Page 204 of On a Fault Line

But that doesn’t happen.

And I blame every chick flick that has ever existed for falsely portraying men doing these over-the-top grand gestures to win their ladies back.

It’s not reality.

“You’re quite the popular one, Miss Penny.”

Yup, this is cringe. I might as well hold up a sign that has an arrow pointing down at my head that broadcasts the words S-I-N-G-L-E and A-L-O-N-E.

That’s how funny life can be sometimes. One second you think you are on top of the world, and the next you feel buried alive by the disappointment of things not going your way.

“Anyone want to go higher than seven thousand?” He pauses.

“Eight thousand!”

Oh, fuck.

“Nine,” a voice calls out confidently.

“I’ll do ten grand!”

“Eleven.”

The voices quiet down, while hushed whispers flood the venue. I have people talking. I can’t see anyone, but I know that they are talking.

“Going once…” The announcer pauses, scanning the crowd for any more takers. “Going twice…” He places a hand along my shoulder, giving me a squeeze. “And sold!”

To whom though? Who bought me for a date for eleven thousand dollars? It seems like a waste of cash for it to be spent on me.

I’m boring and worth way less.

But it all goes to this charity, so I guess it’s okay.

Now that Collins is done with me, the only thing I have to offer is even more emotional baggage than I had a few months ago.

Damn him.

I get ushered off stage by a teenage volunteer, probably earning service hours for school or something.

I resist offering unsolicited advice to her to never fall in love, but I don’t. There’s nothing good that would come from me being jaded toward anyone else who has an easier time coping with life’s disappointments. And it surely wouldn’t convince her that men sometimes suck and often provide truth to every emotional stereotype they get labeled.

Collins did.

He proved to me that men want women for sex, and that anytime real feelings get involved, it’s best just to run away.

“Hey, Penny.”

I turn to the familiar voice coming from nearby. “Oh, hey, Ivan.”

“I’m so glad no one contested my bid.”

My jaw loses muscle function. “You bought me?”

He shrugs, almost sheepishly. “It will be worth everypennyto get you away for an evening.”

I hope he keeps his expectations low…

“Yeah…”

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