There Goes My Heart (The Sullivans #20) - Bella Andre Page 0,18
the macaroni to my cheese.”
Rory was only just barely keeping from laughing. Due to the size of his extended family, he’d been to plenty of engagement parties and weddings, but he’d never heard anything so cheesy.
Unfortunately, Zara didn’t seem to be finding the situation anywhere near as humorous. It wasn’t that she looked like she was about to storm the mini-stage the couple was standing on, or throw one of the small jade plants dotting the tables at them. She had even managed a small smile. But he knew what her real smile looked like—and this one didn’t come into her eyes.
He pulled her closer as Brittany continued to gush over Cameron.
“Our relationship has been wonderful from the start,” her stepsister was saying, “and I can’t wait for it to become even more wonderful as husband and wife.”
When the engaged couple kissed, the cheers came again. Zara, to her credit, put down her drink to clap, even after Brittany’s blatant misrepresentation of how wonderful, and blameless, her “start” with Cameron had been.
Rory wasn’t nearly as big of a person, however. At the moment, he was silently hoping lightning would strike down Cameron before he could open his mouth and make things worse. Which he surely would, because he was a tool.
No luck on the indoor storm, unfortunately. Because the jerk had already started flapping his lips.
“Brittany, I never dreamed a woman like you would so much as look at me—let alone agree to be my wife.”
Cameron was sweating beneath the lights, his cheeks sporting red blotches. Objectively, Rory could understand why some people might find the guy attractive. But all Rory could see was a slimy weasel.
“You’re my angel,” Cameron continued, “my raison d’être, my endless love.”
“It’s like listening to a poet,” Brittany responded in a stage whisper that was clearly meant for everyone to hear.
As they leaned in to kiss again, Rory pulled Zara toward the bar. “I need a drink. Hopefully, the bartender will make it strong enough to wash their speeches out of my brain.”
Despite the concerns that he had been grappling with on the dance floor—namely, wanting Zara when they were just supposed to be a pretend couple—he was more glad than ever that he’d come tonight.
The thought of her alone in this viper’s den made his stomach twist.
“Give us the strongest drinks you’ve got,” he said to the bartender.
“Two Long Island Iced Teas coming up, sir.”
Rory certainly didn’t advocate getting drunk every time Zara’s stepsister drove her to the edge of sanity. Given what he’d seen of Brittany so far, that was a one-way ticket to disaster. Especially since it was clear that, despite everything, Zara loved her. But at this exact moment, if a mix of gin, vodka, tequila, and rum would take the edge off the nonsense they’d just heard, then Rory was all for doing whatever it took to help Zara forget.
The bartender handed them their drinks, and Rory directed them toward a private corner of the room. “Bottoms up.” He was about to clink his glass against Zara’s when she put it down on a nearby table.
“I don’t want to get drunk again.”
He put his glass down too. “Tell me what you want, and I swear I’ll do whatever I can to make it happen for you.”
“For one night,” she said in an impassioned voice, “I want to go home with the grand prize instead of the ribbon for second place. I know I have my career, and I love that.” She shot a glance at her stepsister and ex, who were standing with their arms around each other as they accepted everyone’s congratulations. “But I don’t have anyone to hold my hand and say how much he adores me.” She turned her gaze back to him. “I want that, Rory. I want to know how it feels to be wanted. Truly wanted for me and not just as a stepping stone to her. Even if I don’t deserve to be given what I want, that’s how I feel right now.”
“Of course you deserve it.” Regardless of how many times they’d been at each other’s throats during the past year, he couldn’t understand how Zara could think she was at all undeserving of happiness. He cupped her cheek with his hand. “Any guy who ever used you as a stepping stone was an idiot.” He nodded toward her ex. “Especially him.”
That almost got a smile out of her. But then she shook her head. “You know what? Forget everything I just