Page 131 of No Rings Attached
Josh turned to my mother, one eyebrow raised. “Ma’am with all due respect, Ellie isn’t the bride. She’s not the one who booked tonight. She’s also not the one who showed up late without paying. So maybe direct your frustration at the right person.”
My jaw dropped. Drew’s hand tightened on mine.
Mom’s face turned scarlet. “Excuse me? How dare you speak to me?—”
“I dare because I watched your daughter try to call and text her sister multiple times while my staff and I stood around waiting.” Josh crossed his arms. “Ellie’s been nothing but apologetic. She’s not responsible for this mess.”
“He’s right,” Angie spoke up, her voice stronger than I’d ever heard it. “Ellie’s done everything she could to keep tonight on track.”
“For the past hour,” John added, his tone sharp. “Ellie even offered to cover it earlier but that’s not fair nor her responsibility.”
A few guests murmured agreement.
Celia’s face had gone from flushed to pale. She fumbled for her purse, yanking out her wallet with shaking hands. “Fine.Fine.Here.” She thrust a credit card at Josh.
He took it without comment and walked to the register.
The silence that followed was excruciating. Celia wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes. Kyle looked like he wanted to punch something. Mom stared daggers at me, as if this were somehow still my fault.
When Josh returned with the receipt, Celia snatched it from him and spun toward me, her voice shrill. “I hope you’re happy, Ellie. You’ve ruined yet another night.”
The words hit like a slap, but this time they didn’t stick.
Rage flared white-hot. My vision tunneled. My chest heaved. “Ruined it? By making sure your guests had something to do instead of sitting on their asses waiting for you? I even kept your event from being cancelled. And I didn’t make you look bad, Celia—you did that all on your own by showing up almost an hour late without paying ahead of time.”
Gasps rippled. Camera lights blinked red.
Take that, asshole!Bad Eleanor cheered.
Mom gasped and turned to my father, whom I had barely spoken to at the dance lesson. “George, tell her she needs to watch her tone when speaking to her sister.”
“Now, Ellie. You know you shouldn’t—” Dad began.
My voice shook, but not from fear. From fury. “And no, Dad—don’t you dare tell me to ‘watch my tone.’ I’m not five. And Celia’s been intentionally horrible to me when all I’ve tried to do is help her.”
“Stop filming!” Celia screeched, waving at the crew. “This is private!”
Angie, bless her, tried to step in. “Your sister has been a big help tonight.”
“Shut up, Angie!” Celia snapped. “If I wanted your opinion?—”
At Angie’s hurt gasp, John slammed his drink down. “What the fuck, Celia?”
“Watch your mouth!” Kyle lunged at him, nose to nose. The crew scrambled, cameras still filming from every angle, despite Celia’s demand to stop.
Staff interceded and Josh barked for everyone to put down their axes and take it outside.
My body trembled, rage and humiliation collided, heart drumming in my ears.
This wasn’t just a spat anymore. It was years of being minimized, mocked, and shoved aside.
I sucked in a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and let my words fly. “You want to play games, Celia? Fine. But I’m done being your punching bag. And if you think for one second I’m going to keep covering for your screw-ups, you’re wrong. Keep treating me like this, and I’ll tell Glamma to cancel your party at her house tomorrow. No games. No cameras.Nothing.”
Her shriek rattled the walls. Her eyes, wild. “You wouldn’t!”
I almost laughed at how feral she appeared. With Kyle’s arm holding her back, it looked like she might lunge at me.
“Try me.” My voice was steady, even while my heart galloped.
