Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 19458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Cody looks at me and rolls his eyes. “He lost something,” Cody replies which obviously makes a lot more sense than what I said. “I was just explaining to Travis that you’re good, but there’s no way you can make any kind of food for this number of people if the caterers can’t get here.”
“Sorry, Trav.” Hayden pushes his glasses up his nose in perfect Math Man fashion.
My stomach twists. Why is this such a fucking mess?
Derek approaches us with a blissed-out expression on his face and Jackson on his arm. “Can someone tell Evan now’s not the time to be on his hands and knees? I’m sure he needs his little hole filled, but even I’m not that bad,” Derek says.
“Stop being such a naughty boy. Didn’t we just take care of that?” Jackson scolds and Derek looks up at him like he just hung the damn moon.
“He lost something,” I say, my anxiety increasing.
“Oh, me too. Anyone seen Gary?” Derek asks.
Hayden gives a quick, incognito jerk of his head as if to stop Derek. “What?” Derek and I both say at the same time. Now that I think about it, I haven’t even caught sight of Gary since he had to leave after we had sex.
“Nothing. It’s fine. He’s taking care of some last-minute things on the beach,” Hayden replies.
My pulse slows some. “See? Hayden saves the day.” Cody grabs my arm. “Let’s go find Steven. You’re off schedule.” I allow Cody to drag me away. One glance over my shoulder finds Evan still crawling and Derek animatedly saying something to Hayden.
“What’s going on?” I ask Cody as we get out of the room.
“Nothing. You have shit to do—that’s what’s going on. I’ll bring you to Steven, and then I’ll go help Evan. We’ll find the ring, the food will get here, you’ll propose, and everyone will live happily ever after.”
I have a feeling things won’t go down that perfectly…except for the happily ever after part. That I’m good with. Unfortunately, I don’t have much time to talk about it as people are currently drinking and dancing without food and Steven is waiting for me.
“Go help Evan, please. I…I need that ring, C.” Cody nods, sympathy in his eyes.
“We’ll find it, man. Just take care of your shit.”
He disappears, and I continue on to meet with Steven. He was schmoozing a few large donors on the deck, last I left him, but we have an appointment to meet before the rest of the events take place.
I find him and his partner, Raymond, who disappear with me to a quiet corner. “Did you hear anything about the food?” Steven asks.
“Not since I last called. There was some kind of major accident, and they couldn’t get around it or get anyone to them. I’ll call as soon as we’re done here.”
Steven nods. Raymond fingers Steven’s graying hair in an attempt to soothe him, I believe. All it does is make me wish Gary was there. Where the fuck is he?
“So everything else is on schedule, right?”
I nod. “Miss Laurie Firebomb will speak at six. She’ll run over the fundraiser’s sponsors before Gary and I head up to thank everyone.” At which point, I’ll get down on one fucking knee without a goddamned ring.
“Oh, perfect. I was thinking…” Steven runs a few things over with me and asks some questions. I hate to admit it, but all I hear is, “blah blah blah.” My mind is too occupied with the food, proposal, and the ring. Plus, Gary. It’s not like him to not touch base with me. Derek’s question rubbed me the wrong way, but then on the other hand, where the hell could Gary have gone? It’s not like he ran away.…
Oh, fuck.
What if he knows I’m going to propose, doesn’t want to marry me, and ran away?
My breathing starts picking up again, and my chest aches.
“Travis?” Steven asks, but I can hardly hear him over the blood rushing through my ears. It snaps me out of whatever stupor I’m in. This is Gary…and me. There’s no fucking way he would walk away from us. I’m losing my damn mind.
“Sorry, was making a mental list. I’m going to check on the food and then make the rounds real quick.”
Steven nods just as someone else approaches and grabs his attention. On my way back to the saloon, I call the caterers who are still in traffic but moving slightly faster than they were before. They think it’s clearing up, but they might just be trying to prevent me from losing my mind.
As I get to the open double doors that lead to the saloon, Evan comes out, defeat on his face. “No luck yet. I’ve followed your footsteps but…”
But it’s hard as hell to find a tiny-ass ring in a situation like this. “Fuck.” I groan, running a hand through my hair. Dropping back against the wall, I attempt to get my breathing under control. I’ve never had a panic attack in my life, but I feel like I’m on the edge of one now.