Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
My heart sinks to my feet instead of my stomach, where it’s been the past few days. “Oh, Jess, I’m so sorry.”
She takes a moment to accept the genuine remorse in my tone before saying with a big breath, “So that’s why we’re going to the gala, getting rip-roaring drunk, and pimping ourselves out at the fancy-schmancy auction.”
She had me until the auction part. “Hold on, what?”
“The bachelorette auction Elaine organized,” she murmurs like I’m in on the gossip I have no clue about. “How do you not know about this?” When I shrug, she drags me to my bed, then plops on the edge. “Any single ladies attending tonight’s event can offer themselves up for auction. It is strictly PG13. Lunch dates only and under supervision, of course, but all funds raised go to Jack’s charity.”
“Jack’s charity? Tonight’s gala is for Jack’s charity?”
She gives me her best ‘duh’ face. “I thought you knew all of this.” Her shocked expression switches to mischievous. “I guess there isn’t much time for chit-chat when you have fucking to do.” She saunters back to my closet. “But since Mr. Cranky Pants put a stop to that, you have no reason not to throw out some feelers tonight. We’re both single and ready to mingle. We just need the naughtiest dress in Seattle to make them regret their idiocy.”
I won’t lie. It hurts knowing Jess feels the same about Jack’s brush-off as I do, but it also solidifies my backbone. Jack could have just said he didn’t feel comfortable discussing his personal life. He didn’t have to throw me out like trash, and the reminder of that has me switching things up.
“Dig in the back. That’s where I keep all my slutty dresses.”
One hour and an exorbitant cab fare later, Jess and I step out of the mildew-smelling cab at the front of the Seattle Center. The hemlines of our dresses are much smaller than the ladies surrounding us, but our hair is styled right, and our makeup is perfect.
“Are we late?” I murmur when I notice there are far more people inside the center than milling outside.
Jess fans down the hem of her dress before lifting her head. After slinging her eyes to the left and dragging them to the right, she locks them on me. “I’d say we’re right on time.”
The cattiness in her tone makes sense when I peer in the direction she’s facing. Jack is exiting a stretch limousine a few spots up from us. He isn’t alone.
“That’s Caleb’s date,” Jess murmurs when a gorgeous blonde slips out behind Jack.
“Are you sure?” I ask, certain she isn’t Caleb’s type. He likes women with curves and eccentric personalities, whereas this woman looks far too prim and proper.
She screams wealth, Caleb’s unfavorable type.
Hurt clouds Jess’s eyes when she nods. “Yes. I came over to grab my spatula yesterday. They were in the kitchen. Caleb was shirtless.” My heart pains more when a second after fixing her dress, Caleb swoops in to collect the nameless blonde from Jack. He guides her up the red carpet, stopping and posing for the paparazzi on the way. “I told you.”
Although I want to assure her it could still be a part of his job, I can’t speak. I’m too busy holding my breath from Jack bobbing back toward the limousine to help someone else out.
I exhale a relieved breath when Marissa gracefully slips out of the back of the stretched limousine.
My relief doesn’t linger for long. Marissa has spotted me, and although she gives me an apprehensive smile, she also rats me out to Jack.
I take a cautious step back when Jack’s eyes sling my way. They’re narrowed with anger and look fierce enough to cut diamonds.
“Maybe we should go.”
“Oh, hell no,” Jess replies before tossing her clutch under her arm and hooking her other arm around my elbow. “He may not be with a date, but he doesn’t get to invite you to an event then backtrack like he didn’t.”
Something in her tone gives her away.
“You didn’t get your invitation from Elaine, did you?”
She peers at me with dazzling, mischievous-filled eyes while replying, “No, but I’ll be sure to thank Caleb… after kicking him in the nuts.”
With my name still on the list as Jack’s plus one, and the invite in Jess’s clutch authentic, we make it into the gala before Jack, Marissa, Caleb, and his date. They’re held up by paparazzi, which raises my annoyance even more.
Are they the cause of Jack’s sudden change of heart?
Did he not want to be photographed with me?
He made it obvious in the alleyway that we couldn’t be caught, but I thought that was because he didn’t want to be arrested for public indecency.
Silly me.
“Good evening, ladies,” Elaine greets, her smile bright. She hands us our VIP lanyards before asking, “Will you be participating in the bachelorette auction tonight? Most dates will likely not occur. It’s all just a bit of fun.”