Page 136 of Sassy Love
“One last matter of housekeeping before the entertainment for the night. Donations close at midnight. So make your mark now, ladies and gentlemen. Leave your legacy and go big.”
He sets the microphone on the small table behind him and exits the stage. Chatter floods in as men and women get out their phones around the room. On the back of each person’s name card is a prompt to donate above a QR code. People start scanning and tapping as the chatter rises.
“This is what we came here for,” Pa says, pulling out his phone and sliding on his reading glasses. My brothers all do the same.
“I need some air.” Carlie squeezes my hand, rising from her seat and winding her way through the tables before she disappears through the double doors.
“I think that’s your cue, Laws.” Grace rests a hand on my arm, nodding at the doors.
I dot a kiss to her forehead and make my way after Carlie.
Outside the doors, I find her pacing, her hands wringing in front of her as she stalks a small strip of marbled floor, heels clacking as she worries her bottom lip through her teeth.
She spins back, striding toward me, and I step into her path, gripping her shoulders. “Hey, tell me.”
She shakes her head, shaking my hold free.
“Carlie,” I plead. “We’re going to make it.”
She snaps her gaze to mine. “You don’t know that, Lawson.”
“No, I don’t. But you have to have a little faith.”
“Faith? If we hadn’t—” She scans the foyer quickly, lowering her voice to a whisper as she says, “If we hadn’t lied, we wouldn’t be in this position.”
“But we wouldn’t have had a chance to make things better, either.”
“It’s a million dollars, Lawson.One million.” She huffs a furious sound before waving her hands through the air. “I will not lose this job. I will not.”
I know it’s a big gap to fill?—
Hang on, what’s that supposed to mean?
Is she going to blame everything on me and offer me up as the sacrificial lamb to Serelle so she can keep her job?
“Carlie, don’t do this!”
She marches for the door. I follow behind, catching up as she makes it inside. The second we do, the noise is deafening. Women at every table are waving their hands, phones, and purses.
What the actual hell?
I flick my gaze to my family’s table. Addy’s laughing, holding her hands over Hattie’s ears. Gracie is cheering as Mack stares at her, arms crossed over his chest. Ma has spun around on her chair, but Ruby is...
On the goddamn stage.
“Okay, ladies, this one is really special. And I know you’re going to love him as much as we do. Next up in our auction is none other than the man who takes care of business for Serenity House, Lawson Rawlins! Come on up, Lawson. Ladies, hold those bid cards high.”
Chapter 34
LAWSON
“What the hell is going on?” I growl.
Carlie looks as shocked as I am. “I have no idea. Anna said we could use other initiatives if the donation goal wasn’t met, but we only started taking donations. I don’t understand.”
“There he is! Come on up, Laws.” Ruby waves at me, and the entire room turns to stare at Carlie and me standing by the door.
Fucking hell, Rubes.
