Page 21 of Forget Me

“Jackson?” That was an odd way to put it since he’d been working in the building all day.

“No, my other brother, Andrew. I’m taking him to dinner.”

“Speaking of dinner, don’t forget to give me the name of your plus-one for the gala, ladies,” Larissa said.

“A plus-one?” This sounded like the kind of math I didn’t like. The ring seemed to burn against my skin.

“Someone to sit with at dinner. The committee are going to be scattered at various tables so the donors have access to us. Surely you want a friendly face next to you.”

I didn’t have time to date anyone, much less find someone to bring to a function. Would Ben go with me? But how pathetic would bringing my brother be?

Not quite as pathetic as showing up alone, like I’d done at Bree’s wedding.

“I—I’m not seeing anyone.”

“You don’t have to be seeing someone to bring a date.” She pursed her lips. “Tempt them with free food.”

My cheeks went cold. Sure, I liked a free meal just as much as anyone did, but wasthatwhat she thought of me? Because I didn’t belong in her rich-girl world, she looked down on me. Was that why she didn’t want to work with me?

“I can find you a date,” Natalie said. “I know lots of guys. Or…girls?”

The warmth rushed back into my face. “Thanks.” As kind as it was of her to offer, the men Natalie knew would probably look down their noses at me even more than Larissa did. “Give me a few days to work my network”—and by “network,” I meant the few numbers I’d kept from my one-night stands—“and I’ll let you know if I need help.”

“Sure, no rush.” Natalie grinned.

“The gala is in six weeks. Valentine’s Day. Don’t wait too long, or all the best ones will be snapped up.” Larissa chuckled.

Great. I knew in the back of my mind we were planning the event on February 14, but until she pointed it out, I hadn’t thought about asking someone out on Valentine’s Day. Any man in his right mind would run the opposite direction. And normally, I’d encourage a guy to beware the desperate single woman on a Hallmark holiday.

But this time, the desperate single woman was me.

---