Page 71 of Smoke Show

Excitement thrummed as he stood, straightening his tux, anticipation in every line of his body.

"Our final bachelor this evening, is our very own Brady Gleason, principal at McDonald High. Our gracious host is offering a date night in Spokane, complete with a steak dinner and tickets toHamilton. For those of you who know Brady, there's no doubt how he made the naughty list: he sent hisSnow Queenco-director to the principal’s office one too many times for being late to practice."

I pursed my lips, blowing him a kiss, laughing when he pretended to catch it and put it in his pocket.

So corny, but I couldn't keep the grin off my face. The crowd laughed, loving our silliness.

"Okay, let's start the bidding at fifty dollars," I said, gazing out into the audience.

"Fifty dollars here," Vicki called out. "But I'm ditching you, Brady, and using the tickets with my husband." Brady rubbed his chest, pretending heartbreak, and Vicki tittered. "Or maybe not."

"One hundred dollars," Mary Wise called.

"Come on, ladies. This isHamilton. It's a great show." I winked. "And Principal Gleason is good company, once you get to know him."

"Two hundred dollars," Becca offered.

"Two-fifty," Vicki yelled.

Brady's expression grew almost comically concerned, glancing from bidder to bidder. I wanted to reassure him, but doing it in front of the crowd would negate the benefit of having a proxy bidder to begin with.

"Three hundred," Mary said.

"Three-fifty," Vicki countered, a competitive edge entering her tone.

Mary and Vicki traded bids, slowly escalating Brady's value.

"Six hundred dollars," Matty bellowed from the back.

Brady seemed unsure if he should be pleased with his mother's entry into the bidding or embarrassed.

"That's too much for me," Mary muttered. Vicki shook her head, seeming to admit defeat.

"Six hundred dollars, going once, going twice,soldto Matty Gleason."

Brady bowed, exiting the stage to a final round of applause, and I handed my mic to Gwen, who'd been designated to announce our fundraising total and close the event, relieved that I was free to find Brady.

Chapter 24

Brady

IrejoinedIvan,Zander,and Cole backstage, relieved that my part in the dog and pony show was over. I wasn't sure what to make of the fact that Eve hadn't bid on me. It was hard to feel superior about having the highest bid when my mother had won my auction package. Did that make me a bad son, if she felt she had to bid six-hundred dollars to spend time with me? I'd thought maybe she was bidding on Eve's behalf, but Sophie's bid for Davis had me doubting that was the case.

Ivan arched his brows as I joined the group. "You pulled in the high bid. Nice package, Brady."

Zander pulled a face, shaking his head. "Bro. Never comment on another man's package."

Ivan shoved his brother in the shoulder. "You're just bitter because you lost our bet. Iz and I are going to enjoy all that privacy." He wiggled his brows. "No surface will be safe."

"Stay out of my room," Zander warned.

"No promises," Ivan said, grinning wide. "What Izzy wants, Izzy gets. But I doubt she'll feel frisky after seeing your dumpster fire of a room."

"Was there some kind of rule about Eve, Izzy, and Gwen bidding directly?" I asked, eager to insert myself before their pissing match became more obnoxious.

"Yes," Ivan said. "Izzy got my mom to act as her proxy."

His reassurance made me feel a little better about the fact that Eve hadn't bid on me. Admittedly, it would have been awkward for her to bid and run the auction herself. I just wish she'd told me who her proxy was, so I wasn't left guessing.

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