Page 16 of No Rings Attached
Ellie’s voice was laced with resignation, and I wanted to hurt this Kyle guy. I walked into the room slowly, hoping to get close enough to hear her mother’s side of the conversation.
I wasn’t being nosy. I was being supportive. I had to make sure my employee was okay.
I glanced at Glamma, and she shooed me forward waving her hands.
“We were together for two years before he and Celia?—”
Her mother cut her off. “People can’t help who they fall in love with or when. And Celia and Kyle are perfect for each other. Besides, I thought you said you were seeing someone? Why should this even matter anymore?”
What the hell?My jaw clenched so tight I was surprised I didn’t chip a tooth. Ellie had never mentioned a boyfriend. I fought the urge to ask who the asshole was.
Ellie rubbed at her forehead and sighed.
I hated the dejected curve of her shoulders and wanted to take her phone and end the call, but she probably wouldn’t appreciate Glamma and I witnessing her personal issues.
“I … am.”
“What was his name again?” Her mother’s hoity-toity tone made it sound like she didn’t believe her daughter.
My entire body deflated at the reminder of the conversation I’d had with Ellie on the side of the road last night. If she’d been seeing someone, she wouldn’t have invented me as her fake boyfriend.
Ellie slumped forward, then went stiff as a board.
I took a step toward her, not sure what I was going to do, but needing to help her. Last night aside, she and I had been communicating daily throughout the last three months. She was a good, kind, dependable person. And she had a wicked sense of humor. We’d become sort of penpals since she started. Over time, we’d shared pieces of ourselves within our email communication, calls, and random texts. I liked her as a person, a friend, and an employee.
No way did she deserve whateverthiswas.
Before I could open my mouth, Glamma bumped my hip, grinned, and swept past me with that Glamma-will-fix-it smirk on her face. “Oh, Drew, darling. Is this her? Your sweet dreamy dream girl?” she cooed.
Ellie’s head jerked in our direction, her cheeks a fire engine red, eyes wide knowing we’d caught part of her conversation.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. What was my grandmother up to?
She threw her arms around Ellie. “You must be Ellie! I've been so looking forward to meeting my grandson’s girlfriend. You’re even more beautiful than I imagined. And an incredible asset to our family business. I’mso gladmy favorite grandson finally found his lobster.”
Girlfriend?Lobster?!
The idea wasn’t as shocking as it should be. Just as it hadn’t been last night either, once I realized the stranger was Ellie.
Now, Ellie, on the other hand, was sitting there frozen. “But … I’m … ”
Glamma didn’t hesitate. She cupped her hand over Ellie’s mouth to stop her from contradicting her. “Now shush. You’re the absolute best thing to ever happen to Drew based on how he gushes about you all the time. I’ll not have you minimizing that, sweetie.”
When Glamma pulled her hand away, Ellie’s mouth hung open.
I knew the feeling. Glamma was like a well-intentioned whirlwind. She swept everyone into her orbit and we either went along with her latest crazy scheme or got tossed to the ground and left behind.
“Glamma,” Ellie began and was completely drowned out by her mother.
“Boyfriend? Eleanor Mae, you said you were away forwork.”Her mother’s tone was shrill.
“I … I am. It’s just …” Ellie glanced at me, the frantic,please help me,expression clear on her face.
“Oh, is this your mother?” My grandmother snatched the phone from Ellie, waved at the screen, and held it up to her face. “Hello, darling! I’m Drew’s grandmother, Sofia. I’m so pleased to meet your daughter. You are correct. Sheishere to work. Drew, her boyfriend, is also her boss.” Glamma’s matter-of-fact, joyful tone was in complete contradiction to the sputtering happening on the other end of the phone.
Ellie’s mom’s disapproving expression appeared across the screen. Her blonde hair, so much like Ellie’s, was cut in a severe style that accentuated the lack of wrinkles or lines in her face. While beautiful, the coldness of her beauty was off-putting. “Eleanor! Do you think it’s wise to date your boss?” The scandalous ring of censorship was unbelievable after hearing her condone Ellie’s ex-boyfriend and sister being together.
Glamma turned the phone on me. I waved as anger burned in my gut and didn’t hesitate as I strode over to Ellie, each step more determined than the last. She didn’t look away as I tipped her chin up, and pressed my lips to hers. After a tiny squeak of surprise she melted into me. Her chest pressed into mine, her free hand ran up my arm to clutch at my bicep, and a tiny greedy moan fell from her lips leaving me harder than a redwood.
