Page 112 of No Rings Attached
When the mayor delivered her closing line—“My wish for each of you is to find that kind of love”—a cheer rippled through the crowd.
Ellie winked. “Does it count if I’ve already found it?”
My throat tightened.Joke.It had to be a joke. Except her eyes held mine, wide and shining, until she ruined it with, “I mean … those doughboys. Nothing like ‘em!”
I groaned. “You’re killing me.”
She laughed, triumphant.
“Food then?” I asked, rubbing my cheek against her hair.
Her stomach rumbled in response. “Guess my belly’s making the choice for me.”
We strolled with my family, sampling just about everything the booths had to offer. Mom pretended she couldn’t finish her caramel apple and handed it off to Dad, who bit into it and polished it off in record time.
Grace dragged Ellie into a ring toss game and shouted louder than the teenagers playing next to them.
It was chaos—noisy and perfect.
Until it wasn’t.
A ripple went through the crowd near the gazebo. Pointing. Whispering. Heads turning.
Ellie stiffened against me.
My hand slid protectively to the small of her back. “What is it?”
She didn’t answer, her eyes locked on the growing commotion as the color drained from her face.
The laughter and chatter of the festival dulled, replaced by the murmurs of surprise. The kind that always meant trouble was about to break through the charm of small-town perfection.
And this time, it held a familiar name.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
ELLIE
You’ve got to be kidding me!
There she was. My sister, Celia, standing under the gazebo like it was her personal stage, leaning on Kyle, and beaming into the camera.
I knew that smile. It was her “look at how much fun I’m having” smile. Never mind the fact that she’d rather get a root canal than spend a second at a small town fair.
Though the smell of cider donuts and doughboys filled the air, all I could taste was the bitter tang of dread rising in my throat.
I’d already seen her video from the cake tasting Thursday. And yes, I knew I should’ve ignored it. But her social media was like a car crash—I couldn’t look away. Fascinating, horrifying, impossible to stop scrolling.
Drew and I’s appearance was minimal in her posts. Which was just as well, considering the only time my face showed up was when the camera panned wide to capture Kyle’sgrand entrance.
God.My ex was such an asshole. Who comes on to their ex-girlfriend while at a wedding planning event with their bride?
And now? Word spreading about Celia, ‘Countdown to becoming Mrs. Kyle Hussey.’ I couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped. Mrs. Hussey. Had she even thought that through?
I hadn’t. Boy was I so glad to have dodged that bullet.
“She’s about as interesting as watching paint dry,” Glamma muttered next to me. Sequins glittered as she flicked her hand dismissively. “My page gets way more interaction.”
I almost choked. “I love your page. SmartAzzGlamma is my favorite.”
