by Piper Rayne
She takes Palmer from my arms and sits cross-legged on the couch rocking the baby. I don’t say so, but watching her with Palmer these past two weeks has slayed me. The fact that Stella’s given up all her freedom to help with Palmer has only made me love her more. And watching the way Stella makes faces at her, always pretends to be sad when she’s sad, or happy when she’s happy… for the first time in ever, I’ve given thought to what kind of father I’ll be. I haven’t figured it out yet, but I know one thing for sure—I want Stella to be the mother of my children.
Unfortunately, I also registered the lack of enthusiasm on her face when I said I wouldn’t transfer to Lake Starlight. It’s the first blip of dissatisfaction I’ve seen from her in the past two weeks. Then again, we haven’t talked about me doing anything dangerous in that time. The Alaska Expedition Race isn’t happening because Samantha and Tank got their own group and I wasn’t doing it without Denver. But in two weeks, I’m doing the speed riding excursion with Tim and Tank. Samantha is a little salty she can’t join in, but she said she’ll train for next year. It will be the first time since we’ve been together that I’m doing something Stella deems too risky, and I can’t deny I’m worried everything we’ve built is gonna go straight to hell.
Sedona comes out of her bedroom. “You guys. You can’t keep taking care of her. I have to do this myself.” She sits in a chair, yawning and pulling her knees to her chest.
“Who says that?” Stella asks. “Who says you have to do this all yourself? Everyone says it takes a village to raise a baby. We’re your village right now, so just sleep.” I raise my eyebrows at Stella, so she says, “What?”
“There’s that bossy side of you I love so much.”
“Ew… is that foreplay, King? Gross. I’m never having sex again.” Sedona lays her head on the back cushion.
I grab the remote from Stella and flick through the channels, crossing over a different sports channel. There’s Jamison’s face front and center once again. The report says that he’s been in an accident in his hometown in Scotland. I look at Sedona and see that she’s sitting up straighter in her chair.
“She has his eyes,” Sedona says, not even paying attention to the report that says he was intoxicated while driving. “And his nose.” She looks at us. “Do you know how hard it is to look at her and see him? Why couldn’t she have gotten all the Bailey genes?”
Sedona breaks down and Stella hands me Palmer, making room for herself on the chair to hold Sedona. “Her mouth is all you. Plus she’s going to change so much as she grows. You’ll see more you than him.”
I have no idea if Stella is telling the truth or not, but it appeases Sedona because she stands, wiping the tears from her face, and walks over to take Palmer from me.
“You two go out to dinner or something. You weren’t the idiots who didn’t use protection and got pregnant.” She shuts her bedroom door without another word.
I hate seeing her like this. Sedona has always been a person who looks at the positive side of things and lately she’s seemed really down.
Stella crawls into my lap. “I hate that she’s so upset. This should be a happy time for her.”
I cock an eyebrow. “People say that the first two weeks of having a baby is a happy time? Really?”
She laughs. “I guess not, but he should be here to help her.”
I nod. He better watch out if he ever shows his ass in this town again. “Let’s go to dinner tonight. I’ll get us into Terra and Mare.”
“You mean a real date where we shower, and dress and you get lucky after instead of the reverse order?” She chuckles.
“I don’t want my ego to seem too big here, but I don’t think you’ve had any complaints that we’ve been doing it backward?”
Her head falls to my shoulder. “Sadly, you are correct.”
“Come on. I’ll call Rome.”
She gets off my lap and I pick her up, carrying her into my room. When I drop her on the bed, she lies there, my T-shirt inching up, showing off her silk panties.
I climb up the mattress, my knuckles sliding along the outside of her panties. “Why, Dr. Harrison, you’re soaked.”
“You want to role play?” she asks.
I laugh while my hands dive under the waistband of her panties and pull the flimsy fabric off her. My stomach falls to the mattress and I let her legs rest on my shoulders.
“I just want to taste you.” I stare up at her through the opening of her legs, sliding my tongue along her slit.
“Well by all means, if you want an appetizer before dinner.”
“And I’ll have dessert later.”
I bury my head into her core. A few minutes later, she’s quietly coming with her fists clenching the comforter, her heels digging into the small of my back. I’d say it’s a good start to the night.
Twenty-Nine
Stella
Kingston and I walk out of Terra and Mare after dinner, the cold wind hitting us square in the face.
I put on my gloves and hat. “It’s so cold.”
He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “I’ll get you home and warm you up.”
The problem is Sedona is at home. I love the girl and I love that we can help her with Palmer, but I wouldn’t mind just one night with Kingston where we can mess around anywhere we want, and we don’t have to worry about being discreet. Not to mention every time I have an orgasm, I’m riddled with guilt because there’s an exhausted single mom in the next room.
“The two glasses of wine warmed me up. Let’s go for a walk,” I say.
His hand slides into mine and he leads me down the sidewalk. We pass the bakery and the children’s store. I find myself window shopping for Palmer. Then we pass Smokin’ Guns with no sign of Liam inside, but rather a burly guy tattooing some girl who seems to have a group of friends waiting for her in the waiting room.
“Lucky’s!” I say, tugging him forward. “I’ve never been inside. I wasn’t old enough and there hasn’t been a reason since I’ve been back. Let’s go.”
“To a bar?” Kingston asks. “Really?”
“One drink.” I hold up my finger to him. “Come on.”
“My family has already been a bunch of cock-blockers for us. Why not go into the town bar? We’ll probably find Grandma Dori and Ethel to spend our night out with.” Kingston rolls his eyes.
I nudge him playfully with my elbow. “Are you complaining about how much you’re getting laid?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “Not even a little.”
“That’s what I thought.”
I open the bar’s door and we walk inside. I’ve never been in Lucky’s before, but I’d bet good money it’s never been this quiet. All eyes are on us—and it isn’t until I scan the room that I see a familiar set of eyes staring at us from the pool table. Kingston’s body comes flush to my back, his hands possessively on my hips, and I’m positive if I looked up, I’d know where he’s looking. Right at Owen in the back corner of the room.
I just couldn’t leave well enough alone.
Disregarding all the watching eyes and focusing on the bar, I make my way over and sit on an open stool before ordering a chardonnay for myself and a beer for Kingston. He places a twenty on the bar top.
We’re just getting our drinks when the noise level goes back up, except I’m fairly sure they’re probably all talking about Kingston and me. I’m not immune to the sting of the gossip in this town. We’re together, so eventually we have to own that and to hell with what people might think.
I sip my wine and, from the corner of my eye, catch Owen walking over to us. “He’s coming.”
“Great,” Kingston murmurs. He downs a hefty amount of his beer, like the sooner he finishes, the sooner we can leave. Which at this point seems like a good idea.
“Well, I guess that wedding wasn’t just a fluke, huh? You guys are… together now?”
I open my mouth, but Kingston beats me to it. “We are. It’s been years, Owen, and I’m
not going—”
“Congratulations.” Owen pats Kingston on the back so hard, he almost chokes.
Kingston shifts to stand, but I put my hand on his thigh and he eases back down.
“Thanks,” I say.
“I always knew you two were meant to be together.”
I inwardly roll my eyes.
“Have a great night. I guess I’ll be seeing you around sometime.” Owen walks two steps away then turns around. “Hey, Stella, give me a call. I’d love to catch up sometime.” He winks just like Kingston does when he’s acting arrogant.
I say nothing.
Kingston downs his beer then places the glass on the bar top. “Can we go now?”
I sip my wine, but he steals my glass out of my hand, finishes it, and sets it down with a clank.
He gets to his feet and holds out his hand. “I’ll buy you a bottle from Liquory Split.”
Without argument, I leave with him, feeling Owen’s eyes on us the entire time.
We walk back to Kingston’s apartment in silence, and when we arrive, he says he wants to work out and do I mind staying while he goes for a run? I smile and nod, pretending it’s all normal behavior, but I know that Owen has spooked a reaction out of Kingston. I’m just not sure if it’ll be short-lived and he’ll shake it off or whether it’s something we need to deal with.
I change into my pajamas, take off my makeup, and sit on the couch. Sedona and Palmer must be sleeping in her room. I pull out my phone with the intention of scrolling through social media, but a text message pops up.
Allie: You’re kidding me, right? I missed it. The moment everyone was waiting for.
Me: What are you talking about?
Allie: It’s on Buzz Wheel. You guys saw Owen?
I disregard her string of texts asking for more information and pull up the Buzz Wheel blog. There you have it. Owen standing between Kingston and me at the bar. You can’t really see any of us in detail. It’s blurry, but if you knew us, you could tell it’s us. How does this thing get information so quickly? With mild trepidation, I read on.
* * *
The moment everyone was waiting for…
* * *
It happened tonight in Lucky’s Tavern. It’s rumored that after a dinner date at Terra and Mare, Stella Harrison dragged Kingston Bailey into Lucky’s. The minute the two stepped in, warning bells shot off to all the patrons. The usually loud bar was more like church on Sunday. All eyes followed the couple to the bar, and the bartender reported that Kingston ordered a beer and Stella a wine. Apparently, Kingston finished both after Owen approached them.
Owen told Stella to call him to catch up, which had Kingston rising from his bar stool, but Stella managed to keep him at bay. If she hadn’t, I think we can all agree that Sheriff Miller would’ve been called down to break up another fight over Stella. It’s been eight years, but I’m sure no one forgets the disastrous outcome of the first one. Let’s hope history does not repeat itself for these three.
The good news is that it appears that Kingston has finally won the heart of the girl he always loved. Can I get a hallelujah!
* * *
In other news, it’s spreading like TikTok dance videos around Lake Starlight High School that Holly and Austin Bailey are trying for baby number two. Let’s keep them in our thoughts, Lake Starlighters.
* * *
Xo,
Buzz Wheel
* * *
I flip back to the string with Allie.
Me: Well that’s great. Just when I thought Kingston and I were in smooth waters.
Allie: I’m about to go to Lucky’s, hop on this Owen’s back, and gouge his eyes out. Taunting Kingston like that? What an asshole.
Me: It’s a long history, but I’m going to forget what I just read and chill for the night.
Allie: Okay, we can talk later. How is Terra and Mare? I think I might want to check it out.
Me: Why don’t you just move here? LOL
Allie: Because I don’t want to be part of the gossip. I just want to be the outsider looking in. Oh and to be Grandma Dori’s Thelma. :P
I laugh and click off my phone, praying and hoping Kingston doesn’t run by Lucky’s Tavern.
Thirty
Kingston
I allow a week to go by to cool my anger before I seek out Owen. He’s in the dock bar with his fisherman buddies when I find him. Approaching him here when he’s with his buddies might be a bad decision. I hope I’m not subconsciously doing this as a reason to beat his ass—allowing his friends to swarm me just so I can claim I had to stand up for myself.
As I wind my way through the tables, he spots me before any of his friends. A long stare over the top of his beer glass, perusing me as if I might have a weapon on me or something. What is he thinking? We were friends—are, I suppose, just not how it used to be—and I want to make it clear about Stella and me.
“Can we talk?” I ask.
He finishes his beer, his eyes never leaving mine. A few buddies turn, but I don’t know any of them and I’m sure they don’t know me. But I’m still cautious, because if they’re true friends, when he throws a punch, they’ll be there to back him up.
We made amends years ago after we rolled down a set of stairs and I threw away my shot to be with Stella. I have to think we can do the same now.
He sets his mug on the table, throws money on the bar, and leads the way outside.
“Are you here to issue a warning? Stay away from your girl or else? I thought you were more original than that,” he says.
I shake my head, burying my hands in my pockets of my jacket because it’s fucking freezing out. “I want to apologize. It was wrong for you to find out about Stella and me like that.”
“You’re apologizing. And what? You want me to apologize again to you for what went down in high school?”
“Hell no. That’s ancient history and we put it behind us while she was in New York. But I also understand how hard it is to watch her with someone else. And I should’ve warned you when we started seeing one another. I shouldn’t have let you be blindsided.”
He leans on the railing and I keep my distance. The words sound good, but Owen is temperamental. It takes very little to set him off, and I want to be able to react if need be.
“You think I care about some girl I nailed in high school? Give me a break, Bailey.”
I say nothing to refute his words about nailing Stella. I trust that she told me the truth. I’ll let Owen have that one if it makes him feel better.
“I think Stella has been different things to us,” I say. “To you, she was something you had that I wanted. To me, she was more.”
He looks out at the lake. “You know what your problem is, Bailey? You’re too fucking sentimental. You think she’s going to stick around? She’s a doctor, for fuck’s sake. You’re a smoke jumper. Hell, I probably make more money than you.”
I don’t take the bait he’s slinging. I just want this over with to clear my own conscience because of how backstabbed I felt in high school when he asked her to homecoming. Clearing the air with him felt like the right thing to do.
“I guess I’ll find out. I just wanted to apologize, so I’ll go now.” I turn to leave.
“Bailey,” he says. I look over my shoulder and his hands are shoved in his pockets. “I hope she’s everything you think she is.”
I circle back around. “What does that mean?”
He laughs. “Jesus, stop protecting her. I just meant you put her on this shelf so high up… maybe she won’t live up to what you’ve idolized her to be.”
She already has.
She’s everything I want.
Everything I need.
“That’s not something you have to worry about.”
“I didn’t mean it in an asshole way. I really do hope it works out for the two of you. But you’re wrong—she wasn’t just some trophy to steal away from you.”
He’s piqued my interest. I break the distance, wanting him to expand.
“Really?”
“At first, she might’ve been, but do you think I would have dated her that long just to stick it to you? My intention was only to take her to homecoming, but before I knew it, I liked her. But it was a hard pill to swallow that she was into you. Every time I was with her, she’d ask about you, tell me to fix what went wrong with us. Then the night of the fight, well…”
He apologized to me months later, when the town was sparse because most of our graduating class had gone to college.
“It’s all good,” I say.
He eyes my shoulder. “Still, I felt horrible about your shoulder and ruining your scholarship. I mean, we grew up wanting to play ball and you lost your opportunity because even after Stella and I broke up, I couldn’t stand to let you have her. If the two of you would’ve started dating, that would’ve proven my theory correct.” He shakes his head.
“What theory?” My forehead wrinkles.
He looks up. “That when she was with me, she really wanted you.”
I’m not sure what Stella’s feelings ever were for Owen. She’s not the type to get involved with someone she doesn’t like. Maybe a small part of her loved both of us in different ways.
“But I’m happy you two figured it out. I should’ve never stood in the way.”
I nod and fiddle with my keys in my pocket. “I should’ve stood back and given you a fair chance.”
He chuckles and shakes his head. I laugh too.
“You’ve loved that girl since the first day she walked into our class. She picked you from day one. It was a sign.”
“You going all sentimental on me?”
“Hell no. But you and Stella, there’s something there I can’t explain because I’m obviously the better guy.” He clasps me on the shoulder. “Now stop standing around here before you go back to your girl smelling like fish and she thinks you’re fucking around on her.”