Winning my Best Friend's Girl - Piper Rayne Page 0,63

and kisses my temple. “That’s my girl. I know it’s hard, but your dad once took a chance on a head-in-the-clouds art student who messed up his perfectly precise existence.”

I laugh. “And I bet he never had any regrets.” I squeeze her hand and walk out of the house, determined to get my man.

Allie is already in a booth with a huge smile on her face, talking to Karen, who works at the diner. I walk in and Allie waves and points, explaining who I am to Karen.

Karen smiles and opens her arms. “Stella. How are you?”

I nod. “I’m good. Love the pin.”

She looks down at the circle photo of her grandson Easton, Holly and Austin’s son. “I want to retire and watch him, but I don’t want to be his caregiver because then I can’t spoil him.” She laughs. “You know Holly, everything has to be done a certain way.” She pulls out her pad. “Your friend Allie wants a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake. What are you up for?”

“And a cookie,” Allie says, raising her finger.

“I’ll just have fries and a Coke.”

“Great. I’ll be right back.”

Karen leaves, and Allie looks out the window toward the gazebo. “It’s so cute. I just love it here.”

She’s so smiley and happy. I’m not sure I ever looked at Lake Starlight like that, but then again, I arrived a year after my dad died. And once I left after college, I had a love-hate relationship with the town because Kingston was here.

“Can we talk?” I ask.

“Of course.” She turns back to me, but then her eyes widen, and she leans closer to me over the table. “Oh my God. Did you call her? She’s here.”

I glance over my shoulder, and sure enough, Grandma Dori is talking to Karen at the end of the counter. Both of them glance my way. I slide down into my booth. I love Grandma Dori, and I was going to introduce Allie, but I want it to be after I fix things with Kingston.

“Stella!”

“She just called you by name.” Allie’s mouth hangs open.

“Yes, she knows my name. I broke her grandson’s heart.” I slide farther down.

Grandma Dori steps up to the edge of our table. “Stella, why are you slouching? You know that’s terrible for your posture.”

I sit up straight. “Hi, Dori,” I say in my sweet voice. The one I use when I introduce myself to patients. Not fake, but sweeter than I use with anyone in my personal life.

“I just left Sedona. She told me you were there earlier. Thanks for looking out for her.”

Allie rests her chin in her palm, staring up at Grandma Dori. Dori catches her look and scrunches her gray eyebrows at me, wanting to know who this girl is.

“Oh, Dori, this is my friend, Allie.”

Dori nods. “Nice to meet you.”

“You’re the cutest thing. Can I shrink you down and put you in my purse?” Allie says, and Dori’s gaze whips to me again as I purse my lips. “Was that too much? I’m sorry. I’m just so excited to meet you.”

“Allie likes to read Buzz Wheel,” I explain.

Dori nods slowly and looks over to Allie with a calculating look. “That thing can’t be trusted.” She slides in next to me. “Now, Sedona says things were tense with you and Kingston and that the two of you went on a walk and neither of you came back.” She pats my hand.

“Um…”

“Oh, and Stella just asked me to help her with something.” Allie leans forward as if she’s Grandma Dori’s sidekick.

Remind me to “thank” Allie later. There’s no point in trying to get out of explaining what’s happening with Kingston now. Dori does not take no for an answer.

“Kingston wants to remove me from his life, even as a friend. He’s sick of the back and forth, all the games,” I say.

“Games?” Dori screeches.

“He punched Lou last weekend,” Allie says.

I slide my finger across my throat.

“He what?” Dori asks.

Allie ignores me—because apparently there isn’t a lot of reasoning when it comes to her infatuation with Grandma Dori. She spills everything that happened last weekend, including the part about Samantha and Tank having sex nonstop.

Dori turns to me as though she needs me to verbally vouch for Allie’s story. I bite my lip and nod.

“And you. Is this what you want?” Dori asks.

I shake my head, ignoring Allie’s wide eyes once more. I haven’t had the chance to tell her anything yet.

“Well then, tough nuts. Kingston isn’t just going to throw in