Page 59 of No Rings Attached
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.Tryto 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 Ineverspoke 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.
