We all watch as Sarah slowly lowers her arm, and Hadleigh smirks in victory.

“Alright, three fifty to Miss Hadleigh Callaway!” Mom announces loudly. Hadleigh’s strawberry-blond curls bounce in her ponytail as she gloats.

I flash Hadleigh a wink, then leave the stage as Grayson passes me. “Good luck,” I taunt.

He acts as if he’s gonna have the ladies going wild.

I pass Kane, who looks annoyed as hell. “Don’t worry, bro. Hadleigh’s gonna bid on you too,” I remind him.

He casually shrugs as if he doesn’t care, but I know better. On her days off, the three of us usually hang out. Hadleigh’s a bombshell with a plump ass and great tits, but he’s kept her in the friend zone for years. We’ve known her since we were kids, and he’s been hiding his feelings since high school. If Kane doesn’t make a move soon, another man will, and then it’ll be too damn late.

Once Kenzie wins Grayson—a complete fucking shock to everyone—the rest of the bachelors have their turn, and when Sarah Cooke snags Kane, I know all hell’s about to break loose.

KANE

I’ve been waiting weeks for tonight. Normally, I’d dread the bachelor auction, but since I know Hadleigh’s going to bid on me, I breathe a little easier. I’ll finally have the opportunity to take her on a real date. Then hopefully, I’ll find the courage to ask her for a second one.

She promised to bid on Knox and me, but I know he couldn’t give two shits. He has no trouble in the dating department, so having women fight over him just boosts his already inflated ego.

Something he doesn’t need.

As soon as Hadleigh wins Knox for three fifty, my stomach turns. I hope the competition isn’t as fierce, and she won’t have to spend that much on me, but with Sarah Cooke and a dozen other single women here, I’m not sure what to expect.

“These boys are so good-lookin’, I had to make two of ’em,” my mom gloats as I walk on stage. “Let’s start the bidding, ladies. Who’s got one hundred?”

I smile when Hadleigh holds up her paddle. Within a minute, the bid is up to three hundred. When we make eye contact, she reluctantly lowers her arm, causing my stomach to sink. She whispers something to Kaitlyn, and I know she’s out of money. I’m immediately disappointed, and to make things worse, Sarah Cooke shouts above the noise, “Five hundred!”

No one else can afford that, so Mom declares her the winner.

When I walk back behind the stage, Knox and Grayson are laughing.

“Shut the fuck up.” I scowl. “I sold for more than both of you, so I don’t know what y’all think is so damn funny.”