Winning my Best Friend's Girl - Piper Rayne Page 0,47
bacon before putting it in the microwave.
“And the sex after…” Samantha says.
Again, Samantha and Tank share a look as though they’ve experienced it together at one time. I’ve never heard any rumors of them sleeping together.
“The best,” Tanks says.
Shit, I really am missing out.
“You too, Romeo?” Stump asks me.
Samantha and Tank’s eyes focus in on me.
I’m embarrassed to admit the truth, but I don’t lie. “I’ve never had sex after.”
“Never?” Samantha asks, disbelieving.
“I’m usually doing this shit with buddies so…” I shrug.
“But you go to bars after, right? You’ve never picked someone up? Or hooked up on a group excursion?”
I shake my head. “Nope.” I’m not really the guy who fucks around with random chicks. There was a time in my life, those first years after high school, when I did, but it got old really quick.
“Man, you’re missing out,” Tank says.
“I will say, it’s best when you’re both on that high.” Samantha raises her hand.
Tank nods. “Definitely. Shit, you know how many times I’ve broken a bed afterward?”
Samantha chuckles and slides out of the chair. “I gotta go get ready. You’re making me horny now, Tank. Thanks for that.”
“I can always help that situation, you know?” he says to her back.
She flips him off.
“Dumbass, she’s with Kingston,” Lou says.
Lou saw Samantha and me at Tipsy that night and he’s asked me a few questions—that I avoided answering—about what’s going on. I don’t want to out Samantha’s history, so I never told him much, but he obviously thinks we’re a thing.
“You fuckers hungry? Hello? I’m the one who bought the food.” Allie walks in wearing her pajama pants, fuzzy socks, and oversized sweatshirt. She looks like a child.
“I made you a plate. It’s in the microwave,” Lou says.
Allie hugs him briefly. “At least one of you Neanderthals has manners.” After pulling the plate out of the microwave, Allie grabs a fork, hops up onto the counter, crossing her legs to face us, and digs in. “What should we have for dinner tonight?”
Stump shakes his head. “You’re so little. Where does all that food go?”
She eyes his plate. He’s added a Pop-Tart someone brought, along with more eggs and bacon than any of us. “I could ask you the same thing.”
“Should I put some aside for Stella?” I ask, realizing she’s the only one in the house who hasn’t eaten yet.
“Nah, she’s not a breakfast person,” Lou says.
I’m not going to lie, it’s as if a jagged piece of glass just lodged itself in my chest. I finish off my meal and place my dish in the sink. “I’m going to get ready. Thanks for breakfast, Lou.”
Tank is quick to follow me. He turns down the hallway to his room off the main living area while I head to the lower level where the other bedrooms are.
The bathroom door opens, and my feet come to an abrupt stop. Stella emerges, steam filling the small hallway. She’s got a shower cap on, and she’s wrapped in a plush white towel.
“Sorry.” I step to the side, but she does too, having no choice but to walk in front of me to reach her room. I wave for her to go. “Please go ahead.”
“Thanks.” She ducks her head and walks in front of me.
I try to not ogle her body, but I can’t deny my eyes stray a few times. Whoops. I walk by once she’s at the door of her room.
I’m at my own room, two down on the right, when she says, “King?”
I turn to face her. “Yeah?”
“Can we be normal?”
“Normal?” I tilt my head.
“You know what I’m talking about. I feel like we’re the buzzkills of this place.”
Her shoulders slouch as though she’s defeated. Ruining her fun was never my intention, but it’s hard to see her with someone else. Like I’m sixteen again, watching her laugh at another guy’s jokes in the hallway, and it fucking sucks.
“Yeah. I know.” I could say so much. Bring up the unresolved feelings I’m starting to realize are still very much alive inside me. Why did she leave that night without finishing our goodbye? Did she not care what happened? I never would’ve left her. Never.
“So, truce then?”
“Stella, I don’t hate you. I’m not mad. There’s nothing to have a truce over.”
“Can we just try to get back to that friendship like you wanted for us?”
God, that sounds like complete torture, but it’s probably the best I’ll get. “Sure. Want to celebrate by hopping on the helicopter with us?”