Decidedly with Wishes - Stina Lindenblatt Page 0,12
the pregnant woman at the side of the stage, who promptly blushed.
Applause filled the room as she walked to him and waved shyly at us.
Logan handed her the mic. She smiled at him and turned to the audience. “Thank you, everyone, for coming out and supporting the fundraiser. The money will ensure that foster kids of lower-income families have access to series of books that are so gripping, kids can’t help but want to read them. And as you know, the love of reading is key to learning and having opportunities that might not otherwise be possible. Thanks to your generosity, we’ve raised thirty thousand dollars, which will go to the Reading for Tomorrow Literacy Program.”
The crowded room broke out in cheers.
She passed the mic back to Logan.
“Don’t go anywhere,” he told her and began announcing the auction winners.
Dani and Rachel each won an item they’d bid on.
Did I win the French cooking lessons?
Unfortunately not. I missed it by a few dollars.
“And the winner of the date with Elias Lawson,” Logan said with a dramatic pause. My friends’ faces lit up with anticipation, their bodies leaning forward as they hung on to his every word.
Did a laugh escape me at their expressions?
Maybe.
They weren’t the only ones acting the same way. Several hopeful women near our table shared identical reactions, some of whom were practically falling off their seats under the weight of the suspense.
“With the winning bid of one thousand and twenty-nine dollars…Nala Johnson from table nineteen.”
Huh?
Applause rose throughout the room as I scanned the crowd, searching for another Nala Johnson. That had to be the only explanation for why he’d said my name.
I had to admit, though, the part about her being at our table was slightly perplexing. He must’ve gotten the numbers mixed up.
And I might have continued believing that if not for the cheers from my table. My other hint? Amelia, Dani, and Rachel were high-fiving and laughing.
When they realized I wasn’t moving, Amelia and Dani attempted to nudge me out of my chair.
I vehemently shook my head. “I didn’t bid on him. There’s obviously something wrong with the app.”
“We know you didn’t bid on him,” Amelia said, looking pretty proud of herself. “We did. He’s perfect. And now you’ll be able to cross an item off your list.”
“Yes, but that’s just one item. You’re forgetting I still need to ride a horse, kiss someone in front of the Eiffel Tower, learn to make a breathtaking cake—”
She raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. “You only said it had to be beautiful, like a wedding cake.”
I ignored her. “Go on a hayride. And the biggie, find a husband. Plus, I can’t justify that kind of expense for a single date.” Even if it was for a great cause.
Amelia stood up. “She’s coming,” she called out and grabbed my wrist. “Don’t worry about the amount,” she said to me. “This is our treat. We chipped in to win you the date.”
If I’d thought I was stunned before, that was nothing compared to now. Which was why she succeeded in dragging me to my feet and tugging me toward where the winners paid for their prizes.
“I can’t accept the prize,” I told her. I wanted to stop moving, but I also didn’t want to make a scene. “You and Sarina need the money more than I need to go on a date with Elias. It’s not even a real date.”
“It counts when it comes to your grandmother’s deal. Your list only said a date with a hot hockey player. It didn’t say you have to kiss him. And we screenshot the page from the website that listed the winner would win a date with him. What more does your grandmother need?”
She had a point there.
“Also, I met him when he volunteered with Sarina’s wheelchair hockey team. He’s a really nice guy. So you can’t do much better than him. And it’s for a great cause. So everyone wins in the end.”
“But it’s over a thousand dollars.”
“Yes, and you’ve sewn Sarina lots of beautiful dresses over the years, so this is the least I can do. You’ll have a fun night out with a nice guy—God knows when the last time you went out with a guy was—and the charity benefits. What more could you ask for?”
We approached the table tucked away in the corner of the room where you paid for the prizes.
“Hi,” Amelia said. “I’ve come to pay for the date with Eli Lawson.”