Winning my Best Friend's Girl - Piper Rayne Page 0,20
is due soon,” Rome says with a proud grin.
Harley kisses her husband on the cheek. “Not too soon.”
Harley and Sedona talk about swollen ankles and not fitting into booths anymore while Austin glares at me across the table. He nods toward the door. A minute later, he says he forgot something in his truck and leaves the restaurant.
Since he left me no opening to follow without being obvious, I just announce to everyone that Austin wants to lecture me, stand, grab my coat, and head out the door.
He’s leaning on the side of the building when I come out. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Stella needed a friend today and I figured our family has always loved her.”
Austin nods. “Are you two a couple?”
“No. She’s dating Lou.”
“Really? And you’re okay with that?” He shakes his head.
“I told you I was pushing her out of my life.” I do my best to have my poker face on, but I don’t know if I succeed.
“Doesn’t look like it.” He nods toward the restaurant. “We can’t repeat the past.”
“Not gonna happen. I’m cool. Promise.”
Austin nods. “And you’ll talk to me should things change?”
“I’ve got this handled.” I clamp him on the shoulder and squeeze.
The thing about having Austin as an older-brother-turned-guardian is he isn’t as strict as a parent. He trusts me to a point, but the last thing I need is for him to have to bail me out again.
We walk back in, and I’m happy to find Stella enthralled in a conversation with Holly.
“Hey, Denver, remind me to talk to you about the Alaska Adventure Race Expedition,” I say.
Denver peeks up from eating his pasta. “Why?”
“That’s super dangerous,” Cleo says, looking at Denver. “Last year, that one guy died.”
“Again I ask why?” Denver says.
“Because I have an in and figured I need you if I want to make it out alive.” I chuckle.
“It’s a ridiculous week-long race where you travel through the Alaskan wilderness—ice mountains, raging rapids, you name it. There’re pit stops, but you only have access to the things you pack,” Cleo says.
Cleo’s clearly not a fan, so my only hope is that she doesn’t have Denver by the balls and he’ll still agree to join me. Surely, she doesn’t have an impact on his decision.
“I’ll have to look into it.” Denver piles another heaping spoonful into his mouth.
“Absolutely not. You’re not doing it.” Cleo’s voice is louder than I’ve ever heard it.
Denver looks thrown back. “Babe, I’m an expert,” he says with a wink.
“I’m in.” Griffin raises his hand.
I point and nod. He’s done more than enough survivalist excursions to be an asset.
Phoenix takes his arm and pulls it down to his side. “No, you’re not.”
Cleo and Denver argue next to me, and Griffin and Phoenix argue across the table.
“Why do you still do all this crazy crap?” Stella softly asks next to me.
When Sedona turns her head, I know she heard, but she tries to act as though she’s having a conversation with Maverick about some new video game.
“What do you mean?” I ask Stella.
“So you still don’t care whether you live or die?” Stella asks.
It’s not her words as much as the disgusted look on her face that takes me aback.
She doesn’t speak to me again for most of dinner, and when the night ends, she’s off with a quick goodbye and not even a backward glance.
Nine
Stella
“Mom?” I knock on her art room door.
“Come in.”
Luther Vandross plays behind the door, which means she’s in the zone. I have a feeling I’m going solo to Juno and Colton’s wedding. I love my mom, but she has a tendency to get wrapped up in her work.
As I open the door and step into the room, I find her in her pajamas with her apron on. I guess I have my answer.
“Am I going to the wedding by myself?” I ask.
She picks up the remote for the stereo I bought her. The one she fought me hard on, saying she needed to listen to vinyl if she wants to feel the music. But after she started using the stereo, she learned how much better her flow is when she’s not interrupted by having to change out records constantly.
I peek around her canvas and stop dead in my tracks. I’m always struck by my mom’s talent with a paintbrush, no matter how many times I see her work, but this is not what I want to see right before I go to a wedding.