Chapter 14
Our committee meeting had low attendance as usual. Kat had an appointment with her acupuncturist. But a new girl, Ariel, came. When I had called a meeting only Larry, Lisa, Marie, Ariel, and I sat on the grassy mall between buildings at three. I had texted Brett, and he never responded. Marie was a little down and despondent.
I glanced over a list of businesses. We only had a few weeks left to plan the best event. An event that must make twenty thousand dollars. “Okay, I’ve made appointments to meet with Garbo’s carwash, Gallery Dix, and some others. How about you and Lisa go together?” I asked Larry. Lisa had a little smile on her face. It was almost not there, but I saw it. I worried I pairing my two weakest persons, but I got a feeling that they would work well together. Larry was pushy and Lisa would follow. “And Marie and Ariel. If you guys would go see….”
“Who are you going with?” Ariel asked. She was constantly on her phone, checking her email, or social media or whatever occupied her time. I was glad she’d come. I’d appreciate it more if she focused. Marie could keep her focused. She was by far the most experienced at this as she canvased businesses when she did pageants in her early teens.
“I’ll go by myself.” I had the mayor and a few other people. We were sending out invites as well as asking for donations. And I needed to stop by the newspaper office and give them the media piece I wrote for the event.
They started off when Brett arrived. “Did I miss it?”
“No, we were just starting our assignments.”
“Great! Where can I go?”
My mind flashed. How could I arrange him and Marie to be together? I could say…
Larry interrupted my thoughts. “Gabby needs a partner to go with her.”
“I could…” I only got out before Larry started again.
“Everyone else has been assigned,” Larry said emphatically.
Then I turned to Brett. “Or you can go with Marie, and I can go with Ariel.”
“But Ariel has a car,” Larry said. “Marie can’t get downtown without a car.”
“Do you have a car?” I asked Brett. Maybe that was hoping for too much. Marie’s car was in the shop for repairs.
“I took the bus into campus today.” He readjusted his backpack on his shoulder. “My car’s back at my apartment.”
I chewed my lip. It didn’t make sense for the two people without cars to go together and the two people with cars to go together. Grrrr! How could I make this work for Marie without looking obvious?
“Marie and Brett can take the bus downtown. And we can drive to the mayor’s office.”
Everyone stared at me. It sounded so strange, so contrived.
Finally Larry spoke. “Or we can just stick to the original plan. Ariel and Marie and Brett and Gabby.”
I looked at Marie, trying to communicate the sorry-I-tried look but she sorta shrugged.
Someone else came up behind us. “Or the three of you can go, and Gabby and I can go together.”
“Lincoln!” I said, whipping around, recognizing his voice. I had texted him earlier about the meeting, but he never responded.
He smiled down on me. “Thanks for inviting me to come.”
“So, it’s settled. Brett and Marie. And Ariel.” I was hoping she’d be on her phone the whole time. “And me and Lincoln. Unless you want to come with us Ariel.” I was trying a last-ditch effort to get Marie and Brett together. But I didn’t really want her coming with us either. I mean, Lincoln and I were both maybe seeing other people, although with this and school, I hadn’t been able to see Gable as much as I would like as he’d been studying for mid-terms.
Marie was sweet and recognized my vain attempt. “Brett is welcome to come with us.” As Ariel was absorbed in her phone, she’d hardly notice anyway.
“Then we’re off!” Larry said, turning his back to us and taking Lisa with him.
Marie and Brett headed toward her car, with Ariel trailing behind absorbed in her phone. I winked and nodded to give her encouragement when she smiled over her shoulder.
And then Lincoln and I were left alone. On the grass. “You came.”
“Yes. I actually wanted to talk to you about…” his voice trailed off.
And I panicked. Did he want to discuss our kiss? Or Thursday night when it looked like I blew him off?
“Your fundraiser.”
I guess he wasn’t ready. “I’m going to see the mayor to ask him if he wants to donate a key to the city for the winter ball. Want to come with me?”
“Bold choice.”
“To ask the mayor or to ask you to come with me?”
He grinned. “Both.” He may not have had dimples in both cheeks, but his dark eyes flashed mischievousness.
We crossed the mall to where his car straddled a parking spot.
“So what’s the plan?” he asked.
“For our fundraiser?”
He nodded pulling out of the parking spot.
“Well, if it doesn’t go well today, I’m not sure. We have a DJ, but I don’t know if he’s any good or not, and a venue, but we need more items for the silent auction.”
“How much are you going to charge for a cover?”
“I don’t know. It depends on the DJ.” I gave him a quick wink.
“I’d be finding out who’s going to be throwing down the tunes.”
Both the addition of Lincoln and Brett ended up being a great help. At the end of the day, we secured two massages, a travel voucher for a trip for two to Las Vegas, two tickets for an art gallery, and a chance to be mayor for the day. The person who wins doesn’t get to really make any changes, he or she just gets to follow the mayor around and see what the job entailed. Sounded like a security hazard and horribly boring, but someone might want that sort of thing. And I couldn’t wait to see Lincoln on Saturday.