Page 13 of The Outline


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“Well, then not lit. It just looks like fun.”

It looked like misery. The last time I’d been to a party had been New Year’s Eve, and thoughts ofthat nightfelt like slow vivisection. But I’d promised my best friend.

Zach pulled me by my wrist, and we passed through the archway of a stone fence into a large mission style courtyard. Strung Edison bulbs idled in the breeze, reflecting in the enormous pool. It was warm, even by December standards, but some people still congregated next to the freestanding heat lamps. Others milled around the massive firepit table, or by the glass bar filled with enough booze to restock Hal’s for a week. There was a low hum from the six dozen twenty-and-thirty-something guests laughing and making conversation. I registered that this wasn’t a keg and red cup kind of party. This was posh, although in a casual way.

“I see Teddy.” Zach pointed to a wooden bench on the other side of the courtyard.

Teddy. The reason for this excursion. One of our regulars had introduced him to Zach and they’d hit it off instantly. I wasn’t sure what Teddy did for a living, but it was enough to get him on the guest list to this party, and to invite his own guests, apparently.

With his optimistic charisma and mischievous smile, Zach never had trouble pulling men. But this was the first time he’d shown interest in doing more than just hooking up. Until he’d started getting all love-hearts-coming-out-of-his-eyeballs over Teddy, I wasn’t sure if he’d ever thought of having an actual relationship.

Zach led me over to a tall, muscular but lanky man, with short dark hair, sporting a two-day beard. He was dressed casually in a patterned short-sleeved button-up and dark jeans with black Vans slip-ons, an outfit appropriate for a college student, but somehow this fortyish-year-old guy wore it well. Zach had mentioned that Teddy had money, a fact only evident from the ginormous silver watch he wore that would have looked at home on the wrist of Tony Soprano. He was attractive by any objective standard, but Zach had dated good-looking guys before. I wanted to know what made himspecial.

Teddy gave me an enthusiastic handshake. “Sadie, it’s so nice to finally meet you. Zach told me big parties aren’t your thing, so I appreciate you coming out tonight.” He smiled with warmth that reached his eyes and my bullshit meter stayed quiet. I waited for a tingle of skepticism to crawl up my spine, but there was nothing.

After Teddy dropped my hand, Zach leaned in to give him a hug and Teddy held him at the waist, tapping their foreheads together. “I’m so glad you made it.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I wasn’t sure when I asked that you’d accept the invite, and I just really want to spend time with you.”

Okay then. No coded messages or secret handshakes from Teddy. For someone who had only known Zach two weeks, he certainly seemed all in already. I couldn’t help but find his directness charming.

“Besides,” Teddy continued, “These things can be boring, so it’s nice to have you here to make it a better night.”

“By ‘these things’ do you mean parties in general, or just the ones where you are having the awkward introduction to your new boyfriend’s best friend?” I chimed in jokingly, noting that neither man flinched at my use of the B-word.

“Oh, this isn’t just a party. This is a House Party of Hope…” Teddy used air quotes. “Which is a fancy way of saying it’s a casual fundraiser someone hosts in their home, mostly for younger donors. This event is benefiting the LA Teen Suicide Prevention Coalition. That’s why you see a microphone set up over there. At some point, the hosts will get up to make a speech and ask folks to donate.” I looked over and saw the microphone, sending up a silent prayer of thanks that it wasn’t for karaoke.

“And are you here because you support this coalition thing?” Zach was clearly learning about this for the first time.

“I support several non-profits, but I’m here mainly because a company I’ve invested in specializes in event planning for charity. They help coordinate these parties and find folks willing to host. So I go to a lot of them—”

“Shit, does that mean we’ll need to make a donation?” Zach interrupted.

“No, of course not!” Teddy appeared taken aback. “I already pledged my support, and it was more than generous enough to account for all three of us. You’re here as my guests.”

I wasn’t sure how to feel about that, Teddy shelling out what essentially amounted to a cover charge for us to attend this party. Zach also seemed uncomfortable with Teddy paying our way, reaching behind his head to palm his neck, glancing around warily.

“Damn, did I majorly fuck up?” Teddy ran his hand over his face. “I’m so sorry. I just wanted you to be here because this philanthropy is such a big part of my life, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to show you…and I didn’t think about it being weird for you that I’d donate on your behalf.”

It didn’t take a genius to deduce this might be the first hiccup in Zach and Teddy’s budding relationship. They looked like they wanted to hash it out, so I did something that seemed necessary, even though it made me slightly nauseous. I walked away to wander on my own.

I followed afew other people into the home’s lower-level interiors. Most of the guests were outside, so I felt less on-display in these uncrowded rooms and alcoves.

Small tables ribboned the hallways, dotted with baskets every few feet, and I realized this was a silent auction. Dozens of displays encouraged bids on things like restaurant gift cards and home décor items. At the end of one long hall, I saw a basket with a Seattle Seahawks jersey and a football signed by a player I’d never heard of, but knowing Zach was a superfan of the team—having been born and raised in Seattle—he’d appreciate it. Bidding on it could be a win-win, too, a way for Zach to give to the cause without having to make a massive donation. I needed to let him know it was here.

I turned around to head back outside, but I rounded the corner blindly and ran right into a wall. A wall in the form of a man who looked to be a few years older than me, solidly built and cute in a typical, unremarkable way, like a mid-to-late-thirties Ken doll. He smiled as I stumbled back, grabbing my arm gently to prevent me from falling on my ass.

“Thanks.” I slapped imaginary dust off my hip with my free hand.

“No problem. The corner needs a warning sign.”

I extracted my arm from his light grip. “Or at least a speed bump.”

“It’s funny running into you—literally—because I noticed you outside.”

“Oh?” I’d been only marginally mentally prepared to attend a party tonight. I wasn’t sure I could handle flirting. Although, this guy seemed fairly harmless.