Page 145 of Faithful

Val, who’s dressed in a shockingly conservative dark green evening gown and who’s responsible for social media coverage tonight, laughs at us from across the room. “Mama Bear said she’s too old for a phone-sized keyboard.”

“Just the keyboard,” Gin declares, finally releasing me. “I can’t stand those microscopic letters. It takes me two hours to compose and proofread a single-paragraph email.”

“You know I’m your man,” I tell my boss jokingly. “Whatever the errand.”

“You’re a lifesaver, kid.”

She raises her hand and before it lands somewhere unexpected, I wiggle my way out of her reach and issue a warning. “Not the hair.”

“Ah.” Winona gives me a wink. “Is it possible Dylan’s got a date arriving later tonight?”

A couple of the girls who are volunteering give me curious gazes, and I remember the day they came to our office for the first time and one of them tried really hard to flirt with me until Val told her to stop because I was taken.

I’m not certain if that’s the case as of this moment, but my heart surely already belongs to someone. It’s just a matter of waiting. A few more hours, and I’ll find out for sure if Kai’s ready to go all in.

Because I fucking am. Have been since that night right before Christmas when he told me he had no idea how to make us work. It was that exact second that I knew I wasn’t going down without a fight.

* * *

Time crawls, despite the hustle and bustle that’s gradually overtaken the entire hotel.

Around six, VIPs finally begin to arrive, and the place is in an uproar.

By then, I’m already out front in my tux and a pair of Oxfords. Val is around somewhere too, concentrating on livestreaming via our Twitter account.

I shake a few hands but don’t linger in one spot for long. Rounds must be made, and donors must be greeted.

Once I thank everyone who’s on my list, I find myself behind the queue of photographers and guests lined up in front of the red carpet and a massive step and repeat area.

There are a lot of reporters, their mics ready, their eyes filled with a hunger that you only see in people either after celebs or after sensational news. There’s little chance something sensational will actually happen at this event since it’s a charity dinner. The main attractions include a local six-piece country group set to perform three songs, a four-course meal created by one of the biggest chefs in Seattle, and a series of vacation getaways to be auctioned off. The lowest bids start at 100k.

Essentially, it’s a boring gathering of rich people—politicians, businessmen, heirs to various empires, a couple of once-famous actors.

So far, no one here who actually knows what a meme is seems to be aware that I was a controversial meme in the past.

But then again, I had a different haircut back then and looked ridiculous.

“How are you doing, kid?” Gin whispers in my ear, tipping her chin toward the barricaded sidewalk where another limo pulls up.

Camera flashes go off.

“I’m fine.”

“First big event for you. You’re not nervous?”

“A little.” But not for the reason she thinks.

I grew up going from one social occasion to another with my parents. Being in the middle of this hubbub is nothing new to me.

My anxiety is caused by the fact that I don’t know what Kai will do.

“Your father hasn’t arrived yet?” Gin asks, checking in.

“Nope.”Thank fuck for that.

“Alright.” She gives me a light pat on the shoulder, then explains that she needs to go back inside to talk to a few important people and disappears into the crowd.

Leigh is back from the lounge where she went to try out some of the hors d'oeuvres because she was hungry and couldn’t wait for dinner.

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