Cal stood from his chair, looking devilishly handsome. His face was clean-shaven and his hair combed. His jacket accentuated the width of his shoulders. The slacks couldn’t hide the strength in his thighs.
No man had ever looked so fine in a tux.
If all went well tonight, maybe I’d get to undo his tie with my teeth.
My gaze tracked his every step as he walked to the podium and shook Dean Hendrickson’s hand. Then he stood at the microphone, glancing out over the crowd.
My breath lodged in my throat, wondering if he’d spot me, but his gaze swept the opposite direction before it landed on his table.
“Thanks for having me tonight,” he said, tugging the microphone higher so he wouldn’t have to bend over. “I don’t give a lot of speeches. It’s not really my thing.”
The crowd stilled and the room went quiet at the obvious discomfort in his voice.
Part of me wanted to raise my hand, to wave so he knew he had at least one supporter in the room, but I sat like a statue while my heart raced.
“I was going to talk about football. Go figure.” That earned him a few laughs. “But then I sat next to this special young lady at dinner tonight. And while I appreciate the rest of you being here, I’m going to toss out the speech I’d planned, and just share some thoughts for her.”
Dean Hendrickson, who stood off to the side of the room, shared a worried look with Cal’s father.
“Maria.” Cal gave her a nod. “I knew a girl like you once, back when I was just a student at Benton. She’s a lot like you. Strong. Tenacious. Smart. Talented. And she hated me with a passion.”
Another laugh trickled through the hall.
The room began to blur at the edges. My vision tunneled to Cal, like it had whenever I’d watched him on the football field.
“I wish I had great advice for you tonight, Maria,” Cal said into the microphone. Every person here had to see the softness in his eyes as he spoke to the girl. If they didn’t, they were blind. “But I’m a dumb jock who made his fortune throwing a football. My experiences won’t help you much. But Nellie—that’s the girl who hated me—here’s what I think she would tell you if she were at this microphone in my place.”
At my name, Franklin nudged my elbow, but I didn’t dare take my eyes away from Cal. Why was he talking about me? Where was he going with this?
“Be honest,” Cal said. “Be kind. Nellie is both and it has always set her apart.”
The lump in my throat was beginning to choke me, so I reached for my water glass, the goblet shaking as I brought it to my lips.
“Work hard.” Cal’s deep voice filled the room, corner to corner. No one dared to whisper. “Hard work can often level an otherwise unequal playing field. See, here’s where I throw in the football metaphors.”
Once more, laughter trickled through the room.
“Never lose heart.” Cal gave the girl a sad smile. “When the world tries to steal your joy, steal it right back. Wealth will never determine your worth. And don’t give up on what you want. Fight for it. Every day. If what you want is a job or an award or a town to call your own, fight for it. There isn’t a person on earth who fights the way my Nellie fights. I see her spirit in you.”
My Nellie.
That had to be a slip. Did he know I was here? No. There was no way. He’d just said my Nellie to this room of strangers. His parents were in the audience, and he’d claimed me as his.
I dragged in a breath through my nose, willing myself not to cry as Pierce’s mom reached over and squeezed my hand.
“People come and go from our lives,” Cal said. “It’s not fair. It’s never easy. Hold the people you love close. Cherish their memory when they’re gone. Know that they are watching, so make them proud.”
Maria reached up and wiped at her face, like she was catching a tear.
“I promised you this would be short,” he told her. “You have a very bright future, and I, for one, am grateful that I’ve been able to share this meal with you tonight. That I’ve met you. Thank you for being here.”
Cal stood a little taller, his gaze sweeping the crowd again. “It’s because of donations that kids like Maria and Nellie and so many others can attend Benton. At some point, probably after I give up the mic, Dean Hendrickson is going to ask you to make a donation. But I’m going to ask you too. I’ll be giving one million dollars to the school tonight, to be used exclusively for scholarships.”
The gasps and murmurs were deafening. Oh my God. My jaw dropped.
“My parents will be matching that donation as well,” Cal said. From the look that Colter shot his son, this was news. “How about a show of hands from all those who will also be contributing tonight?”
Women and men raised their arms. A couple of people laughed as they joined the fray, knowing that Cal was publicly shaming them into a donation.
He smirked as he bent low to the microphone, casting a glance toward Dean Hendrickson. “Hope you’re taking note of those raised hands.”
The dean smiled and nodded wildly, starting a round of applause.
Without another word, Cal strode from the stage. But before he could resume his seat, Maria stood and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He hugged her back, patting her shoulder. Then he held out her chair so she could sit. Except first, she turned and found Frankie for a wave.
He waved back.
Cal followed Maria’s gaze, straight to my table. Our eyes locked. The applause continued.
Since I was seconds away from a full-fledged anxiety attack and unsure what else to do, I panicked. I did what high school Nellie had always wanted to do but hadn’t had the guts.
I flipped off Cal Stark.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CAL
“Thanks, Cal.” Dean Hendrickson shook my hand for the third time. “Think about the sign on the football field.”
“It’s not necessary. Really.” I didn’t want or need the Benton practice field to be renamed in my honor. Hell, I didn’t even need the thank yous. Just a receipt for the donation I could give my accountant, and for the dean to let me go so I could chase after Nellie.
“Are you—”
“Yes, I’m sure.” I forced a tight smile. “Would you excuse me?”
“Oh, of course.”
After the event had concluded, Hendrickson had rushed to our table and trapped me. There was a line of people waiting to take his place—either to kiss my ass or chastise me for guilting them into donating money. I had zero fucks to give. All I wanted was to find out why Nellie was here. That was, if I could actually find her.
I stood taller than most people in the room, but I’d still lost her in the crush.
“Hey, Cal.” A man thrust his hand into mine as I turned away from my table, trying to shuffle past people toward the doors.
“Hi,” I clipped, shook my hand free and kept on moving. I ignored him and every other person who approached, my eyes sweeping and searching.
Damn it, where was she?
After she’d flipped me her middle finger, I’d laughed until the applause had died. All was right with the world when Nellie was giving me the bird. While the dean had given his closing remarks, I’d looked over my shoulder a hundred times to make sure she hadn’t snuck out. The minutes had dragged on as I’d waited for this bullshit party to finish.