Five of them.
One for each of the starters, including Clay.
“They’re stunning,” a woman next to me says.“A good idea to get them signed by the players.”
Because, I realize, they are signed by the players.
After dinner and the auction, I’m still in shock.
Someone put my images up for auction.And people bought the pieces, one after another.
More than seventy thousand dollars for charity.
Until the one of Clay was scheduled to come up and the auctioneer conferred with a colleague before coming back to the mic.“I’ve been informed this piece was acquired by a private collector for an unnamed amount.”
The crowd groaned.
Robin finds me after it’s over.“Nova, that was a very generous contribution.”
“How did I not know you were doing this?”Mari demands.“Is this what you’ve been doing sneaking around and spending all that time around the team?”
“It’s wonderful.”Harlan nods in appreciation.
“But… how did you get them signed?”Mari asks.
“I helped.”Brooke loops an arm around my waist, a coy smile on her face.
Then who did this?
I can’t ask, not here.
She turns back to her date, and I sneak outside to the pool for a breath of fresh air.The patio area is empty at night, the bright-blue lights of the pool shimmering.
I suck in oxygen, grateful for a moment alone to process.
I’ve never dared to put myself out there.Since art school, I haven’t had an exhibition.This was unplanned.The emotions rushing up, hope and gratitude and excitement, are overwhelming.
“You are sneaky, trying to get me and Coach on good terms again.”
The familiar voice and footsteps at my back make me turn.
Clay hovers in the doorway a dozen feet away.
The tips of his tattoos creep out of his collar.He’s like an animal playing at being tame.
“It’s a benefit for you and for the team.You mad?”
He takes leisurely steps across the pool area until he stops next to me, hands in the pockets of his tux.
“I’ll get over it.”
His smile feels like a secret between us.“And what about you?You’re the woman of the hour in there.”
I press my hands to my chest.“Those sketches were some of the first I’ve done in ages.Now they belong to people I’ve never met.Because of you.”
No one else knew about my drawings or would have had the motive.
“You’re pissed.”He doesn’t try to deny it.
