Winning my Best Friend's Girl - Piper Rayne Page 0,24

steps, and Renee joins.

“It’s my shoulder,” Kingston says, looking at me and gripping his right shoulder. “Call Austin. Can someone drive me to the hospital?”

“I can.” Renee raises her hand then falls on her ass.

“I haven’t had anything to drink tonight,” I say.

A relieved expression crosses his face. “Keys are in my pocket.”

I fish them out, and two guys from the baseball team help Kingston to his truck.

An hour later, Kingston’s fate is sealed when Austin walks into the waiting room, where I sit with the rest of his family.

“His shoulder is done. He won’t play next year.”

Savannah meets Austin in the center of the room. They whisper about something as Austin runs his hand through his hair. I catch them glancing in my direction more than once. Embarrassment floods my face, and Juno takes my hand. It doesn’t help erase any of the shame or guilt though. It seems I bring nothing but misery to Kingston’s life.

Ten

Kingston

I’m helping Phoebe fill her basket with rose petals when Stella walks into the church and heads over to the coat check. Once she’s shed her winter jacket, I see that she’s wearing a beige dress that would look plain on anyone but her. It’s form-fitting and showcases her gorgeous curves to perfection. Her hair is in locs and pulled back in an updo, and my eyes fall to her exposed neck, my mouth salivating like a dog. She’s stunning.

“Uncle Kingston!” Phoebe pats my cheek and points at the basket. “The petals.”

Stella laughs and I strip my eyes off of her to the spilled petals on the floor.

“Do you want some help?” Stella crouches and picks up some of the petals, placing them in the basket for Phoebe.

“You changed your hair,” I say. “I like it.”

She doesn’t respond, just gives me a small smile.

“You’re pretty,” Phoebe says.

Stella’s smile grows and I wish I had the same effect on her as my niece. Unfortunately, I’m realizing I make Stella more anxious than excited.

“Thank you. I love your dress.” Stella touches the big puffy layers of her flower girl dress.

“I’m Cinderella.” Phoebe twirls.

“Yes, you are.”

Stella stands as Phoebe runs to join Calista and Dion with Rome and Harley talking outside on the church steps.

Juno and Colton kept the wedding in Lake Starlight, but no one else is actually part of the ceremony, which I’m thankful for. One less tuxedo to wear. When you have eight siblings, you end up wearing a lot of them. So it’s just the flower girls, ring bearer, and them. Perfect really.

Cleo and Denver walk into the church, Cleo one step ahead of Denver.

“I’m not talking to you.” Cleo points at me and walks past me into the church, snatching a program off the table.

“She’ll be fine.” Denver winks, catches up, puts his arm over his soon-to-be wife’s, and whispers something, midway down the aisle.

“You made a lot of enemies at that dinner,” Stella says.

“Go figure. That’s why I’m usually MIA in this family.” I put out my arm. “Can I escort you and your mom down the aisle?”

She slides her arm through mine. “My mom isn’t coming. It’s just me.”

The words ‘just’ and ‘Stella’ should never be used side by side.

“Then you get to sit with the family and me.”

She stops walking. “No. I can’t do that. Just put me in the back.”

I reach my hand across my body and cover hers. “You know no one puts Baby in the corner. The same goes for you. You’re not meant to be in the back, Stella.”

A bronze glow fills her cheeks and I’m transported for a moment to a younger version of the woman in front of me. The one I fell for, fast and dangerously. I must’ve been delusional when I decided I could just be her friend.

“I see your pickup lines have improved,” she says. “I guess I see where Romeo fits.”

I wince. I hate the nickname but telling any one of the guys I hate it would just spur them to use it more often than they already do. “I think it’s time I tell you the story behind that nickname.”

“It’s okay, Kingston. I…”

I follow her gaze to the guests. Guests who are staring unapologetically at us.

“I hate this,” she whispers.

I think because I stayed in Lake Starlight, people have stopped thinking only of what happened to me all those years ago. The pitying stares because of my shoulder or because I lost the girl have disappeared over the years. I’m no longer seen solely as the lovesick,