Page 39 of Into the Woods
“I thought we were meeting to discuss the auction next week,” Geoffry broke in, running a hand through his messy blond hair. He let out a burp and waved a hand. “Why the fuck are we talking about—”
“Geoffry,” Eric snapped, his tone sharper and colder than I’d ever imagined it could be.
I jerked and looked at him, shocked by the ruthless fury etched into his normally gentle features.
Colby laughed, the sound grating. “He’s high, Eric. Ignore him.”
“A little hard to do when he’s behaving like a child,” Eric gritted out, his muscles strung tight with tension. “Now isn’t the time.”
“What auction?” I asked, confused. Maybe it had something to do with the gala next month to fund a library expansion project. My grandparents had discussed it in passing, but I’d kinda tuned out. They were trying to rope me into working on more of their projects, and while I was always down to help fund a library or save the polar bears, I also wanted to keep a low profile. Dating Eric this past week was as far out of my comfort zone as I wanted to go right now.
Colby snickered. “It’s a charity auction.”
“What’s the cause?”
Eric shot Colby a withering glare before looking at me, his expression kinder. “It’s a project our families have worked on for years. We sponsor families in third-world countries that need extra funding.”
“Wow,” I murmured. “That’s cool. My best friend and her husband do something kind of similar.”
Colby started laughing. “Doubtful.” At Eric’s sharp look, he choked out a cough. “I just mean, our families have been working together for nearly a decade on this… project.”
I frowned. “Feel free to talk about the auction or whatever else you need to. Maybe I can help?”
Eric squeezed my hand. “Thank you, love, but I think we can shelve the corporate chatter for an evening and just enjoy one another’s company.” He finished the sentence by shooting stern looks at his friends.
Unease rippled over me. Pushing it aside, I reached for my menu.
My fingers had just closed over the edge of the soft leather binding when something cold splashed down my back.
“Oh, no!” a horrified voice cried, and instantly Eric and Colby were on their feet.
Stunned, I turned and saw a waitress with an empty wine glass clutched in her hands. That would explain the cold liquid trailing down my spine. Smelled like… chardonnay.
“What have you done?” Eric snapped, grabbing his napkin.
“I’m so sorry, miss,” the woman apologized, looking near tears. “My foot caught on the carpet and—”
“I want to speak with your manager,” Eric growled.
I placed a placating hand on his chest. “No, don’t.” I gave her a tentative smile. “It was an accident. It happens.”
This girl looked terrified, like I’d start screaming or claw her eyes out any second. The urge to try and make it better was reflexive as Eric got more and more upset.
“Really,” I insisted, “it’s fine.”
“But she got you all… wet,” Colby drawled with a snort.
“Colby,” Eric ground out, his eyes flashing.
Colby held up his hands and dropped back into his chair with a smirk.
I gritted my teeth and looked at Eric, who seemed ready to pop a blood vessel. “Give me a moment to get cleaned up. At least it was white wine, right?”
His gaze cut to me. “I suppose.”
“Where’s the restroom?” I asked the waitress.
She pointed toward an alcove but stopped me when I started to walk around her. She wrung her hands. “I’m sorry, miss, but it’s currently being cleaned. Someone was sick in it… Not food related, she’s pregnant and the smells—” She rambled as she panicked.