Today I felt stronger than I had in a long time.
I turned, slid my hand into Drew’s, and didn’t look back.
Fuck my family.
Walking away, I realized my fury wasn’t just anger anymore.
It was clarity.
I couldn’t stop Celia from being who she was, nor my parents for choosing her. But Icouldstop letting them define me.
Chapter Thirty-Two
ELLIE
Glamma’s lawn looked like the setting of a vintage summer postcard. The big stone mansion perched above the lake glowed in the late-afternoon light looking more like a castle than the everyday home it was. Beyond it stretched wide areas of grass lined with rose gardens and winding hedges, now dotted with lawn games of every size. Croquet wickets arched around the flowerbeds, giant Jenga towers teetered on picnic tables, cornhole boards gleamed with fresh paint, and a tug-of-war rope coiled near the dock like it was waiting for a battle.
Glamma had, of course, arranged for cocktails, iced tea, and silver trays of hors d’oeuvres to be set out beneath striped awnings.
This was not a casual backyard hangout.
I leaned closer to Drew as we walked down the back stone steps. “This is incredible.”
“It’s really not. She just has a storage shed full of this stuff and loved the chance to drag it all out,” Drew murmured.
I swatted at his arm, grinning. “Don’t ruin this for me. I’ve never been to an event this swanky before.”
“We should’ve just told your sister she wasn’t invited and had everyone else,” he said dryly.
Last night, after I stormed out of Axe-hole, Celia texted and called repeatedly until I picked up. Her voice sugary-sweet, dripping with apologies and begging me to forgive her. I had no doubt the cameras were rolling on her end—she probably practiced her puffy-eyed close-up in the mirror first.
So I told her I forgave her. I said we’d let her event at Glamma’s go on as planned.
The truth was, it wasn’t for Celia’s sake. It was for Glamma, who had already put more effort into this party than my sister deserved. Canceling on her last-minute would’ve felt like I was punishing the wrong person.
I shrugged, forcing a lightness I didn’t feel. “Guess I’m a sucker for sweet old ladies.”
Celia arrived at that moment with Kyle swaggering at her side, already angling toward the cameras, like they were hosting their own royal coronation.
“Welcome darlings!” Glamma’s voice rang out across the lawn. She swept down the steps in a wide-brimmed sunhat, sparkling sunglasses, and a caftan that looked like a disco ball had a baby with a peacock. Coco trotted at her heels, wearing a rhinestone collar.
“It’s such anhonorto be here,” Celia gushed, spinning in her sundress. “The Kingsley home is stunning. I’m so lucky.”
I nearly choked on the lemonade I just picked up from a passing server. Lucky?Please.
“Luck had nothing to do with it,” Drew murmured, low enough for just me to hear. His thumb stroked over the back of my hand.
My heart went soft and melty, like ice cream left sitting out in the bright sun.
“Honor?” Glamma repeated with a serene smile, tilting her glass of champagne. “My darling, the honor is usually reserved for people who show up on time—not thirty minutes late—to their own events.”
The crowd tittered.
Kyle’s face flamed red.
Celia laughed a little too brightly, and the cameras panned toward me as though waiting for me to crack. I lifted my chin and held tighter to Drew’s hand, letting the warmth of his skin remind me I didn’t need to rise to the bait.
“Shall we begin?” Glamma clapped her jeweled hands together. “Cornhole first!”
