Page 144 of Go Find Less

“Are you actually working tonight?” Piper asks, taking the cloudy drink Seer hands her. Seer shrugs, waving around.

“People are still getting here, once things settle, the board and I will…”

But she trails off. I stopped listening about five words ago, because I can feel something tickling at my ear. It feels like a feather - looks like a feather out of the corner of my eye, and I can see everyone around me staring over my head where there is clearly someone standing.

Piper moves her hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh, and I turn in my seat to see a couple in full fairy gear, vine-covered clothing and glittery everything. The girl is holding the feather up, covering her mouth in an “uh oh” gesture.

“Can I help you?” is the only thing I can think to say, and Piper lets out a snort before the whole table starts laughing at me. I shoot Mateo and my brother a look.

“They can’t talk, they’re fae,” Seer says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world, and I look back at the couple behind me. “They’re here to cause mischief.”

Mischief, my ass. It’s bad enough I’m being dragged to this thing in the first place, but to be taunted and teased by two grown adults holding feathers all night? No thanks. Public mockery is one kink I’d like to stay far, far away from.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Fred’s voice is deadpan as the man behind me reaches one hand up, clasping a black feather between his fingers.

“You could always pay them to stop,” Frannie says from next to me. “Pay to play, or, I guess, not to play, in this case.”

“How much?” My voice is dry. Seer raises an eyebrow, one hand on her hip, the other holding up the empty tray.

“Minimum donation is fifty.” Wordlessly, I pull out my pocket, handing over a crisp $100 bill to the woman behind me.

“I’ll give you an extra $50 to get that one.” I hitch my thumb back at Mateo, who’s laughing his ass off, and he sobers up real quick when both fairies look fit to burst. He’s grumbling as he pulls out cash from his wallet, and his date and Piper snicker together.

The festivities start shortly after our run in with the extortionist fae, and Seer is talking into the microphone on the small stage while I chew the chicken on my plate. It’s a little dry, and I make a note to talk to the chef after the evening is over.

“This event would not be possible without our gracious hosts, WHG. I would like to invite one of our most adamant supporters, Frannie Westfall to the stage to say a few words.” I glance at my sister, who takes a deep breath before pushing out of her chair, applause surrounding us as she crosses the small dance floor. She holds her skirts up as she steps onto the stage, giving Seer a side hug before taking the microphone.

“Thank you, Saoirse. And thank you all for being here today.” She holds a notecard in her hand, and I see her look down at it, just for the briefest of seconds. Frannie has always been the better public speaker, between the two of us. Sure, I had a few moments over the years, but my power has always come from being the calm in the storm. Frannie is the storm, she’s the excitement and the joy behind every project, every campaign. Everything she’s ever put her mind to, she’s given 110%, even her shitty husband. “As you all know, the Fae League selects a nonprofit each year to receive the proceeds from this event. This year…”

I catch Piper out of the corner of my eye, watching Frannie. “She’s incredible,” she breathes.

“Sounds like someone else I know.” Piper’s eyes narrow, and she taps my back with her finger, nodding toward the stage.

“Pay attention to your sister, dummy.”

Once the plates have been cleared and dancing starts, Chloe immediately pulls Frannie and Piper to the dance floor, where several people stop Piper to comment on her dress. I have to agree with them - it’s breathtaking, and falls in a way that makes her look like something off a Grecian urn.

“Fitz?” I turn at the sound of my name, and standing behind me is arguably one of the last people I’d expected to see tonight - Savannah.

“Oh, hi,” is all I can manage, noticing that Mateo and Jesse’s conversation falls quiet as Savannah sits in the chair Frannie had been occupying.

“I’m not here to cause a scene,” she starts, and I deflate a little. Her summery, highlighted hair is pulled back into a slick ponytail, and she’s wearing arguably one of the tamest outfits here, a black gown with a high neckline and giant black earrings.

We haven’t talked really, not since that day in my office, and if we’re being honest, she has every reason to cause a scene. I left her on read, stopped responding to her messages, and then turned up with a girlfriend after months of telling her and anyone else I saw that I was not interested in commitment.

Turns out, I was just waiting for the right person to commit to.

“I just wanted to say that I’m really happy for you.” Her voice sounds genuine, and she wraps the end of her hair around her hand, tilting her head to look at the dance floor over my shoulder. “She looks really good, you two look really good. Together, I mean.” She smiles, and it’s a little sad, but before I can respond, she’s standing. I feel a hand on my shoulder, and look up to see Piper standing over me, smiling and catching her breath as the song ends, and a slower one starts. “Hi, Piper,” Savannah says, and then sticks out her hand, commencing one of the most awkward handshakes I’ve ever seen in my life. To Piper’s credit, she hides her surprise well, until I hear Savannah say “Thanks again for connecting me with Lisa.”

I whip my head back to Savannah. What did she just say?

“Not a problem,” Piper says, squeezing my shoulder, “I hope you’re able to lend her a hand. She’s swamped right now, and between commissions and the new job…”

“I heard you’re starting on Fran’s team Monday,” Savannah continues, and I feel like I’ve stepped into the Twilight zone. In what dimension are Savannah and Piper on speaking terms? In what dimension have they ever actually talked to each other? “I’m glad she’s got someone besides Jas to keep her rolling full steam ahead.” Piper quirks her head to the side.

“Jasmine is on her team, too?” Savannah nods.

“She does most of the photo and video for WHG.”

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