Page 136 of No Rings Attached
The two teams formed fast. Kyle, most of his groomsmen, and Celia’s friends on their side. Drew, me, Angie, John, Grace, Wyatt and—because of course—Glamma, who tied the rope around her waist like a glittering general, made up our team. “I was Miss Rhode Island Calf-Strength 1964, my loves. Don’t underestimate me.”
I loved how confidently Glamma could sell fictional titles. I needed to get her on my marketing team when my book released.
The crowd whooped and hollered, quickly taking sides. I didn’t miss that most of them were rooting for our team.
“Ready?” The ref, Marc, looking equal parts annoyed and amused, raised his arm.
Kyle leaned down the rope, eyes fixed on me. “Don’t mess this up too, Ellie.”
The words sliced deep. Before I could flinch, Drew’s voice thundered across the rope. “Shut your damn mouth, Kyle, and have some respect. You’re just jealous Ellie has moved on from you.”
Gasps rippled.
My pulse spiked.
Kyle’s smirk faltered.
Celia looked between Kyle and me with a jealous frown twisting her lips.
Marc blew the whistle.
The rope jerked taut, nearly yanking me off my feet. I stumbled, my palms screaming. I prayed that Glamma, who was at the end of our rope, didn’t fall and break a hip.
“I’ve got you,” Drew growled.
Kyle’s team heaved, muscles straining, sneakers digging into the grass. They had size, bulk, and swagger. “Pathetic! You’ll never measure up, Ellie. Not to Celia, not to me. Clearly I traded up.”
His words didn’t hit as hard this time.
I turned to look at Drew. He anchored our line even though Glamma had that last spot, and he anchored me. His feet were braced, jaw clenched, biceps flexing under his t-shirt. He looked carved from stone, immovable, every pull radiating down the rope. His teeth bared as he growled, “Pull!”
I swung my gaze forward, dug in, my heartbeat pounding as I pulled. Angie and John leaned their weight back, Wyatt cackled something obscene, and Glamma let out a war cry that echoed all around us.
My arms grew tired.Damn it.
“Don’t stop, Ellie!” Drew shouted, recognizing I was about to falter. “You’re stronger than he’ll ever admit. Show him!”
I clenched my teeth and reached deep inside of me. Rage at all Celia and Kyle had put me through surged. All the years of being dismissed, all the times I was told to shrink, all the times they called me less. I let out a yell and pulled with everything I had.
The rope slid an inch toward our side.
“You think you can win? One little inch changes nothing!” Kyle bellowed, sweat dripping down his face.
“It changes everything!” Drew roared back.
Drew grunted, the line grew taut behind me. He yelled one more time for us to pull.One final heave.Our line surged backward, dragging theirs across the painted line on the grass.
Kyle stumbled, cursed, and then went face-first into the grass with Celia being dragged down on top of him. His whole team collapsed, Celia shrieking about the dirt smearing her dress.
The whistle blew, and the lawn erupted in cheers. People clapped and chanted. Glamma raised her arms like a prizefighter and I was happy to notice she’d worn gloves to protect her hands. Coco barked furiously and leapt onto the heap of fallen groomsmen, yapping like she’d delivered the final blow.
I dropped the rope, chest heaving, my hands raw and stinging. But I didn’t care. All I saw was Drew, sweat dampened, chest rising and falling, eyes locked on me.
He’d done it forme.Every single pull.
“You were incredible,” he whispered fiercely, pulling me against him. His heart pounded hard against my cheek. “He’ll never get to tear you down again. Not while I’m here.”
Tears pricked the back of my eyes, but my laughter bubbled out, loud and free. “That was so damn sexy. Thank goodness I wasn’t behind you. I’d have been too distracted watching your perfect butt.”
