Chapter 24 Donovan
DONOVAN
“You’re what?” I looked at the phone incredulously on my desk as Maeve’s voice filled my office over the speakerphone.
I was completely torn. On one hand, I loved that we were going to spending time together because as of late, spending time with Audra had become my favorite thing.
But on the other, I had some unnecessary nerves about it too.
It was typically a struggle for me to adapt and be flexible in the moment, but that was a me problem.
At least it was a lively Vegas Night event rather than a stuffy dinner, and I deeply believed in the mission of this charity and all the amazing things they did.
Maeve could have bailed without a contingency, and then I would have had to miss this altogether, so I was grateful she found a way to make it work.
At the end of the day, I wanted to spend more time with Audra, so maybe this would work in my favor after all.
“Audra, thank you for agreeing to this at the last minute. You look utterly fantastic.”
“Thank you!” She smiled widely. “I am hoping to win big tonight!” She fist pumped in the air before she ducked into the back.
When we were underway, she had some more questions.
“So I need some more info, seeing as I just found out about this less than two hours ago. First, are there any major players I need to be aware of? Like, are we schmoozing tonight? Getting ins and wheeling and dealing with people? Maeve didn’t give me much to go on here.
We should have a code word.” She shimmied her shoulders like we were about to go in as spies and mob men.
It was equal parts hilarious and delightful.
“Contrary to what you think I do, no, there is no schmoozing mafia men involved in this evening—it’s truly just for fun.
The event is for an organization called Warrior Academy, and it’s one I hold dear to me, so I’m so grateful you are coming with me tonight.
The New York chapter was where it began for me, and I have supported it since I learned about it.
” I conveniently left out that I found out about it during the underground fighting I was doing.
“I was so happy to hear they had a chapter here in South Carolina, too. They do a lot of phenomenal things for kids, like mentoring, tutoring, self-defense, and providing a safe place for students after school. Tonight, I have to show my face, but we don’t even have to stay long if you don’t want to. ”
“Oh no, let me make it clear, I’m still coming home a winner tonight, so buckle up, Donovan.
” I loved how she approached this world.
Audra is just fun. My world hadn’t been fun in too fucking long.
“Do we cash in money for chips and cash back in at the end of the night? How does this work? I don’t want to look like a novice here. ”
I laughed out loud. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s only funny money, so although yes, we will cash in real money for chips, none of that is coming back to you. But there are raffles and other prizes you can win. Because, you know … we’re doing it for the children.”
A slight pink rose up, as her hands went over her cheeks. “Jesus, of course. Oh my gosh, I’m kind of embarrassed,” she laughed sheepishly. “Let’s be honest, though, I’m still gunning to win because that’s just who I am. Wait—I get to play, right?”
I barked out another laugh. “Of course. I mean, you look gorgeous enough to be arm candy over some card shark’s shoulder, but we both know that’s not how you operate. You’re welcome to play any and all the games your heart desires. Minus roulette, because that game is the worst.”
She gasped and put her hand to her chest. “How dare you, Donovan Wright? I’m wearing red tonight in honor of choosing red on the roulette wheel.
” She couldn’t get the whole phrase out without giggling.
The rest of our ride was laugh-out-loud funny too.
I was almost sad when we got to the event because then I’d have to share her with everyone else, and I was quickly realizing I hated sharing.
But she was ready to bound in and get the night started.
When we exited the car, she garnered a ton of looks from people.
One, because she was smoking hot tonight, and two, she was with me.
I’d been involved with the South Carolina chapter of the organization since I moved here, and I knew at least half the people who would be in attendance.
I’d never been to an event in this state with anyone but Maeve.
She was no doubt beautiful as well, so she stood out in her own right, but to me, Audra was next level.
In New York, I was a smidge more cavalier with dates, but not here, so people were probably a little stunned.
I’m sure I’d be hearing lots of questions from my acquaintances.
We got in, said hellos, and went to get chips.
She tried to pay, and after a brief argument about it, she conceded and let me get them.
Within the first three minutes of walking towards the makeshift casino floor, she got stopped by another big donor named Mark.
We knew each other from all the events we attended, and he was quite the playboy.
“Hello,” he crooned at her, obnoxiously glancing up and down her body. “I’ve never seen you around here before. I would have recognized someone as beautiful. Do you, by chance, have the time?” He grabbed her hand and kissed it like an 18th-century Duke.
She looked at him skeptically, “I’m sorry, I don’t.”
“I just wanted to know the exact time I fell for you.”
“Um, no”—she pulled her hand back and looped it in my arm—”good luck with that tonight, though.
” Pulling me along for a couple of steps, she dropped and moved farther ahead in excitement.
I looked behind at Mark, silently laughing at the dumbfounded look on his face.
I’m positive that was a first for him. But who tries to hit on someone’s date? Jackass.
When I looked back at her, I could see her eyes locked on the roulette table.
A few steps ahead, she glanced over her shoulder at me with mischief written on her face.
I jokingly shook my head to say no, and she stuck her tongue out at me.
It was such a ridiculous gesture that I looked around to see if anyone else saw it.
My heart felt light at the whimsy, and I had a glimpse into my younger years when everything didn’t seem so heavy.
The single only thing I could do was follow this woman.
I seemed to be doing that a lot with her.
We stayed almost the entire night and played every game we could, re-upping our chips a couple of times. In the car, she had asked about schmoozing people intentionally, but Audra King had the entire room eating out of her fucking hand. That red dress certainly helped her stand out, too.
She held her own in all the games, especially at the craps table.
It was like she was living the scene of a movie.
Beautiful, sexy woman throwing the dice, not understanding what any of the rolls meant, but on a streak of good luck with people around her cheering.
The last seven she rolled, she jumped right into my arms, she was so excited about it, and I just held her against my body.
After she walked away from that table, saying goodbye to everyone as they were all now best friends, we decided to head out.
Before we did, we passed the Sweet Tooth Booth.
All the sugary treats anyone could want were available at the Sweet Tooth Booth, and the kids in the organization made everything that was for sale.
You had to use your funny money to buy it, but because we were both almost skint broke, the only way we could get anything would be if we combined the last of our chips.
“We only have enough for one thing, and look, rainbow cotton candy!” She wagged her eyebrows at me. “This is a no-brainer.”
“No way!” I replied. “The cookie will be more delicious and less sticky.”
“More crumbs,” she retorted. “But that’s irrelevant because it’s not anywhere near as good as the cotton candy.”
“Not happening. I’m not paying all that money for blown sugar.”
“Your Magic 8 Ball says WITHOUT A DOUBT, COTTON CANDY.”
“You leave my Magic 8 Ball out of this, King. Besides, mine says ALL SIGNS POINT TO YES for cookies.”
“Fine. Rock, paper, scissors for it.” She snort-laughed because this was so silly. The sound was so unexpected that I started laughing, too. I’d had more of these moments with her around in the last couple of weeks than I had in years.
“What?” I said when I caught my breath.
“Rock, paper, scissors for the treat. Whoever wins gets to pick. Best of three.”
“Deal.” So we stood ten feet in front of the booth and had an all-out rock, paper, scissors battle.
It was so intense that we drew a little bit of the crowd from the craps table, who were on their way out too.
I won and raised my arms into the air pumping them like Rocky, while I sang an old song about doing it all for the cookie.
It was pure childlike joy, and laughter surrounded us.
The people who had known me from previous events must have thought I was on drugs.
It was so completely out of character for me.
Young me would not have thought twice about being silly like that, but Savannah Springs me never let that guard down.
But there I was, fist pumping because of a rock, paper, scissors victory for a cookie.
I walked up to the booth with a fistful of funny money in my hand while Audra stayed back to talk to some of her new best friends.
The plan was to get the cotton candy for her anyway, but the worker who had watched the whole thing had something to say.
She was older, in her 60s, and I wondered what her connection with the organization was or if she was just part of the catering staff.
“I’ll have one rainbow cotton candy, please.”
“Pretty sure I just watched you win your cookie, handsome,” she said in a thick southern drawl as she handed the cotton candy bag to me.
“I’m in it for the bragging rights on this one. She was always going to get the cotton candy.” I smiled again. “I’m having the best time here tonight. Are you involved in Warrior Academy?”
“Yes, sir, I am. I used to teach in an underprivileged area, and one of the best tools I had was Warrior Academy. I am eternally grateful for everything that the organization did for all my students.”
“Fantastic Ms…”
“Barbra. Just Barbra. And you are?”
“Donovan. Donovan Wright. I supported Warrior Academy back when I lived in New York, and now I’m grateful I can continue that support here in South Carolina.
I know what an incredible impact this organization makes.
That and working in conjunction with remarkable teachers like you, of course.
Thank you for your years of teaching service, Barbra. I bet the kids loved you.”
“Well, you’re just making an old lady blush now, aren’t ya?
It’s my turn to put you on the spot, Mr. Wright.
I have been doing this event for a long time, and that was the most fun I’ve ever had watching two people.
When are you going to lock that one down?
I don’t see no ring. She’s the prettiest gal in here, and the way you two were carrying on, ya’ll made me smile. ”
“Oh, no. We’re not … she’s just … my date couldn’t come.”
Barbra gave me the judgiest, wide-eyed, pursed-lipped face a stranger had ever given me.
“I promise you that you ain’t gon’ be looking at no other date the way you been looking at that one.
And no one would be prettier either.” And as if on cue, Audra looked our way from where she was standing.
She tried to keep her lips together in a close-lipped smile while shaking her head at me, but she lost the battle and broke into a full grin that scrunched up her nose and crinkled her eyes while she shook her fist in the air.
I couldn’t help but mirror her joy. “No, I mean, my usual date is my co-worker, and she’s going to get engaged.
But we’re not together; she’s just an employee.
I’m not dating anyone.” Good Lord, what an idiot I sounded like.
“Alright, Miss Barbra. Here’s the truth: that one over there, she’s a friend, but between you and me, I’m thinking I might want something more. ”
“I’d imagine so, sugar. You’d be a lucky man. And I’d bet she’s thinking the same thing based on how she’s looking at you. Anyway, here’s that cookie you wanted as well. That one’s on me. Enjoy your treats, and make sure you make that move, Mr. Wright. Go for that something more.”
Walking up to Audra, I had my hands behind my back. When I got close enough, I presented the cookie to her and tried to get her to take a bite. She took the littlest one to spite me before coming back for a bigger one.
“Ok, I admit defeat here. That cookie is amazing,” she laughed.
“I accept your admission, and since you have lost so gracefully,” I pulled the cotton candy out from behind my back, and her eyes lit up.
“How?” she asked, floored.
“I could make something up about my master negotiation skills, but the truth is when I bought the cotton candy, which I was getting for you regardless of the outcome of our battle, the woman, Barbra, said she enjoyed watching us play. She wanted to give me a little something after I bought your treat.”
“Seriously? That is the sweetest. No pun intended.” She laughed at her joke and turned to wave at Barbra, who smiled and waved back.
“Maybe we should get ‘what time is it guy’ over here to show him how to actually win someone over with something other than shitty pick up lines,” she snickered at herself.
“But honestly, Donovan, thank you for getting the cotton candy. I lost fair and square, but it really is my favorite.”
How unfamiliar. I wasn’t in the business of wooing women anymore, but it took a hell of a lot more than a little bag of rainbow cotton candy to be an acceptable gift back where I was from.
This silly bag of sugar really seemed to make her night.
It was so simple in the most wonderful of ways. A quiet smile bloomed across my face.
By the time we left Vegas Night, we were indeed sticky with cotton candy, buzzed from all the cocktails, and I was head over heels for this woman.