Page 92 of Surprisingly Us

“Congratulations!” Lettie drops my hand so she can hug Corinne. “That’s wonderful news.”

“Thank you. I wasn’t expecting this. I mean we’ve been dating for years and we’ve talked about it but I always thought we’d wait longer, so this is a huge surprise.”

My eyes find Jerrod across the room. He’s surrounded by my grandfather and Edith, Aditi and her husband, John, Eileen and her partner, Gwen. He laughs at something Aditi says, then bringing the champagne glass to his lips, his eyes meet mine and his brows flex.

The good mood I was in evaporates with one glance at his smug face.

“Congrats, Corinne.” I pat her arm then leave her and Lettie standing there to make my way over to Jerrod.

“I heard the exciting news,” I say as I approach.

He hands me a glass of champagne from the table nearby.

“Congratulations,” I say tightly. That’s code for what a fucking joke.

“Thank you.” Jerrod nods, his silent message clear.You liked that, eh?

When we clink glasses, I squeeze the stem between my fingers, channeling all my frustration there so I don’t use too much force and end up smashing our glasses together.

From an outside perspective, it probably looks like two cousins exchanging pleasantries. Me congratulating Jerrod on his engagement. I would be happy for him if that’s how it was between us, but that’s not our relationship. He always wants to win and while I’ve stepped back in the past, deciding it wasn’t worth it to compete with him, I can’t do that now, not with The Spencer Foundation and my parents’ legacy at stake.

“Corinne looks happy.” I nod across the room where Corinne and Lettie are still talking.

“She’s been waiting four years.”

“The timing was convenient.”

“I like to think of it more as strategic. Something that would have happened eventually but has an even bigger impact at this moment. But you don’t know much about strategy or you would’ve spent the last five years building relationships with the board members.” He takes another swig of his champagne. “The gun went off years ago, and you’re still back at the starting line, Rhys.”

I know he’s right but I can’t let him see my panic. That his engagement only further proves that he’s been on the right path all along while I’ve been lost and fumbling around. I try to take comfort in Sandeep’s words earlier.

It’s okay not to know.

But Jerrod pulls me back into the arena, this battle ground that we’ve built around the two of us.

“You can’t win, Rhys. Not if we’re being appraised on our character and values.”

My eyes lock with Lettie’s across the room.

I see the concern in her blue eyes.You okay?The silent message calms me. I have to leave before I say something in front of the board that I’ll regret.

“Congratulations, Jerrod.” I hand him my untouched champagne glass and walk away.

CHAPTER 27

Colette

As promised, after he took me home, Rhys unzipped my dress. Then, he kissed me on the cheek, gave Maxine a quick pet, and left. He’d been quiet on the ride back to my apartment, clearly frustrated with how the dinner party ended. I know he felt that the traction he made with the foundation board members had been overshadowed by Corinne and Jerrod’s engagement, but I had no idea what to say or do to make him feel better.

After I change into pajamas, I wash my face and put on moisturizer. Maxine is already snuggled up on her side of the bed. I’m about to crawl in to join her when my phone rings on my nightstand. At this time of night, I have my do not disturb setting on except for letting a few people, my parents and Hannah, bypass it for emergencies.

It’s Hannah.

“Hey! You’re back,” I answer, excited to finally talk to her. It’s only been ten days, but it feels like so much has happened in the short time since she’s been on her honeymoon.

“Hi! I’m downstairs.”

“You are?”

---