Page 45 of Once Upon a Fake Date

“Welcome to the annual Pi Rho Sigma Date Auction!” Ella announced to the crowd, who cheered. “If you’ve joined us before, you know what to expect, but for our first time attendees, tonight’s event is to help our philanthropy, raising money for survivors of domestic abuse. Each of our members has prepared a date basket containing the perfect ingredients for the date you’ll go on.”

I watched her from behind the curtain, smiling as she explained the rules and how the evening would go.

Of course, once she finished, Ella was the first to go, presenting her basket and telling the crowd about their date. Not that she needed to bother. I knew exactly who would be going home with her.

“For a lovely date with the Pi Rho President, Ella, the bidding will start at one hundred dollars!” our MC started. “Do I hear one hundred?”

I couldn’t see the crowd, but I could hear them.

“One hundred!”

“One fifty!”

“Two hundred!”

None of them were Cam. I frowned.

“We’ve got two hundred! Don’t forget, all proceeds are going to the Pi Rho Sigma philanthropy to support Survivors of Domestic Abuse. It’s a fantastic cause! Do I hear two fifty?”

“One thousand,” shouted a new voice.Thatwas Cam. I chuckled. Of course he would. Damn, he loved my sister.

“One thousand going once,” the MC called out. “Going twice.” There wasn’t another peep from the crowd. “Sold to the gentleman in the third row.”

Ella came back a few moments later, cheeks flushed.

“Well, we’re definitely off to a good start!” I heard from outside as Suzie opened the curtain and stepped out.

“Damn, girl,” I said, waggling my eyebrows. “Your boyfriend’s down bad.”

“Shut up,” my twin mumbled, shoving at my shoulder playfully.

In response, I threw my arm around her, pulling her into a hug. “Love you.”

“Love you too, Ro.” Her voice was soft, full of emotion.

I hung back with her until it was my turn, grabbing my basket and heading out on stage.

“You got this, babe!” Peggy cheered for me, and Ella gave me a thumbs up.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the curtain, the bright lights keeping me from seeing most of the crowd. Except there… in the front row.

There was Parker. Grinning up at me in a Castleton University sweatshirt with dark denim jeans, hair damp like he’d come here straight from practice. But he was here.

For me.

My heart fluttered in my chest as I stepped in front of the podium to talk into the microphone. “Hi, I’m Audrey Rose. My basket is a Valentine’s Day picnic, complete with heart-shaped sandwiches.” God, this was stupid. What had I been thinking? No guy would want to bid on this. I forced a smile on my face as I finished describing the rest.

I looked at Parker, who was nodding encouragingly.

The bidding started, and I wasn’t surprised when Parker’s hand was the first to shoot up. Unlike Cam, who’d gotten the last word in, Parker immediately countered back to anyone who tried to bid on mine.

And then there was the one voice I didn’t want to hear. “Three hundred.”

Holding back a groan, I tried not to look.Don’t pay attention to him. Let him know exactly how little you think about him.Parker’s words from earlier this week rang through my mind. But I knew it was Duke. I just didn’t understandwhy.Why was he so obsessed with me? Why couldn’t he let me go?

“Five hundred,” Parker said smugly from the front row, glaring daggers at my ex.

The MC just laughed, and when no one else attempted to outbid him, my date was sold. To my best friend.

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