Page 50 of Sugar

A million possibilities flew through my head. It could be informing me of a lifetime ban for sneaking in. Or a bill because there was definitely a fee to be a member there. Emily at the little podium had said not to worry about that form, but maybe she’d misspoken. It could be nothing more than an automatic email that went out to every guest with a greeting. Or a survey.

There was only one way to find out.

My heart hammered like it was doing its best to do a drumroll on my rib cage as I tapped the screen with a trembling finger.

Maddie,

It was great meeting you yesterday. You seemed interested in this. Hope to see you there.

-C

I clicked to open the attachment and nearly dropped my phone in the machine.

It was a form for the auction. Toparticipatein said auction.

To be an object that was auctioned off.

Vulnerable and owned and at the whim of someone else.

I scanned the questionnaire then scrolled up and scanned it again. My mouth grew dry.

Other areas farther south had the opposite reaction.

In my head—and my fantasies the night before—it was Easton there. Easton who bid on me. Easton who wanted me.

But that was all it was. A fantasy courtesy of my overactive imagination. He had barely even looked at me the night before. He certainly hadn’t given any indication the attraction was reciprocal. Or that he wanted to be my Gilded tour guide. We’d left as soon as his meeting was done, and I was fairly certain the only reason he’d allowed me to stay was so he could ensure I actually left that time.

Because we both knew I didn’t belong there and that I was completely out of my depth.

With a sigh, I clicked the delete button on the email and finished with the dryer before returning to Wren and Greer.

It was the latter who said, “Guess where he’s taking Wren tonight?”

“Hold on,” I said, hurriedly yanking my cell out. I navigated into my email’s trash folder and clicked to restore the email from Cohen.

Just to read through later.

It’s my curiosity.

My nosiness.

That’s all.

At seeing the email safely in my inbox, the surge of panic receded, and I gave my friends my attention. “Where?”

Chapter 10

Exceptions

MADDIE

Ididn’t just read throughthe questionnaire.

I mean, I did. A lot. So many times, in fact, that I had it memorized.

But I’d also answered the questions. Out of curiosity. For the sake of exploration.

In the name of science.