I take his hand in mine and bring it up to my lips, placing a kiss to his knuckles. “You set the bar pretty high. Next date I’m going to expect you to top that.”
Brayden laughs. “Nah, next date is all yours. That’s the great thing about dating a guy. I don’t have to be the one to plan it all.”A Few Days Later“…think it’s wonderful you’ve donated a date to raise money for the athletic program. I know I’ll certainly be bidding.”
I stifle a groan as I smile at Mrs. Vanworth. “All for the cause.”
“Mother,” Sasha says tightly. “Don’t embarrass Daddy. I already told you, he’s spoken for. I’ll be bidding on Brayden and going on the date with him. You just write that check into my account.”
Both women titter and plaster on fake smiles.
Jesus Christ.
Where are my friends?
I scan the room, flooded with people dressed in their fancy attire. The tie around my neck feels like a noose, tightening with each second I have to spend rubbing elbows with Sasha and her mother. When I spot Drew, I finally have an excuse to bail.
“Just saw Coach,” I say, gently gripping Sasha’s shoulder. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Make sure you’re by the podium around nine,” she reminds me. “We’ll figure the date out later. I’m thinking a weekend trip to New York City. My treat. The least I can do to help with the fundraiser.”
Drew will shit his pants if she tries to take me to New York for the weekend. Not sure how I’ll get out of this, but I’ll damned sure try.
“We’ll discuss it later,” I state. “If you win.”
Sasha laughs, her boobs jiggling to the point I’m afraid they’ll fall right out of her sparkly blue cocktail dress. “Oh, sweetie, I always do.”
Fucking wonderful.
I walk away, shaking off the unease that girl puts on me. Along the way to see Drew, I wave and stop to talk to a few teammates. I’ve been putting forth more of an effort to not be such a closed-off dick. The results are paying off. People don’t seem so intimidated by me and are inviting me to shit. I don’t necessarily want to go, but I at least don’t shut them down.
Just wish Drew could go with me.
Wednesday was awesome. Getting to hang out with him in public. As a couple with no one giving us shit. I’m looking forward to the day we can do more of that.
Drew is in mid-conversation with several older men, Curtis included. He’s in his element, looking hot as fuck and charismatic as hell. When he catches my stare, his blue eyes blaze and his dimple pops out.
Goddamn, he’s good-looking.
“Damn, Brayden,” Ashton’s familiar voice rings out from behind me, his knuckle running down my spine. “Lookin’ like a snack tonight. Those sorority bitches are gonna be throwing their daddy’s checkbooks at you.”
I swivel around, smirking, ready to toss a comeback his way, but I’m stunned speechless by the sight of them. Mia and Ashton. Ashton and Mia. Holy shit.
Mia is wearing a skintight, sparkly red gown that dips low in the front, showing off her delectable cleavage, and hugs every curve. Fuck her mom for ever insinuating she wasn’t the hottest girl in every room. Her dark hair is twisted up into some fancy do and her makeup is flawless. Talk about looking like a movie star. Mia is a fucking starlet tonight.
And Ashton.
It’s a good goddamn thing he doesn’t dress like this every night.
Black suit. Silver tie. Dark hair mussed up into a just-fucked way. His hazel eyes scream bad boy, but he cleans up so well. You can tell he grew up with all this fancy shit because he wears it like a second skin, unlike myself, who tugs at the knot of his tie every two minutes.
“You guys…” I mutter. “Damn.”
Mia laughs, stepping forward to hug me. “You look great, Bray. It’s a good thing you’re doing tonight.”
“Sasha’s mom was going to bid on me, but then Sasha shut that shit down quick,” I say with a laugh.
“Just wait until Cougar Wendy gets here,” Ashton deadpans. “She’ll give her buddy Vanworth a run for her money. Literally. Rich bitches are vicious.”
Just what I want. A bidding war between overly botoxed, rich, horny housewives.
I get dragged away from my friends by one of the fathers from the hockey team to congratulate me on all the wins we’ve had lately. I feel like a rubber ball bouncing between groups of people. But Drew says we need this in order to help raise money, so I do as I’m told. I’m thankful when it’s finally time to eat.
Ashton has taken it upon himself to discreetly move name cards at the dramatically decorated tables until the four of us plus his parents are at one table. I’m thankful, because while schmoozing, I’d noticed my name on a card right next to Sasha’s.