Page 148 of No Rings Attached
“Eleanor, you don’t have a monopoly over wedding details,” Mom snapped.
My horrified gaze swung to my mother.She’s defending this?
“There are a million ideas out there. Different combinations, different colors, styles.” I turned back to Celia, heat rising in my chest. “We don’t even have the same taste!”
She shrugged. “Yeah, but when I showed my followers, they went nuts over it.”
And there it was. Thewhy.
It wasn’t to directly hurt me—though that was certainly a bonus for her. It was that using my ideas benefited her content, and that was far more important than being a decent sister.
She took my dreams and monetized them.
I needed to get away from here before I did something I’d regret on camera.
I shoved my chair back and stood abruptly.
Drew rose beside me.
“Please stay,” I said to him, “I need a minute by myself.” My voice cracked on the last word.
He didn’t follow me as I skirted around the table, whispers trailing in my wake. Glamma might have shouted something, but pandemonium had erupted, and I didn’t want any part of it.
The downstairs hall bathroom was the closest refuge. I closed the door softly and locked it, when all I wanted to do was to slam it hard enough to rattle the frame. But Martha’s door didn’t deserve my rage.
Dark black wainscotting covered the bottom half of the walls and matched my mood perfectly. The upper walls were a pretty floral scene. I turned toward the round gold mirror hanging over the lone sink and stared at my reflection.
I was pale, stunned, shaking slightly. But beneath the shock, something else glimmered—a light radiating through the cracks. Aknowingsettled in my heart.
I’m ready to finally break free.
Words poured out of my mouth. I didn’t know if I was creating a mantra or commanding myself to listen, to believe. “I am enough. I am unstoppable. I can do anything. I have everything I need within my beautiful, strong heart. I won’t let them break me. I am powerful. I am brave.” I spoke faster and faster, adding more phrases as they came to me, letting them build until a sense of calm washed over me like a wave.
I was officially done with the people I shared blood with.
Well, except for Auntie Betty. She was cool.
With a renewed faith in myself and a steadfast refusal to take any more of their shit, I opened the bathroom door.
Immediately, my sister’s voice came from the nearby parlor. It was low and seductive and made me want to gag.
There was no way I’m standing around while she and Kyle had a moment.
Blech.
I took a step and froze.
Was that Drew’s voice?
I quietly moved to stand by the open doorway, my heart racing.
“Come on, Drew. You can’t tell me you don’t feel it too,” Celia purred.
What?
“You’re delusional.” His annoyed tone should have delighted me, but ice was forming in my veins.
“We don’t need to deny our attraction to each other. Besides, I know your relationship with Ellie is fake. My camera guy overheard you at Ruby Night.”
