leads me down the stairs. When we reach the bottom, I jump on his back so he can carry me into the kitchen, but he freezes in the archway and his arms loosen from my legs, making me slide down his back.
“Dori? Ethel?” he asks.
I peek around his body.
“Good morning, lovebirds.” Dori’s putting donuts on a plate while Ethel is pouring glasses of juice.
“How did you get in my house?” Colton asks.
Dori rounds the counter, licking powdered sugar off her fingers. “I have the keys to all my kids’ houses.”
“But I’m not your kid.” Colton’s face is stark white, and I laugh, passing him for a donut.
“You’ve always been my kid. Although I am a little upset that I was squeezed out of getting the two of you together. Which brings me to the point of my visit this morning.”
I bite into a chocolate-frosted sprinkle donut and smile at Colton, who I think just realized what it means to be in a relationship with a Bailey. Grandma Dori doesn’t know the meaning of the word space.
Twenty-Three
Colton
How the hell did Dori get a key to my house?
The question runs over and over in my head as Juno sits at the table, working on her second donut. I prepare coffee because Dori and Ethel only drink decaf, which they brought for themselves.
“Juno, you cannot be a slob.” Dori picks up Juno’s dress that I took off her body last night and lays it nicely over the back of my couch.
“I didn’t leave it there, Colton did,” she says, which shocks me since upstairs, she was so concerned that the town she grew up in would see her as evil for breaking up my wedding.
Dori swats her granddaughter’s arm. “Stop it, Juno. I don’t want to hear those things.”
“Then why are you here this early in the morning? And please tell me you haven’t been here long?” Juno glances at me because about a half an hour ago, she was screaming my name.
“Yes, we did just get here, which I guess we’re thankful for.”
Ethel’s expression says maybe she would’ve liked to overhear us having sex. I shiver at the thought of that.
“And I’m here because I have to skip over you two now,” Dori adds. “You’re together, so I need to move on to Kingston. Word is that Stella Harrison was at your blind speed dating event.”
Juno’s head whips in my direction, but I shake my head. How on Earth would she get word of Stella? Did Dori spot her at the wedding? Everyone in Lake Starlight knows that Stella returning is the last thing Kingston needs. When it comes to her, he just doesn’t think.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Juno says, and I see her fingers cross under the table.
“Juno Bailey!” Dori says.
Ethel turns around and smiles at me, sneaking another donut from the tray. Her eyes dip to my crotch and I smile politely. How long were they here?
“Dori, I’d like the key back,” I say, interrupting her conversation.
Dori holds up her hand at me. “Just relax. I only come in when I have to. It’s me, not some stalker.”
I shake my head, thankful my coffee beeps that it’s done. I pour myself a cup, holding up one to ask Juno if she wants one. She smiles and nods, so I pour her a cup.
“I don’t really think we should involve ourselves in Kingston and Stella’s business,” Juno says, apparently admitting defeat.
“You’re a matchmaker. You know as well as I do that they belong together,” Dori says.
“Do they really?” Juno asks. “There’s a lot of hurt there.”
“There’s a lot of hurt here.” Dori signals between Juno and me. “But you two were able to work it out and screw like rabbits.”
I stare blankly at Juno because what the hell am I supposed to say to that?
“Tell me you don’t have a nanny cam in my house, Dori.” I look into my family room, finding a vase I don’t remember ever buying.
“Stop being silly,” Dori says, again waving me off like a toddler who won’t stop asking annoying questions.
But my parents don’t even have a key to my house. The only person who does is…
“Juno, do you still have my key?” I ask.
“Colton Stone.” Dori turns to me. “Forget the key thing. I don’t have cameras on you. You’re not that interesting of a person.”
My mouth opens.
Juno laughs.
Ethel pats my arm, giving me a look that says she finds me interesting.
“Do you have her number?” Dori asks Juno.
Juno’s gaze scatters