by Piper Rayne
Chapter Thirty-Two
I walk into the gala and a real smile creases my lips for the first time since everything went to shit with Roarke.
The simple vases with clusters of white roses and greenery on each table under the pleated white tent give off a casual elegance vibe. A makeshift dance floor is surrounded by tables of eight covered in white tablecloths and the tent is open along the sides so you can see the city skyline.
“You like?” Sonya approaches me wearing a nice pink dress and heels, her name tag in place.
“I love. It’s beautiful.”
“May I walk you around?”
The waitstaff are dressed in classic black and white and flit between tables, filling the water glasses while others straighten the flower arrangements and place cards.
“Definitely.”
“So we have the champagne toast ready go after the final speech.” She points to the back kitchen. “Over here we arranged a black light room for the girls to write inspiring messages in neon colors.”
The entire blocked off room has black dry erase boards with pink, yellow, blue and green neon markers ready to be used.
“I love it.”
“I was a little unsure because I know you wanted elegant but since some of the girls and families were going to be here, I figured it could work. I ran the idea by Chelsea and she seemed to agree so we went ahead with it.” She leads me over to a long table covered in gift baskets. “This is the silent auction. Whoever hustled to get these did an awesome job. You’ve got Cubs packages, Blackhawks, a weekend getaway at The Drake, someone even donated a five day trip to Napa with the use of a private jet. It’s crazy how much money is in this city. We’ll be doing the live auction right after dinner while dessert is being served with the other items.”
Her enthusiasm is catching and I love that she seems as excited as I am about all this. “Everything is perfect.”
She smiles, winding through the tables. “I wasn’t sure how you’ll feel about this next part...Chelsea and I had discussed it but she mentioned you’ve been out of the office a lot the last week. I’m so happy you’re feeling better.”
I nod but say nothing.
“We decided instead of seating all the speakers together, that we’d sprinkle them in with the families. So the six Winter Classics athletes have been split up in groups of two to sit at tables with users of the programs. I hope that’s okay, but we thought if they saw the difference the foundation is making, they’d be more likely to either donate their time or money at a later date. And I think it will make everyone feel included and equal. I’m not sure if Roarke told you, but I used a non-profit company to get help when I was struggling in community college. The interview training helped me land this job. I just didn’t want the people who were part of the RISE Foundation’s generosity to feel any separation from the people funding the foundation.” Her cheeks blush with a slight pink that matches her dress. “Does that sound terrible? I hadn’t meant it to be.”
Her innocence and insightfulness amazes me. “It sounded beautiful and very well thought out. Thank you so much for thinking of it.”
She shrugs and touches my arm. “I’m so grateful to the One Million Degrees program and that’s why I had no problem bumping a profit event for yours.” She winks. “Between us of course.”
I’m floored by her candidness. “Of course. I’m so happy you got the help you needed to succeed.”
She smiles and heads to the podium. “The sound and video guy have the ads ready to go. They’ll play those right after the speeches and before the dinner.”
“Sonya, I’m truly amazed at how wonderful everything has been planned out.”
“Oh!” she exclaims but tapers down her reaction checking to make sure no one noticed. “Don’t even ask how, but we got fireworks. They’ll go off at ten thirty for fifteen minutes before the end of the evening. Called it another favor.”
She winks and although I am so appreciative of her efforts, the word firecracker reminds me of Roarke’s nickname for me. I push back the memories beating at the door for entry and smile at her.
“Really? Oh it will be beautiful.”
She nods and her hand rests on my arm again. “I have to check on some last minute preparations but enjoy. And if there’s anything you need, just grab any waitstaff and tell them to find me.”
I pull her into a hug. “Thank you, Sonya.”
She draws back. “You’re welcome. Any friend of Roarke’s is a friend of mine.” A soft smile creases her lips and I wonder if she knows. What kind of relationship does he still have with her? “I’m sure he’ll be quite smitten when he arrives and sees you.” She lightly squeezes my arm and I’m guessing she doesn’t know that we’ve broken up.
“I’m speechless,” Victoria says when she arrives a short time later, her arm entwined through Reed’s. She’s stunning in her black dress with a puffy bottom over her toned legs. Jade is wearing a soft pink dress with a beaded belt around the waist while Reed is in a typical black tuxedo. They look like the perfect American family.
I hold my hands out to the room. “Amazing, right?”
Victoria slides out from Reed’s hold, her hand over her heart as she approaches me. “It’s beautiful and more than I even imagined. What a great start to RISE.” She embraces me and the warmth of her arms brings the hopeful feeling that this will not be our only gala. That RISE will succeed and there will be many more to come.
“Looks great,” Reed says behind her.
Victoria draws back from me, giving me the look like ‘he’s a guy, don’t blame him for his lack of enthusiasm.’
“Can I write on the board?” Jade asks.
“Definitely. Start it off, girl,” I say.
She runs to the room and disappears. “You guys talk, I’ll keep an eye on her.” Reed leans forward kissing me on the cheek. “Congratulations, Hannah.”
“Thank you, Reed.”
With one last look at Victoria, he heads to the room Jade disappeared into.
“Anything I need to do?” Victoria inspects every surface.
“Nope. Just enjoy tonight. I’m going to introduce you and Chelsea at the beginning of the evening and other than that, you guys just have fun.” I lean in close. “There’s going to be fireworks near the end so maybe Jade can stay later?”
“Reed won that round. Said a late bedtime isn’t going to kill her.” She rolls her eyes and I wonder how much say he gets these days. Victoria usually holds all control when her ex isn’t around and I imagine having Reed interject his opinion must be hard to get used to.
“Holy shit, it’s awesome!” Chelsea’s voice screeches into the nearly empty room. When we turn, we see her mouth hanging open as she looks around. “Sonya is pure magic. I say we hire her to do all of our events.”
“I think you’re missing someone?” Victoria says, noting that Dean is not with her.
“Hey, if he thinks I need a jacket in case it gets cold then he can wait at coat check.” She thumbs behind her.
Dean walks in handsome as ever in his tuxedo, looking a tad on the exhausted side.
“I’m trying to make sure you don’t get a cold.” His long strides bring him to us in no time at all.
If I’m not mistaken, there is the smallest hint of baby bump. Anyone who didn’t know how flat her stomach was before the pregnancy wouldn’t even notice. But in her tight gold dress, I can see the beginnings of her baby bump.
“Ladies. Gorgeous as ever.” Dean kisses both our cheeks.
“Hey!” She smacks him in the stomach.
“You know where you stand.” He kisses her cheek, then his lips travel to her ear and he whispers something.
Once Chelsea stops giggling, he asks, “Where’s Reed?”
I’m sure he’s anxious to get out of our girl squad.
“In the black room with Jade.” I motion with my hand behind him.
He claps his hands rubbing them together. “A black room. I feel like I’m in college a
gain.” He ventures off and Chelsea rolls her eyes.
Why do I miss not having a man around to roll my eyes at?
“My hands are itching without anything to do,” Victoria says.
The two of us laugh. “Let’s get a drink then,” Chelsea suggests, even though she’ll be sipping on water all night.
“Perfect,” I say, thinking I could use a little cocktail comedown at the moment.
The three of us head to the bar with about ten minutes to spare before guests will start arriving. I can only pray that Roarke isn’t one of them.
Chapter Thirty-Three
All the guests are seated and I’m at the podium after introducing Chelsea and Victoria. The video advertising the RISE program is about to play when my voice catches in my throat when I spot the tall man winding through the tables.
Roarke slides into the seat next to mine. The one that was reserved for him but was supposed to have been moved to a different table.
“Please enjoy the…video.” I step away from the podium, and the spotlight moves off of me. “Chels,” I bite out.
“I saw.” She cringes.
“Why is he at my table?”
She shakes her head. “I have no idea. I know I put him at another one.” She bites her lip. “I know I’ve been a little out of it, but that is a detail I definitely didn’t miss.” I believe her. Part of me wonders if Sonya did it. God knows she thinks he walks on fucking water.
The video continues playing and it’s time for all of us to take our seats. Since we’re all at different tables, I’m stuck having to go sit next to him.
“You sit with Dean. I’ll sit where you’re at,” Chelsea mumbles, continuing to head to my table.
I grab her arm at the last minute before it would look suspicious. “You can’t. I’m there with half the directors of the school districts.”
Her eyes widen. “I forgot. Well, I could act like you.”
Victoria laughs.
Chelsea whips around. “What? I could.”
“It’s fine. I can totally handle sharing a meal with him.” Leaving them behind, and not really believing my words, I head to my table.
He already has the table laughing over some story he’s just finished telling. Always the charmer.
“Here she is.” Roarke stands, pulling my chair out for me.
“I thought you weren’t able to make it,” I whisper through a smile in case the rest of the table is watching.
“Oh, you’re forgetting that last favor.” He smiles tucking me into the table.
Situating himself next to me, he places his napkin back on his lap.
He looks good. Damn it to hell does he ever look good in a tux. Forcing myself to be altruistic where he’s concerned is going to be difficult.
As the rest of the table busies themselves with salad dressings and bread baskets, I lean in his direction. “Do not ruin this night for me, Roarke.”
His shoulders lose the strength they always perceive. “I would never do that. If you’d give me five minutes, we could put all this behind us.”
“And do what?” I smile at a woman across the table from us.
“Start where we stopped.”
I pivot in my seat to look at him fully. “You don’t get it—”
“Hannah sweetie, you are stunning tonight.” An elderly wife of the director of Chicago Public Schools diverts my attention from Roarke.
I smile so as to not alarm her there’s anything amiss between myself and the man on my right. “Thank you. I do love your dress.”
She nods, proud as can be. “Thank you. It’s rayon, much to my daughter’s chagrin. She keeps on getting me to dress different but my philosophy is the outside doesn’t matter. It’s the inside. What’s in here.” She pats her heart. “I don’t need to spend an absurd amount of money to look sophisticated and cultured. People can find out who I am when they take the time to speak to me.”
I admire her, so completely comfortable in her own skin.
“I think that’s wonderful. Hard these days to not fall into the trap of looking like everyone else.”
Gwen comes to mind as I hear her laugh from three tables over. Talk about another woman who could care less what anyone thinks about her.
“Now? Can you imagine what it was like when I was growing up? They wanted us dying of heatstroke in a kitchen. I told Earl there’s no way you’re going to shut me up. If you want to try it, then don’t show up to that church to marry me. I have a voice and I’m going to tell you when your thinking is jackass stupid.”
I purse my lips to keep from laughing.
“Oh, go ahead and laugh. My granddaughter thinks I’m crazy, but guess what?”
I find myself leaning forward, waiting for her to tell me a secret.
“She’s the strong one. Left her husband last year with three kids under four. He tried to hide his income so he didn’t have to pay so much in child support, but she had all the documentation. She knew how to get into their 401K, how much they had in stocks. I like to think if I didn’t raise her mom to have a mind of her own, she might have not known to make sure she was involved in their financial affairs. Love is beautiful.” She eyes Roarke and tilts her head to the side. “But it’s also blind. Sometimes you get hit over the head with a sledgehammer and you have to be able to retaliate. What’s important is how quickly you get up, don’t you think?”
I smile at her. “I do.”
“And remember you are worth perfection. No one is perfect but whoever wants to win this.” She points to my heart. “Should be striving for perfection.”
Why do I get the feeling like she’s talking more about me now than in general terms?
“Now you have to treat them with the same respect by letting him in. Trusting that you’re in it together. There’s no Cinderella story, but there’s no reason why a prince and a princess can’t slay those dragons together now is there?”
“Oh Eloise, stop babbling on about love,” her husband says from beside her.
She eyes Roarke one more time, but he’s deep in conversation to his right.
“She gets me.” Eloise winks and then waves her finger between us. “Hannah meet my husband, Earl. He’s all ears on how he can help get young girls to believe they have a voice that needs to be heard.”
She speaks so close to what’s in my heart that you’d almost think she had a file on me. I have the urge to grab Roarke’s hand under the table, but I stop myself. Everything this woman is saying feels like it’s lifting the fog that’s been heavy in my brain all week. I don’t need a prince to save me, but I do need to trust that if things fail between us, I have the strength to pick myself back up.
I push the thought of Roarke to the side as I carry on a conversation with Earl and the other directors at the table about RISE and what we’re hoping to accomplish for the next half hour through dinner.
Roarke sits quietly, never interrupting me or trying to interject his own thoughts on the matters up for discussion. He doesn’t try to sell RISE to the table. In fact, if it wasn’t for the static electricity that stands my hairs on end, I’d wonder if he was still there.
Our dinner dishes are cleared and dessert is about to be served.
“Excuse me, I believe the auction is going to start.” I hold my napkin in my hand, but Roarke gets up and slides my chair out for me. “Thank you.”
“Always.”
Our eyes meet for the briefest moment before I look away.
Although Eloise’s unsolicited advice is yet another warning that I’m being stupid, this is not the time to have this conversation.
He sits back down as I head to the podium once more to introduce the auctioneer.
For the rest of the night, RISE profits from more donated money than I thought possible. Roarke has stayed in the backdrop, silently supporting me. He doesn’t invade my space or make a scene. I make sure to say hello to my parents and take some time to thank all the speakers so they know how much I appreciate them donating their time.
I schmooze some of the deep pockets in the room and everything goes off without a hitch.
I’ve just turned around from saying goodbye to Jasper and Lennon Banks with regrets they’ll miss the fireworks when I hear a tapping on the microphone.
“Excuse me.” Roarke’s deep timbre voice echoes through the tent.
I freeze in place—fear and excitement run through my veins as I wonder what he could be up to.
Everyone stops their conversations and grants him their undivided attention, but his eyes are solely on me.
“No, no, no,” I whisper as my cheeks heat.
“Who is that?” Lennon asks from beside me.
“Come on,” Jasper says to his wife, knowing they need to get back to their kids at the hotel, but she shrugs him off.
“Not a chance in hell I’m leaving now,” she says.
He steps up to her, and the three of us stand in a line.
“I thought this would be easy,” Roark starts. “Since I’m used to pleading my cases in front of a judge most days. But this is so much more important than vacation timeshares, joint bank accounts, and retirement plans. This is my own future and this moment will decide whether I get the future I so desperately desire.” He pauses and swallows. “I love you, Hannah Crowley.”
Gasps sound off throughout the room and everyone turns my way. I try to push the thought of all these people away because he just told me he loves me for the first time and there is something that feels so right about that.
“From the first time I saw your picture, I had a gut feeling that you were the woman I’d been waiting a lifetime for.”
A few ahhs echo out from the women in the crowd.
“I don’t say that to be cliché, it’s true. I’ve always trusted my gut and it’s never steered me wrong. You learn from failure so even if it pushed me to something I failed at, I was okay with that. If it’s steering me wrong right now as I stand in front of this room with hundreds of eyes on me while I confess my love to a woman and she turns me down…I guess I’ll learn not to do it again. Not that I’d have to because there will only ever be you.”