And then I saw her—Glamma strutted in like she’d been invited, Coco trotting at her side without a leash. The Frenchie’s rhinestone collar caught the light like a disco ball.
This was going to be interesting.
“Glamma! How lovely you’re here.” Celia gushed, springing to her feet, and reaching out to her. “I’ve wanted to tha?—”
“Sofia,” Glamma cut in.
“Who?” Celia blinked, frozen mid-gesture.
“My name,” Glamma said slowly. “It’s Sofia. Only my family calls me Glamma.”
The confusion on Celia’s face was priceless.
“Oh, but everyone … ” Celia’s lips twisted as she looked at me, then Penny. The only reason she didn’t roll her eyes was likely because the cameras were still pointed at her. “Sure.”
Glamma breezed past her like she hadn’t even spoken, beelining for me. “Ellie, sweetheart! There you are. I brought Coco since I figured you could use some positive energy tonight.”
Warmth rushed through me. Sure, she was meddling—but I loved it.
“Let me get this little sweet girl a treat,” Penny cooed at the dog, reaching for a jar.
The simple wordtreatwas about to set off a chaos like none I’d ever experienced.
Chapter Twenty-One
DREW
Coco, Glamma’s dainty well-behaved companion transformed into a primal, wild beast, yapping and spinning in circles. One cameraman yelped as she darted between his legs, nearly toppling the tripod.
Celia shrieked, leapt off Kyle’s lap, and scrambled onto the nearest empty chair like Coco was a rabid wolf instead of a twelve-pound French bulldog.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Glamma sighed, unbothered. She fished in her massive purse with the focus of a magician about to reveal her next trick and pulled out a baggie. “These are her favorite snacks.”
Coco froze mid-spin, ears twitching at the wordsnack.
“Of course they are,” I muttered, just as the dog launched herself against Glamma’s leg, barking louder every second Glamma didn’t produce the treat.
Penny’s laughter bubbled over. Ellie’s shoulders shook beside me and her hand clamped to her mouth to muffle her chuckle.
Celia stood calmly on the chair with her fake smile in place, her eyes darting to the cameras as if silently pleading with them to cut the footage.
Constance shuddered and ducked behind Kyle, who’d vacated his chair and was holding it in front of him like a lion tamer.
That’s when Coco’s excitement hit critical mass.
She lunged for the edge of the table, her teeth sinking into the tablecloth. Then she pulled. The tray of cake slices shot upward in a perfect arc.
“Coco, no!” I reached for the cloth, but it was already sliding.
Penny let out a horrified squeak. “Not the cake, not the—oh my God!”
Ellie gasped and dove forward, hands outstretched.
Everything happened in slow motion and lightning speed at once. Plates rattled. The cakes on the table slid.
I grabbed for the cake tray at the same time as Ellie. Our hands collided, our fingers tangling together as we both lurched forward.
Coco gave another tug.
