I spin around in my teal dress for my parents. My mom smiles approvingly in her tight fit pink dress. My father gives me a disapproving stare as he tightens his pink tie. "It's too revealing. I don't like it." He frowns. The too "revealing" part he's talking about is the centimeter of cleavage that I'm showing. My mom shakes her head. "Claire,honey it's fine. Don't listen to your father."
My dad side eyes my mom "It's not fine! She can't go out looking like that! It's inappropriate."
"Claire is a grown ass woman,William. She isn't a teenager anymore you can't control what she wears." My mom takes a sip of her wine.
"Like hell I can-!"
I roll my eyes and look in the mirror admiring myself. I usually don't wear makeup but tonight is a special night. We're going to a masquerade charity ball tonight to raise awareness for cancer. I'm wearing a teal dress and ribbon for ovarian cancer. My mom and dad are wearing pink for my moms mother who died from cancer when she was a child.
I wouldn't even go to this event. I would just donate money and stay at home eating and watching Netflix with Amir or hanging out with Chelsea. But I got roped into going because I was needed to be one of the bachelorettes in the date auction.
"Ready to go, honey?" I nod and follow my parents out the front door. We climb into the limo we rented for tonight just for the chauffeur to drive up a few blocks away in our neighborhood for the party. But that the Valerie Hudson way of things. Show up and Show out.
All of us out on our masks then step out of the car. Everyone in the Estate's front yard has to stop and look at us because we claim their attention like the bad bitches we are. They know who we are immediately because we're one of the only black families here.Me and my mom link arms with my dad and he leads us through the sea of people and up the stairs of the mansion.
The air is rich with the scent of wealthy white republicans, the smell I've been accustomed to my entire life. We make our way through the crowded halls into the ballroom. "The Hudsons are here? They must not know the Tuckers came." Someone blatantly says as we pass them. My eyes widen because of course that means Dean is here.
I haven't seen him since our coffee date. If he knows I'm here he'll definitely want to see me. We find our way to our table that's on the far left side of the ballroom. Opposite to the far right a table with a family of seven people, it can only be the Tuckers. In a family of all blonde people it's easy to pick out the only brunet. Kudos to whoever did the seating arrangements to keep our families far away from each other.
The last time we sat next to each other, our parents got into a heated debate which ended up in Mr. Tucker flipping a table. That's a story for another time. Another family joins us at our table and we make polite small talk. A classical orchestra starts to play as our host steps up to a podium.
I tune out the hosts welcome, the music, and the awkward small talk throughout dinner. I almost miss my cue to go on stage for the auction but my father brings me into reality. I quickly join the five other other bachelorettes being auctioned off for a date. Of course I end up being offered up first.
The host starts to sell me off. Highlighting my accomplishments like graduating first in my class from law school. Before the host can finish, a distant "500 Dollars!" Comes from the crowd. Bidder 365 holds up his sign from the corner he's standing in.
"600!" An older gentleman holds up his sign enthusiastically. I cringe on the inside. Someone better save me.
"800!" I immediately recognize the deep voice and spot Amir in the crowd. I didn't know he would be here tonight. I smile because my best friend is coming to my rescue.
"Five thousand!"
A hush falls over the crowd. Who really offered up that much cash just for a date with me?! Nobody outbids the man. Number 365.
"Well well well, number 365, you just won a date with bachelorette number 1. Bachelorette, go see number 365 to set up your date together."
I walk off the stage with all eyes on me. I'm sure the people looking at me are wondering what I'm wondering. Which is why in the hell am I so special? I meet up with number 365 in the corner. He says nothing and silently slips through the ballroom doors. Out of curiosity, I follow behind and close the door softly behind me.
"Why haven't you gotten in touch with me after our date?"
"Dean!" I hiss through my teeth. Of course it would be him trying to out bid everyone for a date with me. Dean chuckles softly. Dean corners me next to a statue and I back up against the wall. My breath catches in my throat when I get a whiff of cologne.
Brown eyes stare at me through the black and white masquerade mask. Dean's arm goes around my back and pulls me against his chest. My hands grab his forearms and I start leaning up against him. "I missed talking to you." His lips gently brush up against mine. My body and face heat up.
I feel myself reaching towards his lips. He pulls away slowly and gives my thigh a squeeze. Classical music drifts into the hallway as the orchestra starts playing. "Dance with me."
I look at Dean, wondering if he just did that to me. Dean laughs at me. "Stop pouting." He commands. I honestly didn't know I was pouting until he said something. And just because he told me to stop pouting I continue just to get on his nerves. "Did you not hear what I said?" His tone gets sharper.
I roll my eyes and start opening the ballroom door to leave. A sting on my backside makes me let go of the door handle and I yelp. "You're going to stop rolling your eyes at me, Claire." Dean's voice is deeper than before. I look back at him, bewildered, Dean reaches over me and opens the door. "After you, beautiful." He says sweetly like he didn't just spank me. I walk back into the ballroom, still wondering what the hell I just let happen.
Obviously me and Dean are going to set boundaries about what he can and can't do to. Deans takes my hand and brings me out to the dance floor where other couples are twirling each other around the floor. Dean bows in front of me and brings my hand up to his lips. His lips are surprisingly soft against my skin. "May I have this dance, my fair lady?" I blush and my anger at him quickly subsides.
"Yes, you may have this dance, my lord." I giggle as we play along together. He lowers my hand and stands straight. We dance together for what seems like hours. New couples come and join us on the floor. The ones who are tired leave. Me and Dean just stay here, not tiring of the conversations we're having.
Someone comes up to me and Dean. We halt our conversation about our families. "Can I steal her for dance?" Luckily, it's Amir. Dean looks at me for permission to pass me off . I nod and Dean passes me off to Amir. I smile widely and immediately go into Amir's arms.
"You look so gorgeous, girl." Amir looks me up and down.
Amir and I don't leave even an inch of space between us as we dance. Out of the corner of my eye I catch Dean looking at me disapprovingly. Amir notices the dirty looks we're being served from the edge of the dance floor. "Is he the Tucker you were dancing with at Devin's party?" Amir asks, giving Dean a heated stare. "Yeah...what about him?" I shrug watching them stare each other down.
"Please stay away from him. He's a Tucker. Nothing good comes from a Tucker," his voice gets lower "You know their family history..."
I forgot about that...how could I forget about that?! "All I'm saying is be careful, you never know if he's one of them."
