Page 67 of Beyond Expectations

I want to invite you to be my plus one at the Lexington Hospital’s Annual Benefit Fundraiser on Thursday evening.

It’s a black-tie charity ball, so there will be lots of food, wine, and donations.

Yours,

Rhett

X

A warm and fuzzy feeling enveloped me, and my pulse leaped with excitement. I hadn’t even put the card back in the envelope before I was working out what I could wear. I’d gone to a few fundraisers before, but never to one as big as I was sure this one would be. It really was sweet of him.

My thoughts were interrupted by the ring of my cell phone.

“Hey, Ruby. I was actually about to call you.”

“Really? Must be sixth sense. I was calling to see if you wanted to check out this new barre class I keep hearing about. But now I’m more interested in what you wanted to talk about.”

“Well, yes to checking out that class. That is depending on when you want to go. But I was going to call as I just got the biggest bouquet from Rhett along with an invitation to the Lexington Benefit.”

There was a momentary pause followed by a squeal of laughter.

“Oh, that is one of the biggest fundraising events in the city. Literally, Vogue do a four-page spread on it every year.”

“How on earth do you know these things?”

“Um, because I know everything. Seriously, Serena, surely you should know this after all these years of friendship.”

Her teasing tone made my eyes roll.

“But seriously, it’s actually one of the better functions. They raise a shit ton of money, there’s full press on the red carpet, and fashion wise, it’s almost as coveted as the Met Gala.”

“So, in other words, a seriously big event? That’s what you’re telling me?”

Suddenly, my excitement turned to nerves as I took a seat at my desk.

“Yes, that’s what I’m telling you.”

I could hear the taps of her typing on a keyboard as she spoke.

“Also, apparently, Rhett hasn’t brought a date with him for the past five years that he’s attended.”

“How on earth do you know that?”

“There’s this thing called Google. You should try it.”

Her cackle did nothing to calm me.

“So things must be getting serious if he’s inviting you to this. How are things going with you guys?”

“Well...”

“Come on, I’m your best friend.”

“Things are going good. We’re spending most of our free time together. And you know that he bought me my dream car, and I filled you in on how the BBQ went, and I guess since that Verity curve ball, things have been going well. Good. Things are good.”

“First, don’t even get me started on that bitch. And secondly, why do you keep saying good? That’s so mundane. I can’t imagine your boyfriend would enjoy hearing you describe your relationship as merely good?”

“I’m not exactly sure how else to describe it. We’ve been seeing each other for several weeks. He’s met my family. I haven’t met his, besides his father and brother, but that’s in a work capacity.”

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