Winning my Best Friend's Girl - Piper Rayne Page 0,5
my business. Nothing on her Instagram feed alluded to her being back in Alaska though.
Then what Lou said earlier clicks. “Fuck!”
“What?” Savannah puts her hand on my head like a mother. “Are you okay? Do I—”
“How popular of a name is Stella?”
“Last year it was in the top fifty. When we were looking for Brinley’s name I remember seeing it, so it’s not terribly uncommon.” Savannah throws out facts only she could remember months after having her daughter.
“How about Stella’s in Anchorage who frequent Tipsy Turvy? The bar most of the hospital staff, firefighters, and police officers go to?”
Juno steps away from the bed, pulling out her phone. “I should go too, let someone else come in.” Juno heads to the curtain just as Austin walks past.
He thumbs toward the door. “I swear I just saw—”
“Yep, it’s her,” Savannah says.
“She’s a doctor,” Grandma Dori says with pride.
Austin nods at Grandma Dori as if that isn’t important right now.
“Juno,” I say, stopping her before she can escape. “Last night you held a blind speed dating thing at Tipsy Turvy, right?”
Her mouth moves in a million different directions, as do her eyes, which never land on me. “I might have.”
Juno is a horrible liar, but she’s better than I thought because she’s not nearly surprised enough at seeing Stella. How long has she known she’s back? How long has she been keeping it from me?
“I’m not sure I understand. Why are we talking about the blind date thing? What does that have to do with Stella?” Grandma Dori asks.
My gaze meets Juno’s and she slowly nods, a tear slipping from her eye. “I wanted to tell you.” She steps toward the bed. “But she asked me not to and…”
I close my eyes, trying to control my anger over the fact that she kept Stella’s return from me for who knows how long. “Did she talk to someone after the event last night?”
Lou’s compliments about the woman he met last night all fit Stella. She is beautiful. She’s wicked smart, and she is a game-changer. The one you’d change your life for.
Juno nods. “I’m sorry, King.”
“Can I have a moment?” I ask everyone.
Juno doesn’t waste a minute, rushing from the room.
“Yes, you probably need your rest. You all go, and I’ll stay with him,” Grandma Dori says, grabbing my hand.
Before they can leave, the curtain draws open and Stella stands there. Her dark hair is in smooth and pulled back, and her face only has a light layer of makeup on—some red lipstick and maybe a little mascara from what I can tell. Her deep umber skin still radiates a glow of beauty like it did the day she first walked into my fourth grade class. The white coat with her name embroidered in blue thread looks perfect on her. I always knew she’d be successful, achieve her dreams. She’s always been out of my league, but she’s way out of my league now.
“Sorry. But…” She sanitizes her hands again and sits at the computer. After scanning her ID card, she types away. “What did they bring you in for? Are you burned?”
“They think he has a concussion. The last doctor said something about an MRI,” Grandma Dori says.
She purses her lips and reads the notes on the screen. “Probably not necessary. They don’t often show anything unless it’s severe which given your state is unlikely, but let’s do one to be safe.”
“Can we please not do this?” I say in a strangled whisper.
Stella turns away from the computer, swiveling in her chair to face me, her dark eyes holding a tinge of sadness and a lot of apprehension.
“Everyone give me a moment with Stella,” I say.
Savannah and Austin have some silent conversation as if they’re my parents. Which they kind of are in a weird sort of way.
“Come on, Grandma, Brinley was just about to say your name the other day. Maybe if she sees you, today will be the day,” Savannah says.
Grandma Dori’s eyes light up and I mouth a thank you to Savannah as she leaves the room. Her great-grandkids are about the only thing that could get Grandma Dori to leave us alone. Once the room is clear, I attempt to sit up straighter.
“You can’t do that. You have to relax,” Stella says, standing from her chair but stopping before coming all the way over to the bed.
“Can we not be doctor and patient right now?”
Her tongue slides out along her bottom lip. The same move that pulled me