28. Cole

Chapter 28

Cole

“I’m not sure about this. Do we really have to wear tuxedos? I’d rather be casual. Why did I let her talk me into this?” I glanced over Tate’s shoulder in my hallway mirror, scowling at my reflection as I entered the living room.

My burn itched beneath my shirt and jacket. I wanted to take it off and put the ripped-up T-shirt I’d been wearing while I was healing back on.

“Fuck that. We look amazing.” He adjusted his bow tie.

“I can’t believe you two are going to be auctioned off,” Quinn, wearing a standard suit and tie, teased us from the couch. “Remember when I was in FFA back in high school, and I auctioned off that pig? Ahh, memories. You two are bringing it all back for me.”

“Shut the fuck up,” we said in unison.

Natalie came out of her room, wearing the dress Sherry had bought her last week when it was her turn with the kids. “I think you both look nice. You too, Uncle Quinn.”

“You look beautiful, Nat,” I told her. “Purple suits you.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Tate took her hand and twirled her underneath his arm. “You’ll knock ’em dead tonight, kid. That little what’s-his-name you’ve been crushing on won’t know what hit him when you show up.”

She blushed furiously. “Uncle Tate!”

“What did I say?” He looked at her with confusion etched across his face. “Didn’t you go with some little turd to the Fall Ball?” His eyes shifted to me. “Didn’t she?”

“Quit while you’re ahead, man,” I told him. Decoding teenage girls was not for the faint of heart. “Ev! Get a move on. We’ll be late.”

He opened his door but stood there with a sour look. “Do I have to go? I look stupid.” He was wearing a suit and tie like Quinn.

“You look great,” Tate told him. “Totally sharp.”

“But Uncle Quinn said⁠—”

“You look awesome, dude,” Quinn clicked off the TV and reassured him. “I was just razzing my brothers. It’s kind of my job to give them shit.”

“I didn’t razz Natalie yet. Should I?”

“Hell, no,” Quinn answered. “You don’t razz sisters, especially if they’re older than you and stunningly beautiful like our Natalie is. Sisters have a different set of rules.”

“That’s what I thought. You look real pretty, Nat,” he said.

My heart warmed. I loved it when my kids got along, especially when they were being sweet to each other. It made me feel like I was doing something right.

She burst out laughing. “Thanks, Ev. I can’t wait to see what Madi is wearing. She’s still going, right, Dad? Let’s get out of here. I don’t want to be late.”

I hoped she’d be there. I still hadn’t heard from her. My text from last night haunted me. I’d lost count of how many times I’d checked to see if she’d seen it. But it remained unread on my phone. I was worried that I’d completely blown it with her. I’d let my fears and insecurities get the best of me and regretted it. However, I did get confirmation that she’d received the flowers, which left me with a minuscule glimmer of hope.

Monica texted earlier to let me know everything was perfect. The decorations and food were good to go; all I had to do was show up.

Finally, we were all ready to go. We piled into my truck and Tate’s Suburban and drove to Veterans Hall downtown.

The parking lot was half-full when we arrived, but we were early, so I wasn’t worried. We fill this place every year, and I knew this one would not be the exception. Madi and I had worked hard to get the word out.

The McCreedy Ranch had donated pumpkins as they did every year. Since Halloween had passed, each had been hollowed out, and instead of spooky Jack-O-Lantern faces, leaves of various shapes and sizes had been carved into them. Flameless candles glowed inside, lighting the path leading up to the entrance.

Natalie grabbed my hand. “It’s so pretty already, and we aren’t even inside yet. I love the garlands; they match the ones at the fire station.”

“Thanks, sweetheart. Madi is amazing. All of this was her idea.”

“It’s all pretty and stuff, but all I care about is the chocolate fountain she told me about,” Evan said. “I’m going to camp out there all night.”

“Chocolate fountain?” Quinn perked up. “You got yourself a partner, dude.” He held his hand out, and Evan smacked it.

I laughed as they hustled to the door, leaving us behind.

Natalie swung my hand as we walked. “I’m going to sit with Dexter and his family. Is that okay? I know they’re here. I saw their car. His mom said it was okay.” She held her phone out, showing me the text from Dexter’s mother, giving her permission, and telling me she would drive her home when the fundraiser was over.

“It’s fine with me. As long as you stay with his family at their table the entire time.”

“I will, I promise. His mom wouldn’t let us go anywhere anyway. She’s just like you. Strict but still cool.”

“All right then.” I chuckled, relieved. “Go ahead.”

“Thank you, Dad.” She took off, looking far too grown up for my liking. It was so much easier when she was a little girl, and I didn’t have to worry about things like dating and all the potential heartache that came with it.

“Where did the years go?” Tate chuckled. “They grew up too fast, man.”

“Don’t I know it?”

After the slap, Sherry attended several sessions with Natalie. Things have been looking up with them since we began therapy.

We had agreed to let her go to the Fall Ball with Dexter last month, and now they are dating. I’d known his parents forever, which helped me feel okay about it. He was a good kid. I was also relieved that Sherry had committed to prioritizing our kids again. They needed her.

I stood on the walkway. I didn’t want to go in without Madi. We’d spent so much time planning this it felt wrong to see it without her.

“She’ll show up. There’s no way she’d miss this. Have faith.”

“I hope you’re right. I hope I didn’t fuck everything up.”

“Let’s get inside.”

I followed him in and was greeted by a breathless Monica.

“Catch you later.” Tate took off into the room.

“So? What do you think?” She held her arm out with a smile. I took it all in.

The tables were covered with white fabric and topped with bouquets of mums, marigolds, and roses dyed in autumnal shades. Buffett stations had been set up along the walls on three sides of the space, while a platform intended for the bachelor auction was on the fourth.

I gulped and fought the temptation to turn tail and run. I was not looking forward to this. At all.

“It’s beautiful. Thanks for supervising the setup. It’s flawless.”

“Of course. This is always my favorite day of the Fire Brigade year.”

“I wish I could say the same,” I muttered, suddenly nauseous for reasons other than Madi. “I am not looking forward to standing on that platform.” My stomach roiled. “In front of everyone. With people watching me⁠—”

“Take a deep breath, Cole. It will go fast. I promise.” Monica was always the de facto hostess of the fundraiser, while I was like the grumpy dad who said hi at a holiday get-together and then disappeared—not tonight, though. “I’ll go easy on you. I won’t make jokes or anything. I’ll save that for Tate. He can take it.”

“I appreciate it.”

“I got you. I promise. Go get a cold drink and sit down. Maybe grab a plate too. You’re looking a little green around the gills. Eat something.”

“I—okay.”

I trudged toward one of the buffets and grabbed a glass. The food looked delicious, but I couldn’t eat. I filled my glass with chilled apple cider from the punch bowl and found a table in the corner.

“Hey.” Tate slid into the seat across from mine. “Monica said you weren’t doing too good. You look like crap. Take a deep breath or something. Do not puke.”

I let out a sardonic laugh. “I’m nervous and can’t stop wondering where Madi is. She still hasn’t returned my text.”

“I’ll do the welcome speech thing if you want,” he offered. “You can stay right here.”

“Thanks. I don’t have the capacity for any of this shit tonight.”

“I got you. I’ll just say you have a headache or something. Or your arm is still bothering you from when we saved the town from that burning dumpster.”

I shook my head as I laughed. “Perfect.”

“Stay here. Get something to eat. Quit thinking. I’ll grab you when it’s time to get on stage.”

“Great. Thanks. I can’t fucking wait.” I was attempting sarcasm, but the blood pounding in my temples as I inhaled deeply gave me away, and Tate softened his expression.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he said. “You got this.”

“I really don’t,” I muttered. “I feel like an extra in a weird-ass rom-com.”

“If this is a rom-com, you’ll get the girl at the end because you’re no extra. You’re the star attraction tonight, Chief Sutter.”

“Oh god.”

He laughed and darted toward the bidding platform for the auction to talk to Monica. It was not quite a stage, but that didn’t make it any less intimidating.

“Hello there, Cole.” I looked up. Heather Hadley had sidled to my table to run her hand up my arm.

I flinched. It was my injured arm.

Her mother and daughter were at a table near the platform, but luckily, Ross was nowhere to be seen.

“I got, um, I have an injury. I burned my arm. Sorry.”

Why was I apologizing to her when I didn’t want her touching me?

“Oh, you poor baby.” She clicked her tongue. “Is there anything I can do to help you feel better?”

“No thanks, I’ll be okay. Tate is waiting for me. I have to go. Have a fun night. Thank you for coming out.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.” She bit her lip and fluttered her eyelashes. Subtlety was lost on her. “I hear you’re up for grabs tonight. I have plenty of money to spend.”

I turned back around to face her. “It’s not really a date. You know that right? Nothing romantic is intended. It’s for charity. For fun. Tomorrow night. Dinner at the station. That’s all it is.” I spelled it out. Clear. Concise. To the point.

“I know how to have fun, sugar. Don’t you worry about that. I’ll show you a real good time.”

Damn it.

My father had drilled it into me and my brothers since we were boys, always to be gentlemen. But Heather Hadley was making it complicated. I couldn’t deal with her like I’d done with Todd—no parking lot fisticuffs would be able to work this problem out.

I had to get away from her. Avoidance was the only way.

“I have to go.”

“But I⁠—”

“Bye, Mrs. Hadley.”

“It’s Heather, honey. Remember?”

I ignored her and all but ran across the space to hide out in the restroom, like a fucking adult or a man who was loath to be harsh with a woman.

I splashed cold water on my face at the sink and stared at my reflection. I had to get it together.

A few deep breaths later, I was back in the main room, heading toward the stage as if in a trance.

I made it up there with no time to spare. Monica shot me an encouraging smile as I tried not to vomit.

“We’ll start the bidding for each bachelor at fifty dollars. First up is Cole Sutter, the Cozy Creek Fire Brigade chief. Let’s have a round of applause for Cole! What a good sport you are. Do we have fifty dollars?”

Immediately, Heather Hadley stood up from her table and raised her hand. “Fifty dollars, right here.” She sent a dirty wink my way and licked her lips.

I looked at the ceiling and tried to find a happy place to go to.

“Sixty dollars.” My eyes snapped to the crowd. Abigail had bid on me.

She was at a table with Riley.

Where were Gigi and Madi? And Kenzie?

Or anyone else I could send rescue signals to with my eyeballs. Someone else had to bid on me. Literally, anyone else would be better than these two.

What the hell was going on?

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Was Abigail interested in me again? I looked at the floor. Maybe if I stared hard enough, it would swallow me up. Getting sucked down to hell would be better than being in this event room right now.

“Seventy dollars.” It was Handsy Hadley again.

There was no good option for me here. “What the fuck, Tate,” I seethed at him.

“You’ll be fine.”

“The hell I will.” I grabbed Tate to whisper in his ear. “You’re up last. Sneak off and find Nat. Give her a couple hundred bucks and tell her to bid on me. Or Riley. Or find Kenzie. Or even Quinn. I don’t fucking care. Help me.”

He burst out laughing.

“This is not fucking funny,” I rasped from the corner of my mouth. “This is my literal nightmare. I’m pretty sure I’ve woken up in a cold sweat from something like this at least once.”

“You’re right.” He cupped his hand over his mouth to whisper back, “It’s not funny—at all. I’m sorry. I have no idea how to help you though. Maybe we can get Mom to kick her ass? Too bad we don’t have an older sister.”

I choked on a laugh. “It’s all good. I’ll handle it somehow.” He might not have a solution, but he could always lighten my mood.

“One hundred dollars,” Abigail shouted, glaring at Mrs. Hadley. “Sit down, lady. I’ve got money to spare and zero compunctions about taking you out to the parking lot to work this out old-school style.” She slapped her fist into the palm of her opposite hand for emphasis. “I need Cole, and I’m going to get him. You can bid on someone else. They’re all the same to you, right?”

Riley was sitting at their table. I tried to catch her eye, but she was busy texting on her phone and didn’t notice my desperate but silent cry for help.

“Two hundred dollars.” Handsy Hadley flipped Abigail the bird and then blew me a kiss.

“Oh god,” I mumbled. Would it be wrong to run out the back door and hide out at home until the fundraiser was over?

“Two hundred and fifty!” Abigail stuck her tongue out. “Watch it, Hadley.”

“Five hundred dollars.” A breathless Madi entered the room, followed by her mother and Gigi.