The Bully (Calamity Montana #4)(73)

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.

Then I’d lost her. She better not have left Benton.

If she was in Colorado, that had to be a good thing, right? My heart was beating out of my chest, pushing me to move faster, but there were people everywhere.

“Cal!” Maria appeared at my side with a redheaded boy in tow.

“Hi.” For her, I stopped. Actually, it was for the boy. “Hey, you were sitting next to Nellie. Do you know where she went?”

“Wait.” Maria’s eyes bugged out. “That blond lady was Nellie? Like the Nellie from your speech?”

“Yeah. Where’d she go?”

“Oh, uh, she left.” The boy—Franklin, according to his name tag—pointed to the door.

Fuck. “Got your phone handy?” I asked Maria.

She nodded, digging it out of the pocket in her dress.

I rattled off my phone number, waiting until she’d keyed it in. “Call me. Text me. Whatever. But keep in touch.”

“Okay.” She beamed. She was the opposite of Nellie in appearance with her dark eyes and hair, but like I’d stated at the podium, they shared a spirit. And this kid was going places.

“I gotta go.” I patted her on the shoulder, then brushed past them, darting toward the row of windows. The center aisle was blocked and the only way I’d catch Nellie was if I could avoid being stopped every three steps.

I was able to avoid the masses but then got stopped by the bottleneck at the door. My feet inched forward until finally, I was able to slide past a couple and break free into the hallway.

My polished shoes clicked on the tile as I lengthened my strides, breaking into a jog. I didn’t have to run far before I spotted a head of blond hair.