Page 46 of The Dating Contract

“Over there?” Liam asked, in the tone of someone who was trying to get a hold of the situation.

Isaac nodded, and Samuel followed Isaac’s gesture only to see the two guys standing around the sculpture. One dark-haired guy and one lighter-haired one. “Abe,” he said pointing to the lighter-haired guy, “lift there maybe.”

“Got it,” the man said.

“That spot,” Isaac continued, having taken control so even Liam stepped back. “I think that’s sensitive, so Jacob you move over there.”

This time, the dark-haired guy nodded. “Steady hands win the race, huh?”

As they watched the two guys get into position, there was a moment where they were getting their hands into place.

“Don’t drop it,” Isaac said, shaking his head before he turned toward Liam. “Can you cover the back end?”

It took a bit to get them all situated; Isaac and his two friends, and Liam and Samuel, but they were just about ready to lift when another voice split the silence.

“I cannot believe,” said the voice he recognized but couldn’t quite place, “that one sculpture has this motley crew lifting it.”

“Are you going to jaw at us, Evan?” one of the guys (Jacob, was it?) said. “Or are you going to help lift this?”

Evan. Evan Lefkowitz?

Right. The guy he met at Leah’s cocktail party, who most likely would get a kick out of all of this.

But he couldn’t let his mind whirl at the possibilities because the sculpture needed to be lifted.

“On three,” Isaac said.

And when Isaac reached the count of three, Samuel lifted his part of the sculpture, holding his breath, doing his best to play his role in the movement.

Finally, they settled the sculpture and took a breath.

“Now I can say a proper hello. How are you, Samuel? I love the logo, by the way.”

“I’m glad to hear,” he said, feeling pride run around his chest. “I really enjoyed the process.”

“I also like the synergy with Bryce’s mask,” Evan said, “and if you haven’t seen it, make a point of stopping over there tonight.”

Samuel nodded. “I will.”

“Good,” Evan said. “It’s rare I get to do an event like this,” Evan continued. “Tzedakah Exchange does a lot of different things but usually with adults, usually focused on the arts as opposed to sports. Anyway, we need to talk more if that’s something if you’re interested in.”

He nodded. “I’d love to.”

“Okay,” Liam said, “mymenteeand I have to get changed and settled. Then we’ll come down and enjoy the gala.”

“And wow,” Evan said with a laugh, “now I know I’ve been dismissed by my old soccer buddy. You better come down, Hernandez. I know where to find you.”

Liam smirked, and as Samuel followed him out of the room, he hoped he’d be able to manage the obligations of the evening without losing his mental facilities.

*

There were manydifferent reasons Leah was very glad she hadn’t spent the money to hire a hairdresser or a makeup artist for the night. One of which was that she needed her cousins with her for support as she put on her armor.

She’d picked up the dress from the dress shop recommended by Shayna and it fit her like a glove. “Gorgeous,” Naomi said before wrapping a towel around her shoulders. “Now let me work my magic.”

As Naomi did her thing, finishing off the makeup, Leah thought about what the evening would be like: business, social, family and Samuel. She was now in a situation that mixed them more and more, tangling them in a web she hoped she’d be able to separate at some point.

Soon.

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