Page 149 of No Rings Attached
She knew?
“We’re not denying anything. I want nothing to do with you. And aren’t you forgetting Kyle?”
“Kyle has his side pieces, too. It’s not a big deal.”
Holy crap!
I almost swallowed my tongue.How many people had Kyle actually cheated on me with?
Then it struck me fully—she knew Drew and I had faked our relationship. It must have been when we were talking after the Ferris wheel.
I was curious to see how she’d try to use this against us. Against me.
“Step back, Celia. As for my relationship with your sister. It’s real. It’sveryreal.”
Little did Celia know that Ruby Night had been the turning point for us.
Celia laughed, her controlled, cutesy sound that set my teeth on edge. “Drew, you don’t need to pretend any longer.”
There was a rustling, then a dull thud as one of them landed on furniture.
Is she cornering him?
“I’m not going to ask again. Back up so I can leave.” Drew’s voice was tight with barely restrained anger.
I recognized what was happening. Drew was trapped, and the only way out was brushing past Celia—the exact thing he was trying to avoid.
She’s doing this because I stood up to her. Because she’s losing control.
This was a calculated move. Another thing to take from me, to prove she could. A temper tantrum dressed up as seduction.
I stood by the doorway, able to see in, ready to enter the room and end this farce when Drew spoke again. “And know this … I love your sister. You are a pale, wispy shadow of a person next to her loving vibrancy. I’d never go for someone like you.”
Celia hissed something unintelligible.
I lost my ability to breathe.
We told each other we were falling, but … Drewlovedme?
Not the way I’d have preferred hearing it for the first time, but my body gave an excited wiggle despite the circumstances.
He and I desperately needed to talk.
I entered the parlor. Drew hadn’t seen me yet, and Celia had backed him onto a small sofa while she stood over him, caging him in. Her eyes jerked up and then narrowed as her gaze landed on me.
Perfect. Just the audience she was hoping for.
“Let’s not deny our feelings any longer,” Celia said, and then pressed her lips to his.
Drew immediately slid his hands around her waist and lifted her body, setting her aside. “Back the fuck up, Celia.”
Then he turned his head and caught sight of me.
He scrambled off the couch, nearly falling in his haste. “It’s not what you think, Ellie. I swear.” He stood before me, hands outstretched, fear and uncertainty stark in his eyes.
I couldn’t let him suffer and grabbed onto his hands. “I know.”
“Really, I just came to find you. And Celia—” He stopped. “You know?”
