Chapter Thirteen #2
I tapped his chest. I could barely breathe, squished into him like this, but I was so cozy and feeling so—desirable, to use his word—that I regretted even having to move.
“Don’t lay it on so thick,” I mumbled so only he could hear.
He slapped my ass.
“Drew!” I yelped.
Apparently, I wasn’t supposed to question his choice of words about me.
The silence behind me spoke a thousand words as I realized neither of them knew what to say.
And I’d bet a million dollars my mother was shooting us the glare she’d perfected over the years. It was the perfect blend of, I’m disappointed in you and this behavior is atrocious.
When I couldn’t avoid them any longer, I turned to face them with Drew’s arms still holding me tight around my waist and put as much cheer into my voice as I could muster. My sister stood next to the car, and our mother still sat in the backseat with the window down.
“Hi, Mom. Celia.” I forced a grin so they wouldn’t see how they affected me. “You’re both going to love Ruby River. This will be so much fun, planning the wedding here.”
Celia rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to speak, but when she caught sight of the cameramen filming her, she flashed her million-dollar smile before saying, “It’s such a cute town. I know my followers will love it so much. They did vote for a country-chic wedding.”
Only because I knew her so well was I able to tell that the smile plastered on her face was forced. And it made me wonder why she’d even given her fans country-chic as an option.
Celia was anything but country-chic.
“Eleanor, we need help with our luggage. Come down here!” My mother held up her phone and put up the window to take a call.
Had my mother’s voice always sounded so grating?
“Nope.” Drew picked me up again and settled me into one of the Adirondack chairs on the porch. “That’s why you have me here.”
“You don’t have to—” I was still so shocked he could pick me up and put me down as easily as he did. A small part of me loved how he placed me where he wanted me.
He kissed me again. “I’m beginning to think you’re doing that to shut me up,” I mumbled, knowing that I was doing a poor job of hiding my grin.
“Me? I’d never.” He winked and left me to stare after him as he bounded down the front steps to the two cars in the B&B’s driveway.
Without even bothering to grab anything except her purse, Celia ascended the steps and strode over to me. I held in my laughter when she gingerly sunk into the chair beside me.
“It’s not going to break,” I teased her.
She gave me a disgusted look. “I’m not worried about that. When was the last time this thing was cleaned?”
The chairs were fine. My sister just needed something to complain about.
“So … your boyfriend really does exist.” Celia’s eyes raked over Drew as he grabbed two bags and two suitcases. “He’s pretty yummy-looking. How did you two meet again?”
“Work.” Keeping it short and sweet would ensure we kept stories straight.
“Oh, right.” She glanced from me to Drew and back again. “Is it serious between you two?”
Drew, who’d just stepped onto the porch with two of her bags, spoke up. “It better be, or your sister is about to break my heart. Are you toying with my affections, Sugar Plum?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I loved the answering spark in his eyes.
He fake-pouted and disappeared inside.
“Kyle and I have cute names for each other, too.” Celia tossed her hair back, flashed a coquettish smile, and glanced back towards the cars. It took me a second to realize she was once again pandering to the camera crew. Her voice lowered seductively. “But those names are only said in private.”
I slammed my lips together, forcing the tiny amount of spit in my mouth down my throat to stop the instinctive gag reflex that had kicked in. I did not need to hear about sexy times between her and my ex.
I still wondered why Celia had dated Kyle in the first place. Much less why she was going to marry him.
Kyle was much easier to understand. Celia was beautiful, and he liked the attention he got having her on his arm. And maybe in his own way, he loved her, but I had no idea what Celia got out of the deal.
My ex was a terrible lover. For a while, I’d blamed myself for not being sexy enough, pretty enough, or adventurous enough in the bedroom. But towards the end, I understood it was him. Once he got off, he was done. And he was kind of boring getting to that point.
“We’re going to get set up, Celia.” The guy recording her grabbed a bag out of the second car. “And then we’ll be available for whatever you’d like us to film.”
“Of course. Get settled in, and we can meet later to discuss the next two weeks.” Celia tossed her hair and brushed nonexistent lint from her pants.
I was a terrible sister. All I could think about was how fake she sounded.
Martha stepped outside and headed towards me and Celia. “You must be Celia! I’m so sorry for the delay in greeting you.”
My sister threw her a dismissive glance. “We’re pretty hungry from traveling. We’d like something to eat.”
I held in my laughter. Their flight couldn’t have been longer than forty-five minutes.
“Of course, dear. Would you like a meal or a charcuterie board to snack on?” Martha waved at my mother, who only looked away again. I wondered if she’d sleep in the car tonight since she’d been in there so long.
“Dinner, Martha.” My sister’s tone was cutting and completely unnecessary.
“Celia—” I scolded.
Martha smiled at me. “It’s alright, Ellie. I’ve got this covered.” Her cryptic comment made me wonder what she was up to.
Before I could speculate, Drew re-emerged and skirted around the guys toward the car my mother was still sitting in while chatting on her phone.
“Why isn’t Mom coming into the house?” I asked.
Celia shrugged and continued scrolling on her phone. “She needed to talk to Daddy. She’s pissed he didn’t come with us and that he’s not arriving for a few days.”
“Got it. Don’t mention Dad.” I tried another line of communication. Celia was always up for talking about herself. “You mentioned wanting to do pre-wedding day activities.”
“Mmm,” Celia looked up from her phone. “So who asked who out?”
I tilted my head to the side at her abrupt change of topic. “Huh?”
She gestured to Drew, who’d loaded himself up for another round.
The poor guy had to make at least one or two more trips.
I blew him a kiss. He pretended to catch it and hold it close to his heart before picking up two more suitcases.
His arm muscles bulged deliciously, and I fought the urge to ask him to flex for me.
“The two of you,” Celia sounded more annoyed than usual. “Did you ask him out?”
A chill raced through me, as though my sister had tossed a bucket of cold water over my head.
Crap, crap, crap.
I thought I had a few hours before the inquisition. “Not exactly. He told me he liked me first, but it took me another week or two to admit the truth.”
“You left him hanging for a week or two?” It wasn’t just the thread of doubt in her voice. It was so much more than that. Disbelief coated every word she uttered.
“I guess so. I hadn’t really given it much thought.” I tried shrugging it off and wished Drew were here to help.
Celia’s gaze narrowed. “Really?”
I widened my eyes theatrically and let my mouth drop open. “What? You don’t believe me?”
“Honestly, I don’t. Usually you’re a terrible liar, but I can’t tell for sure if what you’re saying is true or not. You’re giving me mixed signals.”
Damnit.
My heart thundered. This was it. I couldn’t even make it an hour before it all went to shit. And now I was sweating! It was only a matter of time before it dripped down my face and confirmed my sister’s suspicion.
“Drew,” Celia pouted her lips as he climbed up the steps. “I need you to settle something for me.”
He set the luggage down and crossed over to my seat. His brow creased in concern.
Drew was great at reading my help, the ship is going down cues or at the very least, he knew what my panicked expression looked like. “Sure. What’s up?”
“Who asked who out first in your relationship?” Celia sounded smug. Like she knew she had me.
I closed my eyes and leaned into the hand Drew set on my shoulder.
At least we’d had fun together. We should’ve discussed this part of our fake relationship.
With one question, my sister had unraveled our lies.
And after her wedding, I might need to take a week off from work so I could suffer my humiliation of her discovery in silence.
Drew was so nice, he’d let me do it even if I didn’t have enough vacation days saved.
He laughed. “That’s easy. Me. I finally got up the courage to share my feelings for her, and your sister made me wait two solid weeks before she agreed to date me.” Drew lowered his voice. “Don’t tell her I said so, but I would’ve waited months if that’s what it took to get her to say yes.”
Now Celia’s jaw was hanging open. I wanted to say, be careful or you might catch some flies, but I didn’t.
Emotions rolled through me so fast I was almost dizzy. Gratitude, desire … and a deep, warm, fuzzy feeling I was too afraid to name.
There was no topping this man. He was the pinnacle of everything I’d ever wished for.
I stood up and slid into his waiting arms. “Thank you,” I whispered in his ear.
He held me tight, pressing his nose into the crook of my neck before saying loudly, “And I’d have waited even longer than that if I had to.”
Celia sniffed. “Well, that’s nice.” It wasn’t often that Celia didn’t have some kind of cutting remark, and all I could assume was that we’d shocked her enough that she needed time to regain her snarkiness.
“I’m going upstairs to get changed for dinner.
Oh, and in case I forgot to tell you, that super popular show, Wedding Bells is the one who’s recording al of the planning for my big day.
It’s vital I look runway-ready at all times for the cameras. ”
I gave her a weak smile. Last year, Celia had a video go viral that started her influencer fame.
It’s content? A ‘surprise bridesmaid proposal’—with me.
She rambled on and on about how I was there for her while she was sick and how she couldn’t imagine her special day without me by her side.
Except—it was completely staged. She never planned to include me, and once the camera was off, she told me I wasn’t needed and she didn’t want me to be involved at all.
I was fine with that because she was marrying my ex.
Neither of us could have predicted the video getting as many views as it did. That was when she told me she’d been joking about me not being part of the happiest day of her life.
Celia stood. “Will you two be eating with us?”
I ground my teeth together.
Shit.
As terrified as I was, I’d been looking forward to having dinner with the Kingsleys. And now I’d have to smile through a dinner I’d be miserable at.
Maybe Martha could eat with us and act as a buffer.
“Oh, didn’t we tell you?” Drew asked. “Ellie and I have plans, but we’ll be sure to schedule a dinner together with you all soon.
” He pecked my lips. “Sugar booger, we should probably leave after I bring these upstairs so we’re not late.
Maybe you can say hi and bye to your mom while I take care of that. ”
“Good idea, Sugar booger.” I lifted an eyebrow.
He gave me a shit eating grin.
“Sorry, we can’t stay, Cece,” I apologized, trying to sound sincere. “But I want to catch up. I took tomorrow off so I can help you book what you need and make plans.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s fine. I should’ve known you’d leave us for your boyfriend. I guess you need to obsess over him … while you have him.”
In the past, her taunt would’ve sent me spiraling. But this time, I was pleased to note that annoyance was the only thing I felt.
Was it because it wasn’t real with Drew? Or more than likely, it was the fact he’d barely glanced at my sister since she got here.
That alone did wonders for my self-esteem.
It fueled me. “On that note,” I said confidently, “I’m leaving. Martha’s wonderful. Try to be nice to her.”
I quickly turned away from my sister’s narrowed gaze.
OMG! I couldn’t believe I said that to her!
It wasn’t the biggest zinger or even all that mean, but I never spoke up for myself.
I might’ve needed to pat Bad Eleanor on the back for her terrible influence.
My confidence dipped. Could I actually maintain this new backbone with Mom? Celia was one thing. Mom was another level entirely.
I knocked on Mom’s window.
It slowly lowered. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”
“I just wanted to say hi to you before I left.”
“Excuse me, George. Eleanor, you could have said what you needed to say when you returned. While you’re out, I need you to pick up the toiletries I forgot. I’ll text you the list.”
A hand grabbed my waist and tugged me away from the car. “No can do, Mrs. Remington. Ellie and I promised my parents we’d be there for dinner tonight, and then we’re heading to my place afterward.”
Mother’s mouth opened and closed without saying a word, and it was glorious.
While the silence didn’t last long, I reveled in it. “Eleanor! How incredibly rude not to have made yourself available for us tonight. Can’t you comprehend how exhausted we are from traveling? And that your sister and I, your family, need you here.”
I reached around and grabbed Drew’s free hand in mine and squeezed so hard I was a little surprised he didn’t yelp.
“Mother, it would be rude of me to cancel on the Kingsleys last-minute. You only informed me of your arrival yesterday, then booked a later flight, and this dinner has been planned for weeks. I already let Celia know I’ll be free all day tomorrow to help. ”
Drew must have sensed my courage was about to desert me fast because he scooped me up into a bridal carry and walked to his car. My arms snaked around his neck, and I nuzzled my nose into the crook of it.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Ellie, for sticking to your guns.
” He squeezed me so hard I was gasping for breath by the time he put me down.
What I’d done wasn’t even that big of a deal.
I’d wanted to rant that her flight wasn’t that long, she and my sister had sprung the trip on me, and they were damn lucky I was helping at all since she was marrying my ex-boyfriend.
But Drew knew that me refusing to give in to her demands was huge.
It was my baby steps in distancing myself from my family and not allowing them to push me into doing everything they wanted.
This time, when his lips met mine, it was soft and sweet and over far too quickly.
I didn’t bother turning around to wave at my mother. Tonight was about Drew and his family.
A family I already felt far closer to than my own, and I hadn’t even met them all yet.