Everything But Read Online Free

just because she’d seen him do that move a dozen times in videos and at the two Spawn concerts she’d attended back in the day.  Apparently, her subconscious wanted Riley to perform.
    Instead, he walked close to Michaela and then said into the mike, “Anything else you’d like to add, Miss Michaela?”
    The girl giggled and—even though Erin couldn’t quite tell, thanks to the stage lights—she was pretty sure Michaela blushed, her cheeks reflecting the red of her dress.  Apparently, Riley close up was potent.  Could Erin survive her own trip up there?
    Michaela barely leaned to ward the microphone, as though Riley might gobble her up if she got too close.  But she didn’t look like she’d mind either.  She said, “No…I think you got it.”  Michaela was one of the shyest cheerleaders, if there was such a thing.  The girl was fine performing cheers, dancing in front of large crowds, performing gymnastic feats under the gaze of hundreds of people, but Erin already knew you didn’t ask the girl to talk in front of people, even if it was a small class of twenty-five.  So Riley had gotten out of her probably the only words the young lady would say up there on the platform.
    No problem, though, because Riley was quite comfortable in the limelight.  He said, “Let the bidding begin, folks.  Now remember.  You’re bidding for a date with this young woman.  The date will be held in this very same place tomorrow evening.”  He stepped over to the podium, grabbing another note card, glancing down at it for a moment.  “You’ll be served a three-course Italian meal followed by an hour of dancing, and you’ll have the company of the beautiful young lady you bid on.  Not only will a good time be had by all, but”—in a smooth motion, he placed the note card back on the podium, but he didn’t miss a beat—“you’re giving to a good cause.  This fundraiser will allow this fine group of cheerleaders the chance to attend their annual summer camp, where they learn new things, grow in their camaraderie, and prepare for another year of keeping the student body pumped about sports …and we all know how important that is. ”  Riley looked again at Michaela.  “Miss Michaela, you’re a senior, are you not?”
    The girl blushed again and giggled, nodding her head.
    “Well, are you still going to attend camp?”
    She looked up at the ceiling and giggled again.  Riley placed the microphone in front of her mouth.  Michaela finally said, “Well, no, but this will help the girl who replaces me.”
    “What a generous gesture,” Riley said, and Erin wasn’t sure if anyone else picked up on it, but she was pretty certain his words had been sarcastic as hell.  Before she could contemplate it any further, he said, “The bidding will begin at twenty-five dollars, but, come on, folks.  This lovely young lady’s company is definitely worth a little more than that.”
    Too bad, Erin thought, he didn’t really mean it.  She just hoped the rest of the pumped-up crowd couldn’t pick up on it.
     

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
    TRULY, THIS FUCKING auction had to be one of the stupidest things Riley had ever let himself get roped into doing.   But he decided to have fun with it.  He’d already gotten away with a couple of snarky comments, so he’d see just how much he could say before he either got disturbed looks from the girls he was auctioning or got a loud hiss or boo from the crowd.  That would be his indication that he’d gone too far.  Hell, he decided he’d even stop if one of the girls looked confused by something he’d say.
    But so far…nothing.   Everyone was having a genuinely good time.  Everyone, that was, except for him.  He felt like the soul was being sucked out of him.  And time had been dragging.
    Finally, though, he was auctioning off girl number twelve.  The event had gone on forever.  Some girls—apparently prime cuts of meat—actually “sold” for two hundred dollars.