Page 137 of No Rings Attached
Drew barked out a laugh, hazel eyes crinkling. “Is that right?” Then he kissed me, full and deep, while the crowd went wild behind us.
Kyle’s voice shattered the moment. “This was rigged!”
Silence fell.
His face was red, his hair full of grass.
Celia swiped ineffectively at her dress.
Then Wyatt drawled from somewhere in the crowd. “Funny, I didn’t see the rope dragging you into the grass by itself.”
Kyle whipped around. “Shut up, Wyatt. You don’t know?—”
“What’s next, Kyle?” Wyatt continued, clearly enjoying himself. “Gonna blame the grass for being too slippery? The sun for being in your eyes?”
Laughter rippled through the guests.
Glamma sipped her champagne, serene as a queen. “Darling, some men are simply better at games of skill, some at games of life. And some,” she glanced at Kyle’s dirt-smeared face, “at neither.”
More laughter, Kyle’s jaw clenched. “This is bullshit,” he muttered, but his voice carried.
John snorted from the sidelines. “Rigged? Man, we all saw you give up halfway through.”
One of the bridesmaids, Sarah, shook her head. “Honestly, Kyle, this is embarrassing. For all of us.”
Another bridesmaid whispered, not quite under her breath, “God, Celia could’ve done better.”
The crowd’s energy shifted. What had been an awkward silence became a wave of judgment, all directed at Kyle.
Even some of his groomsmen looked uncomfortable. One of them stepped forward, rubbing the back of his neck. “Dude, just take the L. You’re making it worse.”
Kyle’s face turned a deeper shade of red. “I’m making it worse? I’m not the one?—”
“Kyle, darling,” Glamma interrupted, setting down her champagne flute. “Knowing you cheated on Ellie, I thought you couldn’t sink any lower. But watching you lose gracefully would require grace—something you’ve clearly never possessed.” She paused, her smile sharp. “My grandson learned character from his family. I shudder to think where you learned yours.”
Holy wow!This was the first time ever that the cheating had been mentioned in public. From the shocked looks on some of the guests’ faces—and those in the wedding party—I had a feeling they didn’t know.
Kudos to Glamma for hitting Kyle where he deserved.
In his ego.
Someone called out, “At least now we know why he needed to cheat.”
Kyle’s hands balled into fists. Celia grabbed his arm, whispering frantically, but he shook her off.
“You know what? Fuck this. Fuck all of you.” He started toward the driveway, but Glamma’s voice stopped him cold.
“Leaving so soon?” Her tone was light, almost pleasant. “I was about to toast to sportsmanship. Though I suppose you wouldn’t know much about that, would you?”
Kyle froze mid-step, his back rigid.
Glamma continued, her voice carrying across the lawn. “Celia dear, you traded a woman who would have had your back for a man who can’t even stay on his feet. Some choices really do speak for themselves.”
Gasps and murmurs went through the crowd. Celia’s face went pale, then flushed scarlet.
“How dare you—” Celia started, but her voice cracked.
One of the cameramen muttered to the other, not quite quietly enough, “This is going to get so many views.”
