Page 76 of No Rings Attached
I realized I’d never told my sister no. As a child, she wanted the same dress as me for a party. Okay, it was hers. She didn’t want to go on vacation to New Hampshire like we’d planned. Great, the whole family can go to North Carolina. You want my boyfriend? Fine, I won’t make a fuss.
Bile tried to inch its way up my throat, but I forced it down with a generous sip of water.
“Eleanor,” Mom hissed, “how dare you be so unsupportive? You will take the time off.”
“No, Mom. I won’t.” My voice shook, but the words were out. Sweat beaded my forehead and slid down my back. And God, it felt like ripping duct tape off my soul.
My panicked gaze darted around the room, eventually landing on Matt’s frowning face for a second before Celia pulled my attention back.
She launched into her list of pre-wedding events—axe throwing, cake tastings, lawn game night, bachelorette parties, all crammed into seven days—I wanted to ask if she’d mistaken me for a party planner with unlimited PTO.
“I need you to come with me for the cake tasting tonight. It’s too stressful for me to make the decision without Kyle present. And I also can’t eat all of the pieces they’re letting us taste test. It’s too much for me. I don’t need the calories, and after a few bites, I’d be far too full, but you know what I like.”
It felt like a veiled insult was twisted into her words, but it was hard to be sure. And while I wasn’t looking forward to Kyle’s arrival in Ruby River, I didn’t have the sinking pit in my stomach I usually did. “Okay. Wedding cake tester. Got it. When do I report for duty?”
Celia gave me a faint smile and I remembered how it used to be between us when we were little. Back then, the only thing we worried about besides my sister’s health was who our dolls were going to fall in love with. I hated how our lives had changed—and how she’d changed most of all.
“I’ve scheduled the cake tasting for tonight. Did you know they only haveonebakery in town andoneflorist?” The horror on Celia’s face was almost comical.
“How did you even get such a last-minute appointment?” With Ruby Night happening this weekend, I honestly had no idea how Celia managed to book a slot.
She tossed a sly look my way. “I told her we had connections to the Kingsleys.”
My mouth dropped open. “Celia.”
“What? It’s not a big deal. And it’s not a total lie.” She tapped her list. “It starts at five. I was going to FaceTime Kyle, but he said he’s busy then.”
Our mother made some kind of soothing sound I’d never heard her make before when Celia pouted. “Now, darling, the camera crew will be recording it so he’ll get to see it.”
“True.” My sister lit up at the thought of being on camera. She grabbed a piece of paper from her bag and slid it across the table. “Ellie, I have a list of things I need help with.”
I cleared my throat not liking the direction of her planning. Not when it was using Drew’s name for access. “Celia?—”
Then she dropped the bomb. “Since you’re dating Drew, the son of the most influential and wealthiest family in town, we can use his family’s house for my lawn game night.”
“What?” My voice cracked like a preteen’s.
She shoved her phone at me, showing a photo of a sprawling mansion perched on the lake. White columns, ivy climbing the stone facade, balconies overlooking manicured lawns that probably had their own gardener’s union.Crap on a cracker.The home had to have been built around the time of the Newport mansions. It gave off the same type of Gilded Age opulence vibes.
“That’s … not his parents’ house,” I muttered.
“No,” Mom said primly. “That’s his grandmother’s estate. Eleanor, why didn’t you tell us? It’s perfect for the wedding day festivities. We could’ve had everything there.”
Nora appeared with plates and cheerfully added, “Glamma’s place is legendary! At Christmas, she opens the ballroom to the whole town. Chandeliers, marble floors, even a staircase that looks straight out ofGone with the Wind. People still talk about the chocolate fountain from her Valentine’s Ball.”
Celia’s eyes gleamed as she tapped on her phone. “Yes. This will do nicely.”
I pasted on a smile, though panic buzzed under my skin. I’d never been inside Glamma’s “mini-mansion,” much less had the authority to loan it out.
“Celia, we can’t assume that she’ll be okay with it,” I weakly forced out.And maybe she wanted to keep it free for her own grandchildren’s weddings,I thought.
“Maybe things aren’t as good as you’re pretending they are if your boyfriend wouldn’t do something as simple as let us borrow this place for the night.” Celia’s calculated expression was enough to tip me off that she was trying to trip me up.
Eep. She still suspected that I was lying about my relationship with Drew.
“What wouldn’t I do for my favorite person in the world?” I startled at the suddenness of Drew’s voice right next to us.
When had he … ???
