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“Unbelievable.” She throws her hair back and I get a good look at her face. My heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my ears.
“Hello, Cindy.”
“What the fuck? You’re who’s with Ryder?” Her voice becomes louder and tears form in her eyes.
“Take it easy, Cindy. You and Ryder are just friends.” Doug’s voice is almost gentle, as if he’s trying to talk to someone without waking a sleeping baby.
“Shut up,” she shrieks, then points a finger at me. The sun glints off her fluorescent-pink nails.
I inch closer to Antoinette.
“Cindy, do not make a scene. This is not the time or the place.” Eve steps up and presses Cindy’s finger down. “Doug is right. You are not with Ryder—”
“Neither is she.” She looks at Eve, then takes a step toward me.
Dolly tries to heave herself to her feet, but Doug holds up his hand and blocks her way.
“Go drink some water,” Doug says to Cindy.
“I was invited, Doug.” Her eyes narrow. “Charlie is my best friend. This cunt needs to get away from us.”
Between the loud whispering and Doug shaking his head, I have no choice but to glance around for Ryder.
“Who you looking for? Ryder? Can’t fight your own battles? I know bitches like you. I grew up with them, and let me give you some advice…”
A helicopter flies overhead, the sound so close, I wonder whether I can flag its occupants down to save me. Because something is most definitely wrong with Cindy.
“Look.” I hold up my hand. “I’m not here to make anyone uncomfortable. All I wanted was to say congratu—”
“Good. Then get the fuck out of here. Whores belong on the lawn,” she sneers.
“You need to let him go. He doesn’t love you. I’m sorry, but he doesn’t.” I take a sip of this amazing drink and wish that Gia were here. I’m literally standing up for myself.
“What did you say?” she screeches.
Dolly groans and David steps in all of a sudden, briefly looking up at the helicopter, which seems to have returned. His silver eyes focus on me.
“Thank you, Julianna,” he says.
Cindy waves a hand in his face and looks at me. “You dumb bitch. Do you really think Ryder loves you?” She throws her head back to laugh. “He’s insane. He kills people he can’t lo—”
“That’s enough, Cindy.” Ryder’s voice makes me almost burst into tears and jump into his arms.
Cindy turns to him. “Why do you hate me? All I did was love you.” She stares at him, her eyes filled with desperation and something else… manipulation? Whatever it is, all thoughts of pity stop before they even got started, because Cindy knows how to fight dirty. It’s probably how she’s been able to stick around, when she should have been kicked to the curb.
She’s angry and volatile, and I hate the way Ryder’s eyes change when he looks at her. He sees her as broken… and he likes broken. It takes all the focus away from himself.
What did he call her? His broken doll?
“Cindy.” He sighs. “I don’t hate you, but I won’t allow this.”
It’s like a knife has been inserted into my heart. I hate her. Cindy knows exactly what she’s doing.
“Ryder…” Tears spill down her cheeks as people whisper behind us. Their faces seem to swirl around me as my stomach lurches. I might be sick.
The way she responds to his voice… I lift my cup to drink from it, but it’s empty. Doug must realize it because he hands me one of his.
“Thank you,” I say automatically, trying to bury my face in the red plastic cup. Anything but watching Ryder with her. It’s as if I’m witnessing an accident that you can’t look away from, and you can’t ever get it out of your head.
“I told you earlier.” His voice is calm, almost gentle. He has a past with her, clearly a relationship of some sort.
She nods but continues to cry.
Clever bitch.
“David, this is awful. Do something.” Charlie stands and looks at him, then throws me a glare, rushing to hug Cindy who clings to her, sobbing that no matter what, she doesn’t deserve to be humiliated like this.
And I almost start laughing. Humiliated? I’m the one who’s being played. Cindy may be a lot of things, but dumb is not one of them, although I have zero respect for her. She’s gotten attention by playing the damsel in distress.
I’ve never had respect for this type of woman. Maybe because my mom was one of them. Yet my mom turned out to surprise us all, mostly my dad. I learned a long time ago never to underestimate anyone, especially someone who’s desperate enough to hang on when she’s not wanted.
And I’m such an idiot. I played right into her hands, being nice and gracious. Allowing her to manipulate Ryder for even a minute should never have been allowed.
