Page 96 of Fake Shot

Lauren

You know Jackson’s husband, Nate? His dad is interested in your nonprofit and wants to meet with you.

Jules

He’s interested in donating?

Lauren

Yeah, apparently Nate told him about it after I explained it to him and Jackson. He owns a ton of commercial property in Boston and is interested in donating. But I think he also genuinely wants to know more about the program and may want to be involved somehow.

My stomach drops when I think of the last guy who wanted to be “involved” in our nonprofit.

I turn my phone toward Audrey and her eyes scan the screen before she raises her eyebrows and says, “Do you want to meet with him?”

“I keep thinking about how I felt when we finished recording that video of Rosie. That realization that we need the moneynowso we don’t have a waiting list a mile long. So yeah, I think we need to move on this.”

Lauren

I’m going to send you his contact info. Nate told him you’d reach out if you were interested.

“Do you want me to be involved in this?” Audrey asks. “Or do you want to handle it yourself?”

I realize that my sister is putting the ball in my court, letting me decide if I want this to be an “us” thing, or if I need to go by myself like I did last time, just to prove to myself that I can do it.

“This nonprofit, like Our House, isours. I can’t, and don’t want to, do it without you.”

“From a business perspective,” Audrey says, leaning over and resting her head on my shoulder, “yes, it’s ours. But you are the face and the lifeblood of this nonprofit, Jules. You’re the one with the passion and the knowledge that helps these women. I couldn’t do it without you, but you certainly could do it without me.”

I hear her acknowledgement of what I bring to this process, but it doesn’t change the fact that Audrey and I are in this together.

Tilting my head to the side, I rest my cheek on the top of her head. “Even if Icoulddo it without you, I don’t want to.”

Nate’s dad’s contact comes through via text a moment later, and I don’t let myself think too much about it before I tap on the number to send a message.

Jules

Hi, this is Jules Flynn. Nate suggested reaching out to you about the mentoring program for women in the trades that my sister and I recently started in Boston. He mentioned that you might be interested in donating or being involved. I’d love to talk more about that opportunity whenever you have time.

Jay Davenport

How is tomorrow, late afternoon? I have some time around 5pm.

Audrey sits up and we just look at each other. I wasn’t expecting a reply this late at night, or for a meeting so quickly.

“Let’s do it,” she says.

Jules

We can make that work. I’ll send you some info tomorrow in case you have a minute to look through it ahead of time. Where would you like to meet?

He texts me the address to his office in the Davenport building downtown, right near the old State House, and it’s only then that I have the “ah ha” moment of realizing exactly what a big deal he is. Jackson’s husband, Nate, whileobviously wealthy, is so down to earth I would never have guessed that he’s part of the historic Davenport family that the landmark building is named after.

“What’s going on?” Colt’s voice is low, the words spoken directly in my ear from the opposite side of me.

“Just setting up a business meeting with a potential donor tomorrow.”

“At . . .” Colt glances at his watch. “. . . eleven at night?”

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