Page 78 of Freeing the Wild
I look up at Haden at the same time he looks down at me.
“Asher said the other side of the roof is rotting out too, which means it might be best to take the entire thing down and start from scratch,” he says, moving his gaze from me to CeCe.
“A full rebuild?”Wade says.“I guess there’s no sense in joining a new roof to one that will just rot out in a couple years anyway.”
“Only, Pen can’t afford that.I’ve talked to Asher about the possibility of them just pulling the whole thing down in the spring for her, and not rebuilding.”Haden’s hand strokes my thigh as he talks to the table.It’s as though he’s trying to tell me he’s thinking about me, even if his attention is elsewhere.I try to remain cool as I eat, but those butterflies in my stomach are having a heyday.CeCe’s brow knots as she takes a bite of pizza and Haden continues.
“And even if she could afford it, she needs new equipment before she needs a new barn.Her fencing needs to be redone, and she needs some new storage.Everything is old and she’s been running on fumes since Will died.”
“I can help,” Nash offers immediately.I know he must have money from playing professional hockey all those years, though he never comes across as flashy.
“Thanks, man,” Haden says with a grateful smile.“But Penny has so much pride I know she won’t want to take a handout.Been thinking about helping her myself somehow.”
“Maybe there’s a way we can get the community to help?”CeCe asks.“Her center is donation-based, right?”
Haden nods.“She does accept donations, yes, but I’m afraid everyone is strapped for cash.It’s hard to come by anyone that can help.”
CeCe nods.“Hmmm.”
Ivy starts to laugh softly from behind Wade.Ginger follows suit.
“What?”CeCe asks, her mouth full of pizza.
“You just can’t help yourself, can you, firefly?”Nash nudges her.
“Well, this one won’t let me help her plan the wedding.”She points at Ginger.
“Have you seenyouin planning mode?”Ginger asks.“Pregnancy hormonesplanning mode?The wedding is ten weeks away.If you were planning it, the barn would already be set up and dinner would be prepped.”
CeCe shoots her a haughty look and sticks her tongue out.
Just as I’m about to ask what’s so funny, Haden leans in to whisper in my ear.How this man works all day and still smells this good is beyond me.It takes everything I have to resist asking him to sneak into the closest bathroom and prop me up on the sink.
“CeCe plans the town festival every year.Last year she planned itandher wedding at the same time.”Haden turns to face CeCe with a grin.“It’s a little cold for a festival, isn’t it?”
“Don’t rain on a girl’s parade.”I nudge him.“Maybe we can do something indoors.”
“Yeah,” CeCe says.“Indoors …”
She sets down her napkin on her empty plate and looks at me pointedly.“Cassie, have you ever done a charity event?”
My heart rate instantly starts to rise at the idea of getting onstage.Probably because I wasn’t prepared for the question.Haden squeezes my thigh tight under the table and I take a deep breath.
“I have.But I don’t know if I’m … up to that just yet.”
CeCe’s eyes widen.“Oh no.Of course.I’m sorry, I should have led with ‘Do you know any artists that have done something like that and might be willing to help?’”
I instantly relax.“Oh yes.I might.Depending on what you’re looking for?”
“I just thought maybe with your connections, you might know someone local?I’m thinking we could put on a benefit concert?Nothing crazy.Just a simple night of music.We could hold it at Olympia?”
She turns to look at Nash.I know from Haden that Olympia is the name of Nash’s sports arena in town, where he runs a hockey school and houses the local teams.
“Hockey season is over in April,” Nash replies.“I’m pretty sure the last two weeks of the month are fairly clear.We’d have to hold it soon, in order for Penny to benefit from it.”
I think immediately of Evan Woods.He’s local enough—from Tennessee—and he’s very kind and humble.
“I can ask Evan Woods?”I cut in.“Do you know his music?”
