going twice… and the date has beensealed.”
There was a little drum roll and cymbal crash sound effect, in place of an auctioneer’s gavel, and just like that, the auction was over. Nice touch, and that was probably Trey’s doing. I glanced over at him as I stood up and the crowd applauded.
He grinned at me like,Loving the fucking hell out of this, brother.
How come no dudes bid on him?
I mean, maybe they did and I just didn’t know.
I shook the winning bidder’s hand and the event volunteers corraled us up to the stage, where we smiled and posed for the obligatory photos. Then I looked at the wealthy, likely gay dude I was having a dinner date with in the near future.
He winked at me and then was ushered offstage, while I was escorted backstage.
Jesus Christ, the shit I did for Courteney Clarke.
“Do I seriously have to go on a dinner date with this guy?” I asked Jordan when I met her and Lucas backstage, fearing the answer.
Lucas chuckled.
“Yes, you do,” Jordan said. “He just spent two-hundred grand on it. Just think of it as a dinner with someone who’s interested in the music industry.”
“Oh, he’s interested,” Lucas said.
“Quit being helpful,” I muttered, then went into the dressing room to change. These stupid dress pants Jo made me wear were chafing my inner thighs. I put on some loose jeans and a sleeveless shirt, my usual attire, and went back out into the club with Lucas.
When I got out to table seven, I said my hellos. I sat down next to Ash, who was bisexual, as far as I knew. I’d never actually asked him, but people talked.
Plus, I’d once seen him sucking face with a dude at a party, years ago, so there was that.
“What do I do on a date with a dude?” I asked him.
