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“You know what we should talk about…” Hemi gracefully changes the subject.
“Not my sex life?” Rix offers.
“I disagree. I think we should definitely talk about Rix’s sex life,” Shilpa argues.
“Some things are better left to your imagination.” Hemi rests her chin on her steepled fingers. “Let’s discuss the gala.”
“I got your email this morning. I’m staying on top of everything,” I assure her. We have weekly planning meetings. I pull my newest checklist up on my phone. “I’m checking in with the Hockey Academy this week.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to call? Or even Phillip or Dallas?” Hemi offers.
This will be the second follow-up call, but I want to be the one who secures attendees. I need this to be my baby, and I need to be the one who makes it amazing. “I can handle it, but I’ll let you know if I need your backup.”
“No problem. Usually, I’m on an intravenous coffee drip at this point with all the juggling. And it’s proving more than anything that I need an assistant. My role has morphed so much over the past two years.”
“That’s because you’re efficient, and you love the challenge of taking on new things,” Shilpa says.
“This is accurate.” Hemi sighs. “What about the date packages? Do you need help with any of those?”
“Nope. I’m almost finished creating the packages for the auction, and all the restaurants are comping the meals.” It’s been fun setting up these experiences and tailoring them to the player.
“You are amazing. And having this all set up before the auction will make my life so much easier once the event is over. Hopefully an organized agenda will keep Flip from sleeping with whoever buys a night with him,” Hemi grumbles.
“I mean…he’s been better lately, so we can hope for the best,” Rix says, probably cautiously optimistic.
Tally pokes at her lime.
“How much did he go for last year?” I ask.
“Seventy-four thousand,” Tally offers. She looks around the table, cheeks flushed. “I think, anyway. And Dallas went for fifty-two.”
“That was damn well magical to watch Fielding’s great-grandmother kiss him full on the lips.” Hemi laughs evilly.
“Your hate-on for him is vast and unyielding,” I muse.
“Like the desert, brutal and unrelenting,” Shilpa mutters.
“That’s an excellent comparison.” Hemi sips her water. “Is Hollis still on board?”
I asked him months ago, before…everything. I wasn’t super excited about him going on a date back then, but I’m even less excited now. Especially since the date I designed for him is my personal fantasy. “He hasn’t said anything about backing out.”
“Great.” Hemi leans in and drops her voice. “And you extended the invitation to Scarlet and her castmates?”
“I did, and I’m following up again this week.” I felt like I was going to vomit the entire time, but I talked to her assistant.
“If you don’t hear back, I can follow up. If she says yes, we can do some really cool cross-promotion. It’ll elevate the event.”
Part of me secretly hopes there will be a scheduling conflict and Scarlet won’t make it. But the part that wants this to be the best gala we’ve ever had knows it would be fantastic if she could be there. I pull my scrunchie free from my wrist and finger the fabric. I found it the other day in Hollis’s bedroom when I fed the cats. It smells faintly of his laundry detergent and body wash. I slip it back on my wrist before I give in to the urge to sniff it in front of my friends.
Rix grabs my wrist. “You found your favorite scrunchie! Where was it?”
“At Hollis’s. It must have fallen out of my pocket.” I wonder when he found it. And why was it on his dresser?
Tally’s phone buzzes on the table, and she checks the screen with a sigh. “I have to go home.”
It’s a school night, and it’s closing in on ten. She has a ten-thirty weeknight curfew.
“I’ll drive you,” Hemi offers.
