Page 16 of Worth the Wait

“Come on. We can’t avoid them all night anyway. You might like him. Just give him a chance,” she said before shaking out of my grasp and heading right toward the two good-looking men.

She only paused to grab a flute of champagne from one of the waitstaff walking around. I did the same as I passed him and took a large drink before chasing after him and grabbing another. Following dutifully behind my sister, I wished the ground would open right up and suck me inside. I was almost disappointed when it didn’t.

When we entered the silent auction room, I glanced around, impressed with not only the number of items to bid on, but also the style and decorations that surrounded each one. They were all individually themed and so eye-catching.

A three-foot-tall replica of the Eiffel Tower caught my eye, and I found myself wandering over to it without thinking. Glancing down at the paper, I saw it included two first-class tickets to Paris, a week’s stay at an apartment, and two winery tours. Running my finger down the sheet, I stopped at the latest bid, which was currently over ten thousand dollars. All hopes to bid on this trip, even just for fun, were dashed.

“You like this one?” A gruff voice hit my ear, a little too close for my liking.

I spun around defensively before taking a step back.

“Uh,” was all I managed before Sarina stepped into view.

“I see you’ve already met my sister. Addison, this is Colter. Colter, this is Addison.” She grinned like she was some sort of skilled matchmaker. And maybe she was… for other people.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I gave Colter a smile that hopefully didn’t look as forced as it felt.

His eyes ran the length of my body in a gesture that I assumed most women would have appreciated.

Colter turned his attention toward Sarina. “Where have you been hiding her all this time? I didn’t even know you had a sister.”

The comment maybe should have stung a little, but it didn’t. I wasn’t offended in the slightest that people in this world didn’t know about me. Sarina and I lived very different lives. And my being here for the past three years hadn’t really changed that.

My phone vibrated on the table where I’d set it down, making the picture of me and Patrick come alive for anyone to see. I glanced at Sarina, who gave me a disapproving look right as Colter reached for my phone and stared at it intently.

“Is that your boyfriend?” he asked as I snatched the phone out of his hand.

Who grabbed someone’s cell phone without even knowing the person?

I took another drink of my champagne, finishing it off, and my head started to swim.

Sarina let out a sound that I’d never heard from her before. “Oh God, no. That’s, um…” She paused before quickly recovering. “My sister is writing a book, and that’s a mock-up of the cover she wants for it.”

Whaaat?

I almost spit out my drink at the outrageous lie.

“Oh, really? My brother works for a publishing house. I can send him your manuscript if you want?”

I started choking and laughing at the same time, and all eyes focused on me. I was a terrible liar. Thankfully, my little sister was one of the best.

“Oh, that’s so nice of you. Isn’t that sweet, Addison?” She stepped next to me and threw her arm around my back. “She just started writing it. It’s not anywhere near done yet.”

“Well, keep it in mind when you do finish. I’m happy to help. The writing world can be pretty brutal, and it’s always nice to have a friend in the industry,” he said with a wink.

I should have found his offer kind, but for some reason, I didn’t.

Colter seemed like the type of guy who wanted to do me a favor just so that I’d owe him one in return. And I had no intention on owing this guy anything.

“So nice of you, Colty,” Sarina said, and I felt the ick of his nickname all the way down to my toes as my body shook involuntarily in response.

My head felt woozy. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the ladies’ room,” I said as I headed in what was hopefully the right direction.

“Addison, wait,” Sarina yelled from behind me, and I stopped abruptly. “Are you okay?”

“Why’d you let me drink so much?” I complained as if it were her fault when it was my own.

“How much have you had?”

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