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“Bask in the glory of your hard work.” Hemi threads her arm through mine, a wide, proud smile on her face.
“I can’t believe how smoothly it’s going.” Especially with how anxious I’ve been since my failed relationship conversation with my dad. I’ve been a mess, terrified of the potential fallout. So, over the past two days, I’ve put all my energy into making sure this gala is perfect. So far, it really is.
“It’s all in the planning. You really owned this, Hammer.”
That makes me smile. This evening has gone off without a hitch. The silent auction has been a huge success. Dinner was amazing. Yet as wonderful as it is, my dress feels like a vise around my chest, because the night with a hockey player auction is up next. Maybe, I should have agreed to Hollis backing out. I just didn’t want the questions or my feelings to get in the way of the success of the event. Regret is a weight in the pit of my stomach that gets heavier with each passing hour.
“Hammer, Willy, you two know how to throw one heck of a party.” Dallas passes us each a glass of pink champagne.
Hemi gives him her best death stare and holds up a hand. “I’m not drinking.”
Dallas gives her a patient smile. “It’s mostly strawberry cordial. There’s merely a splash of champagne.”
I take a cautious sip. Like Hemi, I’m drinking soda water with a shot of cranberry juice. People think it’s a cocktail. We’re both on duty, so we’ll save our bubbly for when the guests leave. “He’s not lying.”
Hemi reluctantly accepts the glass but doesn’t sip the drink.
Essie and Rix appear, along with Tally and Dred.
“This is one heck of a shindig.” Normally Dred wears khaki pants and cardigans in pastel colors. Tonight, she’s wearing a siren red evening gown with a slit up the right leg. Hemi brought her as her date in hopes that Dred could help her babysit Flip. It seems to have worked, since he hasn’t disappeared into a bathroom with anyone. Although he has been better the past few months.
“Seriously. I’ve never seen so many hot guys in one room in my entire life,” Essie adds. She’s Rix’s best friend from childhood. She lives in Vancouver and works as a makeup artist and cleverly timed her visit to overlap with the gala.
“Thanks.” Dallas winks at her.
“She wasn’t talking to you,” Hemi snaps.
“Wow, no dickface or asshat attached to that? We’re making real progress in our relationship, Willy.” Dallas turns back to Essie and Dred. “Have you had a chance to meet Alex Waters and his crew?”
“No,” Dred, Essie, and Tally say in unison.
“Well, let’s fix that.” Dallas motions for them to follow.
Tally threads her arm through mine. “I can’t believe I’m about to meet Kodiak Bowman.”
“I’ve heard he’s actually super sweet and very shy, and his wife is hilarious,” I assure her.
“He always looks so intense.”
Essie is scanning the crowd. “Do you think Kodiak might have any single friends?”
My dad and Hollis are chatting with Alex when we approach. Hollis looks delicious in his black tuxedo. If my dad’s reaction had been different, maybe I could have been Hollis’s date tonight. Then he could have backed out of the auction. But it’s probably best that we put that off. Hollis and I struggled initially because he prioritized his friendship with my dad over his feelings for me. If he does that again, now that we actually have something between us, I don’t know how I’ll recover. I can’t add that to my plate right now. But I can’t walk away from this either. I just wish I could see the path forward more clearly.
I’ve been careful to avoid Hollis for the most part tonight, but it hasn’t been easy. His gaze moves over me, familiar and comforting as we close in on them. His smile softens, and I return it.
Hemi elbows me in the side. “Tone it down with the heart eyes.”
“Dallas, it’s great to see you again.” Alex Waters pulls him in for a back pat and a hug. “This event is incredible.”
“I’m glad you came.” Dallas’s smile is bright, like his last name, as he motions to me and Hemi. “And you can thank this duo for putting on such a kickass event.”
There’s another round of introductions, and I officially meet Kodiak Bowman, who plays for New York along with Flip’s nemesis, Connor Grace. I also meet Kodiak’s wife, Lavender. She’s a tiny thing, but clearly the boss of Kodiak with the way he can’t stop making moon eyes at her. Or touching her. I also meet Maverick Waters, who is a carbon copy of his dad, and his girlfriend, Clover, who, if I had to guess, is a few years older than he is.
Hemi and I get pulled into a conversation with Lavender, Clover, and her friend, Sophia, who doesn’t have a date.
We learn that Clover and Maverick run a place called Lavender House in the lake district out in Wisconsin. It’s where women and families escaping abusive relationships can call home while they get back on their feet. Sophia works with them as their lead psychologist.
“I have a question for you,” Clover says to me and Hemi.
