Page 159 of Whistle

Ryan leaned into the mic. “Bring it on.”

“First question,” the dean replied. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Blue.”

“Favorite thing to do besides swim?”

“Drive my Jeep.”

“Favorite food?”

Ryan smiled. “Carrots.”

“Carrots?” the dean repeated. “I was not expecting that.”

Everyone in our row cackled, and Rory groaned.

“He’s a healthy boy!” Win hollered.

“I’ll open the bidding at two thousand dollars,” Dean Cardinal announced.

“Five thousand!” someone called.

“Ten!” someone else countered.

Pink dress girl popped up from her hole and raised her paddle. “Twelve thousand!”

Rory shot to her feet, legs tangling in her blue gown. She probably would have fallen if Wes hadn’t reached over to steady her.

Before she was even completely stable, she glared in the direction of what she considered a barnacle. “Don’t even think about it, you tampon tunnel!”

A heartbeat of stunned silence followed that little gem and was immediately chased by low laughter and gasps.

Pink dress girl, aka tampon tunnel, gasped and pointed her paddle in the direction of Ryan’s girlfriend. “She should be disqualified for that!”

Dean Cardinal cleared his throat. “Ladies, let us refrain from insults. This is all in good fun.”

“It’s only an insult if it’s not true,” Rory stated.

“Oh, please,” pink dress snarked and started charging down her row. “As if you’re some prize. I’ve seen salads that dress better than you!” The second she stumbled into the aisle, she yanked her high heels off, slapping them onto the ground, and barreled in Rory’s direction.

Our entire row stood, but Rory’s attacker didn’t make it that far because Ryan leaped off the stage and caught her around the waist, towing her off the seat she was attempting to climb over.

She kicked and fought. “Let me go!” she demanded.

“Not gonna happen,” Ryan rumbled, and the girl went still, looking over her shoulder.

“Oh, Ryan.” Her entire demeanor changed, and I felt like I was looking at the girl version of Jekyll and Hyde. “You look great up on stage.”

“You look great too,” he said. She preened, trying to turn and gloat to Rory. “Especially being hauled away by security,” he deadpanned and handed her off to a man in a security guard uniform at the side door.

“What? Wait! If I have to leave, then so does she!” the girl yelled as she was being escorted away. “I bid on you!”

The door slammed behind her, and Ryan hopped back on the stage, grabbing the mic from the dean.

“Her bid is void,” he told the audience. “You don’t dis the missus.”

“You aren’t married!” Kruger yelled.

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