Page 77 of Pulled Away

“You’re already donating prizes.”

“You guys know she’ll see that as charity, right?”

Silence descends as we ponder the issue, because Piper is right. Aspen wouldn’t want to take any of our money.

“We have the Business Owner Committee meeting coming up soon. I’ll bring it up. Sell the idea that having a rescue is good for the town, and being seen as supporting it will be good for business. Maybe we can get some donations from them.”

Kallan groans, running his hand down his face. “I hate those fucking things.”

“I’ve started designing the flyers.” Maya’s voice is quiet, and her eyes are distant as if she’s somewhere else.

“And I’ll close Frosty’s for the public that night. Just give me a date.”

His words are for all of us, but he’s gazing at Maya, who has been avoiding his stare since she got here. Good. The ass deserves it. We’ve been giving him shit for ditching the opening at the gallery.

As Aiden predicted, Aspen’s girls shot me down when I first approached them. It was only after I convinced them I wasn’t doing it to make Aspen feel as if she owed me anything and that I preferred she didn’t know it was my idea, that they caved. It wasn’t a lie. I’m more than happy to organize everything from the shadows. If Aspen’s happy, I’m happy. That’s all that matters.

Maya’s eyes softened at my declaration, but I always knew she’d be the easy sell. Piper and Rose not so much, but once they believed in my sincerity, they were all in. They took the idea and ran with it, throwing out suggestions left, right, and center.

As much as Aspen would like to deny it, she needs help. She would never dream of asking any of us, so we’re helping her whether or not she likes it.

Rubbing my hands together, I lean forward. “So, how are we going to do this?”

“The rescue’s been registered as an NPO. So we’re clear on the legalities of holding a fundraising event. We had drinks to celebrate,” Piper says.

My heart squeezes. I wish I could have been there for that.

We go back and forth until we come up with a plan that everyone agrees on.

We’ll be selling tickets to an event I’m dubbing in my head as a “Treat your pet to a day out.” The ticket will get you a cruise around the harbor with your pet on one of Carter’s catamarans, with a meal at Frosty’s after. If we can get enough prizes together, we’ll hold a raffle. For a chance to be entered, people have to make a donation. They’d get a numbered ticket, securing their entry, with no limit to the number of donations they can make, increasing their chances of winning a prize.

Sitting back, I feel the first stirrings of excitement. There are a lot of moving parts to this, but I have complete faith that everything will come together in the end.

Chapter twenty-eight

Aspen

Ryan: Do you want my opinion on the exhibition at the gallery? I guess not, but I’m going to give it, anyway. The most beautiful piece of art in that room was you. I still can’t believe I lost the right to hold your hand. To kiss you. It’s a nightmare I can’t wake up from.

“I’m not working Saturday, so I was thinking, drinks at Frosty’s?”

Piper winces, her face falling. “Hmm, sounds good, but I can’t. I’ve got plans. Sorry.”

Capping her pen, she grabs the file she was working on and walks over to the filing cabinet. I lean forward, propping my chin on my hands. “Is Sam in town?”

Sam is a guy she went to school with whom moved away after college. His parents still live here, so whenever he’s back in town, they make plans to meet up. I’ve always thought they make a cute couple, but she insists that they’re just friends with benefits. For as long as I’ve known Piper, she’s been allergic to relationships.

“No. Not a date. Just plans.”

Frowning, I watch as she busies herself with the filing cabinet, avoiding my stare. Can’t say I’m not disappointed. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve been out with the girls. Even the last girls’ night was canceled. Not sure why. The text I got was vague, only saying something came up.

“Okay, no problem. I’ll check if Rose and Maya are free.”

“I think I heard them mention they’re busy,” she mumbles, still not looking at me.

My frown intensifies. She’s being cagey. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” Finally, she looks at me, smiling brightly, but it feels…off. There’s something in her carefully arranged features that has my senses tingling.

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