With a grin, he shows his phone screen to me. He did it. He sent ten thousand.
“How? What?”
“It’s pending approval from my bank on Monday. But it’s done. Now can we go?”
I look agog from his phone to him. “Go?”
“I bought you for the weekend, right? Let’s go get a bite to eat. Maybe go dancing. Go to Lover’s Bridge and talk until the sun comes up.”
People around us are tittering, and a hot flush spreads up my chest. “That’s not… I mean, that’s not how this works.”
“Sure it is.”
I shift my weight from one foot to the other. “No, it’s not a dating auction. It’s a service type of thing. Like cooking and cleaning.”
He stares at me. “That’s dumb. And that ain’t what we need from each other, darlin’.”
Oh shit. Did everyone hear that?
Although most people in the crowd have moved on to more exciting happenings at the party—there’s a karaoke corner that’s caught everyone’s attention now—there are still a few people who seem intensely interested in this exchange between Crosby and me. Specifically Meghan, Cassandra, and Mila.
“Come on. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
“I can’t. I’m the organizer. I have to give a speech.”
“You’re my assistant, and as my assistant, I need you to leave with me right now.”
Nobody tells me what to do. But this tone … is working on me.
“Now?” I ask, incredulous.
Crosby nods and a flirty spreads across his face. “My Harley is parked at the bar, but don’t worry. If your feet hurt in those heels, I can just carry you ’til we get to the bike.”
I shake my head. He’s just not getting it. He doesn’t understand who I am, the protocols of being an event organizer.
He cocks his head to one side and looks up, mulling over a thought. “Or I could just cancel that money transfer.”
Ah shit. This is not cool. How do I play this? For the life of me, I don’t see a way out without a whole lot of embarrassment. And…my stupid, neglected vagina is acting up something fierce. I may not be Crosby Nash’s biggest fan, but the whore between my thighs is weeping.
Meghan touches my arm on our way out the door. “Leela, sweetie? Let’s chat.”
I give Crosby a quick nod and tell him I’ll meet him outside.
Once Meghan and I are alone, she begins the interrogation that I know is coming from a place of concern.
“Leela. What are you doing?”
“I’m leaving to fulfill my duties accordingly.”
“Come on. Are you serious? You can’t leave with him.”
“Why not?”
“You know why.” Meghan lowers her voice so only I can hear. “The dean is watching us. This is the first year of our sorority’s existence, and if we fuck up even once, they’ll shut us down. There are already rumblings that we could get sued for discriminating against the skinny bitches.”
I snort at her phrasing. “I’ve looked into it. Both my parents had entire teams of civil rights lawyers looking into it, and trust me, we’re not gonna get sued. And if we are, they will lose. Big.”
Meghan huffs. “That’s the worst-case scenario. We have to keep our noses clean at all costs. You know that.”