Page 56 of No Strings Attached
“Celia—”
My heart skips a beat.Celia?Henson’sex?
Before I can even process what I’m witnessing, she leans in and kisses him.
Right on the mouth.
It’s fast, but intimate enough to make my body lock up.
Her hand lifts to his cheek as she pulls back, and that’s when I see a massive, clear-cut diamond glittering on her left hand.
It’s suddenly impossible to breathe.
And then, like a slow, humiliating domino falling in my brain, I realize this wasthesurprise.
The one Nadine had me help plan.
The timing and the playlist she wanted me to adjust to feel “sentimental yet upbeat.”
Oh my God.
I look at Henson. His expression is stunned, stiff, caught completely off guard—but it doesn’t matter.
I look at Nadine, who beams with pride, utterly oblivious to the fact that her son has been tangled in sheets with the very woman who planned this party and is now backing away slowly in shock.
I can’t breathe.
The noise of the party muffles as I turn and run straight through the crowd.
“Amira—wait!” Henson yells, but I don’t stop.
If I do, the tears I’m choking down will explode.
Because everything I thought was real just shattered in front of my eyes.
And I can’t let anyone see me fall apart.
20
YOU’VE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME
HENSON
Iblink—like maybe I didn’t just see what I think I saw. But no. Celia is standing there, smiling as if she hasn't just lit my entire night on fire.
“What the fuck, Celia?” I hiss, low enough to stay under the music but sharp enough to cut glass.
She tilts her head, cool and calm, still resting her hand on my chest.
“Well,” she says, gritting her teeth into a smile, “I’m here to spend New Year’s Eve with you, honey.”
Honey?
I nearly choke on the word.
“What are you doing here?” I bite, stepping in closer, lowering my voice to a growl. “You can’t just walk in here and act like?—”
“We’re together?” Celia finishes, raising her brows.
