Read Black Number Four for Free Online Page B

closer to me. “He knows you now, he’s obviously interested, and you’re the best shot I have at getting him to hang around me in a natural way without it looking like I’m insane. Or a creeper. Or both.”
    My shoulders fall. “Big, you can’t be serious. What am I supposed to do… woo him? Flirt him into following me around like a puppy and then blow him off so you can pick up the pieces?”
    Her eyes get a little wider. “I hadn’t thought it out quite that far, but yes.”
    “No.” I shake my head and toss my hands up. “I’m leaving this room and we can just pretend like last night and this conversation didn’t happen.” I turn to leave, but she cuts in.
    “You want to be president next year, don’t you?”
    “Ex,” Jess warns, letting her know she’s taking it too far. And she is, but she has my attention.
    “No, I’m serious,” Erin says back to Jess before turning to face me again. “You have to make a lot of sacrifices as president, Little. You have to do a lot of stuff you really don’t want to do. This position is not for the weak or the scared or the selfish. You want to be next in line? It’s time to start proving you can take it, that you belong in this room when I leave. You need to step up, Little.”
    I chew on my cheek, my head still shaking. This is insane, I don’t need to prove myself by toying with a boy. But I know my Big, and I know when she has her mind set on something, there’s nothing or no one that can deter her thoughts. She wants him, and she wants me to help get him. Whether I like it or not, her problem just became mine.
    “Can I at least think about it?”
    Erin sighs, but then glances back at her planner. “I tell you what,” she says, facing me again. “The date auction is Saturday. Let’s see if you made the impression I think you did. If he bids the highest and wins the date with you, then the game starts and you play him right into my hand.”
    “I have a tournament that night, Big,” I whine. “I wasn’t even going to go to the auction.” There’s a small Texas Hold ‘Em tournament at the underground casino on Saturday that I need to win. I still have to build up enough money to pay the entry fee for the tournament in Vegas this May, and that means I have quite a few weekend tournaments to do before the payment deadline.
    “Well,” she says, business-like again. “Now you are going – and you’re getting auctioned off. If he bids the highest, then you’re doing this.”
    “And if he doesn’t?”
    She shrugs. “Then you’re off the hook. I want it to be easy for you to get him to come around, and bidding the highest at a date auction is pretty much the most simple way to get a girl on a date. If he doesn’t try and succeed to do just that with you, then there’s no point in you making it awkward and throwing yourself at him. But, if he dragged his tongue up your stomach, I seriously doubt he’ll let you go on a date with anyone else.” She smiles, trying to get me to laugh, but I’m not having it.
    This sucks.
    Then it hits me – this is a game I can rig, a game I can easily win – if I play my cards right.
    I keep my face straight and pretend like I’m still upset, sighing. “Fine, but if he doesn’t make the highest bid then I’m off the hook and you’re on your own to reel in your fish.”
    She holds out her hand to shake mine. “Absolutely, no questions asked.” We shake on it and Erin clasps her hands together, her smile fully back in place as she turns toward the girls. “This is going to be fun!”
    Ashlei and Erin start chatting excitedly, but Jess and Cassie’s eyes are trained on mine. They know as well as I do that this isn’t going to be fun, but I’ve got an Ace up my sleeve. Before they can ask if I’m okay, I duck out of the room, leaving my shoes behind. My room is just a few numbers down the hall and I push through the door, grabbing the first pair of leggings and tank top I see and throwing them on,