The Readaholics and the Gothic Gala Read Online Free PDF Page B

I like, Josh, and he’s on the robotics team, and he said he would help me with my physics assignment. When I told him I’d be here today, he suggested we study together when the robotics guys break for lunch.”
    Something about her airy delivery made me ask, “Do you actually need help with physics?”
    â€œNah. It’s pretty easy. But Josh doesn’t need to know that.” She kept her mouth primmed, but her eyes danced with mischief.
    â€œThat’s a good lesson to learn early,” Brooke said, laughing. “The men in your life don’t always need to know everything.” She high-fived Axie and we left.
    *   *   *
    Brooke and I returned half an hour later, coming in through the high school’s front doors, where Al was now seated at a small table, prepared to register bidders and hand out paddles. He was chatting with twohigh school girls, friends that Axie had recruited, who were ready to hand out the auction sheets I’d made up and had printed.
    â€œAll set?” I asked him.
    â€œGood to go, boss.”
    â€œCan I register now?” Brooke asked, printing her name on the clipboarded form and taking the paddle with the numeral 1 on it that Al handed her. “I’m number one,” she clowned, waving the paddle in the air.
    â€œEl supremo,”
Al confirmed.
    â€œNo fair using foreign words,” I said. People were trekking in from the parking lot, so I told him to holler if he needed me for anything, and Brooke and I headed to the auditorium. We found Axie and a geeky guy seated decorously in the front row of auditorium chairs, poring over a physics book. Axie introduced us, and the boy shook our hands before making a hasty exit, telling Axie he’d text her later.
    â€œHe’s cute,” Brooke told Axie.
    We didn’t have time for a more in-depth assessment of Josh’s charms because a voice twanged, “We about ready to get this show on the road?”
    Cletis Perry came down the aisle toward us with his bowlegged gait, grin splitting his seamed face, which was the color and texture of a well-used saddle. A white Stetson sat back on his head, showing a shock of white hair tinged with yellow, and a bolo tie dangled from around the neck of his checked shirt. “Dang, it’s good to see you again, Amy-Faye. And who are your pretty friends?”
    â€œBrooke, Axie, this is Cletis Perry, auctioneerextraordinaire and the biggest flirt this side of the Colorado. Don’t be fooled by his age.”
    â€œEighty-two and still goin’ strong,” Cletis said, hugging me hard enough to prove the “strong” part. “Let me see what I’m selling. We’re going to raise some money today, yes, sirree.” Climbing the steps to reach the stage, he took out a notepad and began examining the items set out on the table.
    Before he finished, people started to trickle in. When the clock rolled around to two o’clock, the auditorium was full. Gemma and the authors arrived last, seating themselves in the places I’d reserved for them in the front row. I saw quite a few people from the morning’s event, plus my mom, who waved to me from the last row, and my brother, Derek, whose brewpub had donated a beer-tasting party for a group of eight. Kerry and Maud arrived together and joined Brooke, who was standing in the front left corner; they had all volunteered to serve as spotters to figure out where bids were coming from. I was just wondering if Lola was going to make it when she came in, trailing Lucas Stewart and Allyson Aldringham, who were chatting away like they’d known each other for years.
Huh.
Mary Stewart turned and waved to her brother, pointing to the open seat right beside her, but he opted to follow Lola and Allyson to where the rest of the Readaholics stood, and gave his sister a casual wave back. Mary tightened her lips as she faced forward again. The two open seats beside