Page 6 of Fools in Love

“No, you won’t. Oh my God, April. That was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. Your face.” She kept trying to talk, but she could barely get the words out through her fits of giggles.

Speaking of faces, I moved my gaze toward the stage just in time to see Robbie, Mr. Sourpuss Firefighter, glaring at me with narrowed eyes. He didn’t look the least bit happy or entertained.

You and me both, buddy.

GREAT, JUST GREAT

ROBBIE

What an absolutefiasco.As if standing on a stage, being auctioned off, hadn’t been humiliating enough, there ended up being a “war” to win the date with me. I’d garnered the highest bachelor bid of the night, which earned me some sort of unspoken honor. I should have been flattered, but trust me, I wasn’t. Even if it was for a good cause.

Watching the elderly woman and the hot brunette go at it for a piece of me really should have gotten me at least alittlehard, but per usual, it’d made me feel cheap and sleazy. I had no idea why the gorgeous girl near the front of the stage would need to bid on anyone for a date in the first place. Her long, dark hair spilled across her bare shoulders, and I imagined briefly what it might be like to wrap my fingers in it as she sucked me off.

The determined look on her face each time she threw her paddle in the air was fascinating. She looked angry. Like she might kill the older lady if she outbid her and won the date with me. The oddest part was that her expression never shifted. Not even after she placed the winning bid. I had no idea what it’d all meant, and I really didn’t want to find out, but I guessed there was no choice now.

I belonged to her.

For a night to be determined in the near future, or something to that affect.

“Ms. McHenry would like you all to mingle with the donors now,” the emcee of the event informed all of us guys who were happily hanging out backstage.

Or maybe I was the only happy one to be behind the scenes, out of view, because no one groaned or complained or even let out an annoyed sigh at the request. All the other men seemed content to be doing this. I was apparently the only one with an issue.

An NYPD officer walked up to me and slapped his hand on my back in some sort of congratulations. “I think you got the hottest woman in the room. At least your date will be fun. Did you see who won me?” he asked with a laugh.

I shook my head because I hadn’t paid attention to anyone else. “Sorry, man, I didn’t catch it.”

“She’s a bit out of my age range, but she’s probably nice, right?”

I wasn’t sure if he was sincerely asking or not, so I didn’t give him a response.

“Not sure she’s going to be able to bowl though.”

“Bowl?”

“Yeah. My date is dinner and bowling. What’d you get?”

Running my hand across my eyes, I hesitated before telling him. I knew he’d be jealous. I’d read the brochure front to back while I waited for my turn onstage. Out of all of the dates, mine was hands down the best one, in my opinion.

“You’re gonna be pissed,” I said, and his mouth formed a frown.

“Tell me,” he insisted.

“Dinner at Tavern. Private skating at Wollman. Serendipity for dessert,” I recited what I’d read in the pamphlet as nonchalantly as I could muster, but his jaw clenched shut anyway. I couldn’t have missed his reaction if I’d tried.

Tavern on the Green was a New York staple. A historic landmark in the heart of Central Park that was seeped in history and luxurious dining. Most people didn’t go there on a first date unless you were planning to propose after. And Serendipity was just as famous, known for its frozen hot chocolate and that stupid movie people couldn’t seem to get enough of.

“Not fair, man.”

“I know. I told you.”

“Time to mingle,” he said before giving me a head nod and heading out one of the doors.

I contemplated staying here, wondering if anyone would notice my absence at all. But before I could make a decision, Sheila McHenry appeared backstage, her eyes searching for someone before landing right on me.

“Ah, just the bachelor I was looking for,” she said, and I forced a smile.

“And why’s that?”

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