Page 114 of No Rings Attached
Line.
Sinker.
“Fine,” Celia snapped, tossing her hair. “But don’t blame me if you break a hip.”
Glamma held up her phone. “We can do that new dance craze.” Then she turned, handed Drew her phone to record, and handed Coco to me.
Celia’s eyes narrowed as she nodded then pulled Kyle to her for a kiss, muttering something about luck.
Music blasted from one of their phones.
And then … Glamma danced. Like, full commitment. Sharp arm snaps and bootie shakes that had kids chanting, “Glamma! Glamma!” Coco barked in rhythm from my arms, tail wagging like a backup dancer.
The crowd went wild.
Celia panicked, and when it was her turn, she shifted gears and doubled down into sexy mode—tugging at her top, mussing her hair, gazing into the camera like a lingerie ad. It was polished, sure, but next to Glamma’s unapologetic moves? Desperate.
By the end, the crowd erupted in cheers—for Glamma.
“How many viewers?” she asked Drew.
“Two thousand and counting,” Drew replied, smugness dripping from his voice.
“And mine?” Celia demanded.
Her cameraman grimaced. “Five hundred … and one.”
I clapped a hand over my mouth, but the laugh still burst out of me. Loud. Free. And for once, I didn’t care who heard.
Celia’s smile froze, her fists tightening at her sides. She blinked hard, hiding the fury that I knew boiled beneath her polished exterior. “Twenty-four hours,” she said stiffly. “Likes, comments, shares. We’ll see then.”
“Sure, honey,” Glamma said sweetly, plucking Coco back from me like a trophy. “If you think you need the time.”
I couldn’t stop smiling. For the first time in forever, Celia wasn’t the star. She wasn’t in control.
And me? I wasn’t shrinking away.
Maybe for once, this day wasn’t hers.
It was mine.
Glamma snagged her phone from Drew. “Thank you, love. Coco and I need to run. The River Walk is going to start soon. Will I see you two there?”
Celia opened her mouth to respond as I answered. It wasn’t her Glamma was talking to.
“Of course,” I replied. “Let me know if I can help.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. Now give your favorite Glamma a hug.”
Drew hugged her first, and when she embraced me she whispered, “Don’t let her get to you.”
I nodded.
“Where’s Mom and Dad?” I asked once Glamma walked away.
Celia shrugged. “They said they’d be here later.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for them.” I definitely wouldn’t be. “Well, we should go, too.” I was determined to avoid my sister and my parents. Earlier when she was in a fake good mood would have been bad enough, but now that she was pissed at being shown up, being around her would be far worse.
