Page 146 of Grand Love

“I’m fine!” Megan grins.

I stand to the side with Lucy as she slowly climbs the steps onto the stage.

I’m thankful for the alcohol I’ve consumed tonight, otherwise, I’d never have the guts to do this.

Somehow, Megan pulls the whole thing off. Her wit and drunken charm seem to get the crowd warmed up, and as Lucy and I step up on stage they’ve already raised an impressive eight hundred thousand pounds.

The money in the room tonight is unbelievable.

My stomach twists into knots as I stand on the stage, Megan’s voice like white noise as I struggle to focus on what she’s saying. This has to be my worst nightmare. I don’t know why I ever agreed to it or why the girls thought I would be able to do it.

Fucking Lucy!

My eyes seek her out and I glare at her, watching as her face drops. Are you okay? She mouths.

I shake my head, wondering if I should just slip off to the side of the stage quietly and hope that nobody notices.

Taking a deep breath in, I try to concentrate on Megan.

“So, which one of you gentlemen would like to take this beautiful bombshell out on a date?”

My eyes scan the crowd. The majority of the men in the room are married off or brought dates with them tonight. What if no one bids on us. It’s embarrassing.

“Five hundred,” John shouts, lifting his hand and placing a bid on his own daughter.

A smile breaks past my lips even though the situation is ridiculous.

“Six!” someone shouts.

I look at Lucy who’s focused on the crowd; I follow her line of sight and see she is looking at Miller. He shrugs at her, looking at a loss.

Shit.

“A grand,” Elliot calls, shaking his head as he knocks back his drink, his eyes not meeting the stage.

“Hot damn, any advances on one thousand pounds?” Megan asks.

“Two,” Lance calls out, a grin plastered on his face.

“Five,” Vinny announces, drawing my eye to the opening of the marquee.

He throws me a wink, a silent acknowledgement to let me know that Ellis is fine.

Everything is a buzz. Lucy is giddy, laughing and blowing kisses to Vinny, and Megan is standing, breathing loudly into the microphone.

“Ten,” Elliot counters, causing the room to fall silent. He spins where he’s stood, placing his tumbler down and signalling for another drink.

You could hear a pin drop.

“Megs,” I hiss over at her. “Wrap it up.”

“Going once, twice, sold.” She brings down her hammer, swallowing loudly into the microphone before turning her eyes to me.

I realise it’s my turn, and the thought that people will be looking at me, placing bids on me, Vinny or not. It makes me want to run.

But I promised him I wouldn’t.

My eyes meet his and everything else slips away.

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