December. Will zoned out with the idea of Zoe. He wondered what he’d get Zoe for the holidays. Would they stay in Miami or visit someplace cold? Without thinking, Will wiggled his eyebrows at the idea of stretching out in front of a fireplace with Zoe.
“And the second runner-up…” the emcee said into the microphone.
Second? Leaning forward, Will shook his head and blinked into focus and realized there were just two girls on stage. His daydream of Zoe had caused him to miss the final three going to answer the same question from the emcee. They faced each other, clutching hands for dear life.
“Second runner-up is Miss Cupcakery.”
The audience screamed with applause. Miss Cupcakery was whisked away by a few ushers. The reigning Miss Southwood placed a crown on top of Miss Restoration’s head and the queen began her walk across the stage. His choice won.
The applause of the audience was deafening. The other judges at the table mouthed congratulations and shook hands. Will glanced around the stage. The other contestants surrounded the new Miss Southwood. The behind-the-scenes staff peered through the curtains. Will shifted in his seat for a glimpse of Zoe and her purple smock. The spotlight caught her golden hoop earrings, visible beneath her hair, piled on top of her head in a messy bun. Will’s heart seized.
“Zoe,” he breathed her name and began to rise from his seat.
A set of heavy hands clamped down on Will’s back. At the moment, the only person Will wanted to see was Zoe and perhaps the person she was about to hug. He needed to make sure she hugged the winner and held her hand in the air like a true boxing champ and coach. Every step she took agonized Will. Mothers and little girls were stopping her to take selfies. Teens stopped her for a photograph. Beauty queens who hadn’t won covered their faces with their hands and Zoe helped each one stop their mascara from running. All he needed to see was who Zoe had teamed up with, just to make sure she was the one who’d secured the spot at Ravens Cosmetics.
He needed her to win to prove his cousins wrong. Zoe had been right. She was the best thing for the company.
“Young William!” Eva screamed in his ear as she came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
“Will,” Charles said, strolling into his line of view. An annoyed sigh escaped Will’s throat. It came out more like a growl and with the crowd’s applause slowing down, it was apparently heard by his cousin. Charles’s eyes stretched wide. “Let’s see your score sheets.”
“No need,” Will retorted, still shoving his paperwork in his cousin’s direction. “She’s about to hug the winner now.” Sure of himself, Will cocked his head to the side and nodded toward the stage…and that’s when he realized he’d been too sure too quickly. Zoe stood off with the second runner-up, dabbing underneath the girl’s lashes with a tissue.
“Rather rude of you,” Charles said, looking toward the stage where a large bald man in a lavender smock and white boots hugged the new Miss Southwood.
What the hell? Will asked himself.
“Fantastic,” Charles said, clapping his hands. “I’ll go let him know right now.”
Will rose again to get to Zoe, but another hand clapped onto his shoulder. Will shrugged off the grip and turned around. For a moment he didn’t recognize his frat brother, Dominic. At least there was one friendly face, someone who didn’t want something from him. “Hey, man.”
“Hey, great job.” Dominic nodded his head at the commotion on stage.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were into pageant shows? Is this your way of picking up women now?”
Dominic shrugged his shoulders. “It’s not what you think.” At the same time, a few ladies waved like schoolchildren in his direction. Dominic turned to watch them leave, and when he turned back, Will gave him a raised brow. “I swear,” Dominic laughed. “I am sponsoring a contestant.”
The questions flooded Will’s brain. He started with the first one. “What?”
Dominic rubbed his chin. “Well, Alisha suggested I bond with the community better. Apparently, my upscale shop matches my attitude.”