Chapter Twenty-Seven
ELLIE
You’ve got to be kidding me!
There she was. My sister, Celia, standing under the gazebo like it was her personal stage, leaning on Kyle, and beaming into the camera.
I knew that smile. It was her “look at how much fun I’m having” smile. Never mind the fact that she’d rather get a root canal than spend a second at a small town fair.
Though the smell of cider donuts and doughboys filled the air, all I could taste was the bitter tang of dread rising in my throat.
I’d already seen her video from the cake tasting Thursday. And yes, I knew I should’ve ignored it. But her social media was like a car crash—I couldn’t look away. Fascinating, horrifying, impossible to stop scrolling.
Drew and I’s appearance was minimal in her posts. Which was just as well, considering the only time my face showed up was when the camera panned wide to capture Kyle’s grand entrance.
God. My ex was such an asshole. Who comes on to their ex-girlfriend while at a wedding planning event with their bride?
And now? Word spreading about Celia, ‘Countdown to becoming Mrs. Kyle Hussey.’ I couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped. Mrs. Hussey. Had she even thought that through?
I hadn’t. Boy was I so glad to have dodged that bullet.
“She’s about as interesting as watching paint dry,” Glamma muttered next to me. Sequins glittered as she flicked her hand dismissively. “My page gets way more interaction.”
I almost choked. “I love your page. SmartAzzGlamma is my favorite.”
She winked. “It’s my daily two-cents. Everyone needs it.”
Drew shook his head like a man resigned to chaos.
“Oh, you know I’m funny,” she scolded him, wagging a finger.
He tried to smother a grin. “Maybe a little.”
“A little?” She gasped like he’d insulted the Pope. “See if I keep you in my will.”
I laughed, warmth loosening my chest. For a moment, I forgot about Celia.
Until Glamma pointed. “Homewrecker at six o’clock.”
I yelped as she spun me around and clamped her arm around my shoulders like a boa constrictor. “And this is my sister!” she chirped, squeezing the air out of my lungs.
What. The. Hell. Alternate Universe?
“She’s been such an incredible help. She dropped everything to plan my wedding. We’re so close.”
I gagged. Close?
“And she and Kyle get along so well.”
I threw up a little in my mouth.
She turned her smile to me.“So, bestie, what are we doing first?”
Bestie. I nearly fainted from shock. My panicked gaze found Drew, who draped his arm over my shoulders like my knight in plaid armor.
“Oh, darn. Ellie and I promised the mayor we’d help hand out game tickets. And trash duty too, right, babe?”
I bobbed my head so hard my neck cracked. “Of course. It’s our duty as … uh, Kingsley Jewelry representatives." Smooth, Ellie. Real smooth.
Celia’s face pinched like she’d bitten into a lemon.
Before she could regroup, Glamma swooped in. “Perfect. You and I can spend some time together, Celia.” Her eyes gleamed like a cat who’d spotted a bird she wanted to pounce on.
“Oh … okay.” Celia’s voice faltered. She clearly wasn’t used to anyone saying no. “We could talk about … plans … later.” She flicked her gaze and toothpaste ad smile toward her cameraman, who held her phone.
Streaming Live. Of course.
“Or … ” Glamma raised a finger. “We could have a challenge.”
My stomach dropped. “Oh no,” I whispered.
“Oh, yes,” Glamma corrected, sequins sparkling like disco lights.
“What kind of challenge?” Celia asked, forcing a sweet tone, but I spotted the twitch in her jaw.
“A dance-off. Social media style.” Glamma’s voice boomed loud enough for people around us to hear.
The cameraman’s brows shot up. A circle began to form fast. Kids darted forward with popcorn, couples nudged each other. Somewhere behind me, someone muttered, “Best day ever.”
Celia blinked, panic flashing before she smoothed it over. “I don’t really do challenges. My platform is about meaningful connections with my fans—”
“Oh, now, Celia darling. I never thought you’d be the kind to back down from a challenge,” Glamma baited her.
Hook.
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.
“Time to do your fair jobs?” Celia asked, her eyebrow raised.
“What?”
Drew elbowed me.
Oh crap. Now I remembered. “Yup. I bet the mayor’s wondering where we are.”
“Mm-hm,” Drew agreed, took my hand in his and we fled the scene. Skirting around various tents and tables, Drew waved to everyone.
“Do we hide out for a while, Mr. Popular?” I glanced around to make sure Celia hadn’t followed us and then grinned.
He shook his head. “Nope. It’s a small town. It would be weirder if I didn’t know so many people. Let’s go say hi to Marc and Wyatt. We can hide at their booths if we need to.”
I squeezed his hand. “So your family really is like royalty here. Isn’t it?”
He blushed. “People know us, yes. You’ve seen how they treat my grandmother like a queen.”
“Deservedly. I think it’s nice that they all like your family so much.
And I know it’s not just because your family founded the town.
You give back. They appreciate it.” I’d done some research after Kingsley Jewelry took on the animal shelter as a charity.
They had dozens of other places they’d “adopted” and helped out in the community as a business and as a family.
We visited Marc first, at his “Ask the Vet” booth. I browsed the information on his table as he talked to Nora and her teenage daughter. They had a guinea pig in a carrier. I tried not to eavesdrop but it was hard not to.
“Nora, I can do a basic exam, but we should make you an appointment to run some tests.”
Nora turned toward her daughter. “Hey, Rose. Why don’t you check out the booth next door? I saw a bunch of crystals and I’m sure Delaney can tell you all about them.”
I didn’t miss the eye roll from Marc at the mention of the table next to him.
“Sure, Mom. Should I take Jet with me?”
“No, it’s okay. I have him.” The second her daughter was out of earshot, her plea broke my heart.
“Please, Marc. I don’t … I can’t afford a visit right now, but this guinea pig helps calm Rose’s anxiety.
If he’s sick or we lose him, I don’t know what I’ll do.
It’s bad enough I can barely afford the hay and veggies. Can we do a payment plan?”
Marc looked at the cage then back at Nora’s flushed face. “Okay,” he said softly. “Bring him to the office tomorrow morning. No charge.”
“But you’re not open then, and I can’t let you do that.
” Nora glanced at the tent just a few feet away.
I knew she was trying to be discreet, but even I could tell her daughter could hear what was going on.
And so could the curvy shop owner as she tried to distract Rose with various crystals and their meanings.
The tables were too close for absolute privacy.
Marc’s eyes met hers. “You take care of all of us, I can do this for you. Please, let me do this.”
“I just fill your coffee. That’s not equal to—”
“I insist,” He tore a piece of paper from a notepad and wrote on it. “And call this number. It’s a small farm outside of town. Let them know I sent you, and I bet they’ll have some hay and veggies you can take off their hands for Jet.”
Nora’s breath hitched, and she swiped at the tears escaping down her cheeks. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned and gave us the faintest of smiles as she hurried to join her daughter.