Page 60 of No Strings Attached
Now, standing in this dress he never got to unzip, crying in a bathroom that smells like his cologne from the last time he was here, I know the truth I’ve been trying to outrun.
I have fallen for Henson.
And he was never mine to begin with.
22
NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
HENSON
Istorm back through the hallway. My chest is tight. My head is a mess. And there’s only one person I can talk to before I lose my mind.
My brother.
I spot Worth near the bar, leaning against a column. He’s sipping bourbon, pretending not to watch the room, but his eyes snap to mine the second I approach.
“You okay?”
“No,” I bite out. “Not even close. Did you not see the absolute shitstorm?”
He sets his glass down and straightens. “No. What happened?”
I exhale hard through my nose, dragging a hand down my face. “Celia showed up, announcing herself like a fucking reality show twist, andkissedme in front of everyone, including Amira.”
Worth whistles. “Well, shit. I leave the room for five minutes and all hell breaks loose.”
“I didn’t know she was coming.” I pace a few feet away fromhim. “And now she might’ve fucked everything up between me and Amira.”
“Did you talk to her?”
“I tried. She told me not to follow her and to pretend none of this ever happened.” The words lodge like glass in my throat. “And I can’t even blame her. She saw Celia wearing one of the family heirloom rings.”
Worth exhales. “Damn, bro. But you were the one who wanted to keep your breakup quiet. You said you didn’t want to deal with the headlines until you were sure you could face Mom and Dad.”
I rake a hand through my hair. “I know.”
I’m an idiot for keeping it a secret all these months. I was so embarrassed to admit that my girlfriend left me and got engaged to someone else, that I pretended it never happened. Now, I’m paying for it.
I let out a slow, uneven breath. “Amira’s gone. She looked at me like I was every asshole who ever played her.”
“So fix it,” Worth says simply, as if it were that easy.
I glance at him.
“Start with Mom,” he adds. “She clearly didn’t know what she was walking into when she invited Celia. You need to tell her the truth before she starts thinking this was somehow all her fault.”
I nod. He’s right. As much as I want to chase after Amira right now, I can’t leave Mom in the dark, especially when I know she wanted tonight to be a big, happy ending for everyone.
“I’ll find her.”
“Good. Then, go after the woman who actually means something.”
I nod again and head toward the dance floor.
Mom is talking to one of my uncles, a glass of champagne in hand. When she sees my face, her jolly expression falls instantly.
“Henson. What’s wrong?”
