by Piper Rayne
Dread fills my every cell.
“This is the way it’s going to be then? You’re just going to try to steal her away from me because you were too chickenshit to ask her out in the first place?” Owen lets loose a cruel laugh.
They circle one another, their fists at the ready. The other partygoers start chanting “fight.”
“Talk about stealing. You knew I was going to ask her out, but once again, you couldn’t handle me having something you wanted.” Kingston’s charismatic smile is plastered on for the masses. The one he uses to make people believe he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“This has been a long time coming.” Owen throws the first punch, but Kingston ducks and jabs Owen in the ribs.
“Someone stop them,” I say, busting through the crowd. I dodge and weave as they continue to go at one another. “Just stop!”
Kingston does and looks right at me, his strong facade cracking, but Owen tackles him around the stomach. Kingston is knocked back and they both tumble down the stairs of the deck. Everyone rushes to the deck railing, but it’s Kingston’s wail of pain that silences the crowd.
Owen stands and spits on him. “Fucking baby Bailey. Eat shit.” He disappears to the side of the house.
I run down the 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, heartbroken Kingston. Now I’m Kingston Bailey, the smoke jumper. It’s freeing. But because Stella left and never really came back much, she’s never had an opportunity to shake it off.
“Don’t worry, they’re just curious,” I say.
“Curious of what mess I’ll leave behind me again.”
We reach the front pews and I’m thankful to see Liam and Wyatt there. All the rest of my family are farther down, huddled together at the end of the aisle.
“Funny, I haven’t seen you two without a stained shirt in a long time.” I purposely sit us behind them. They can all be in the front row.
“Just wait until you have a baby,” Wyatt says.
“He probably already does,” Liam jokes.
I glance quickly at Stella, who says nothing.
Lucky for me, crying commences in the back and it’s like each baby must have its own cry, because Liam holds up his hands. “Not it.”
Wyatt stands. “That’s Lance.” He heads down the side aisle.
Liam turns around in the pew, his suit a contrast to everything he normally portrays. “So, Stella, doctor huh? Now you two can play doctor and patient for real now.”
“So, Savannah, huh?” Stella asks. “She finally gave in to you.”
Liam and I laugh.
“Touché,” Liam says. “But you guys are Buzz Wheel news now. You missed when I was front page news. Once you’ve been outed, it’s like being recruited into a fraternity.”
“You and Savannah were making out in a car like you wanted to get caught,” I remind him.
A cocky grin splashes on his face as though he’s remembering it all over again. “The good ol’ days before night feedings. I will say though, your sister’s tits look fantastic in the dress she’s wearing.”
I roll my eyes. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll make sure to keep eye contact with her.”
Stella laughs next to me. “I see nothing’s changed since I’ve been away.”
She crosses her legs and her high heel dangles off her painted toes. My gaze takes a journey up her firm leg, imagining if she were mine so I could hav
e them wrapped around my waist.
“It’s Lake Starlight. Not much changes.” Liam glances toward the back. “Seriously though, a doctor. That’s impressive. Congrats. After your residency, where do you see yourself settling down?”
Stella clears her throat, and I look at her intently, trying not to seem eager for her answer. Could she be back in Alaska for good?
She wiggles in her seat. “I’m not sure yet.”
Liam nods. “You know Lake Starlight needs our own doctor, right? After Dr. Coleman retired and moved to Maine, people have to go to Greywall now.”
“My mom mentioned something about that.”
“So if you open a family practice, it’d be an instant success.” Liam smiles.
Dr. Coleman retired two years ago, so I’m not sure what Liam is trying to get at. Sure, if Stella wanted to start a practice here she’d be successful, but even I know that’s a long way off.
“I’ll think about it,” she says as if Liam offered her the job.
“Oh shit, it’s about to start.” Liam nods toward the back of the room.
Stella weaves her head, bobbing to get a view, and I realize I’m blocking her.
“Here. Switch spots,” I say, standing, but she stands too and so I sit.
Both of us change course so many times, I end up sliding over and she sits down right on my open palm. Her ass is in my hand and I resist the urge to flex my fingers. Do not feel her ass without permission.
“Sorry.” I slide my hand out.
She glances at me, biting her full lip, before turning her attention to the center of the room, where Savannah, Brooklyn, and Holly all walk the babies down the aisle.
Wyatt returns to his pew with Grandma Dori, sliding in right in front of Stella. She reaches back and squeezes Stella’s hand, and Stella smiles as if she’s just as excited as Grandma Dori to see Juno get married.
My two sisters and Holly all come and stand near the pew, rocking their babies, who are more interested in their mothers’ necklaces and earrings than anything that’s going on around them. The music continues as Phoebe and Dion walk down the aisle. Dion’s almost dragging Phoebe, who’s suddenly shy and not moving. Rome steps out of the pew to go help.
Harley slides in next to me, carefully because of her belly. “I knew she was going to freeze. She’s not like Calista.” Her forehead falls to my shoulder.
Rome squats in front of the preacher and waves at Phoebe to come to him. The guests all quietly laugh, which makes Phoebe’s cheeks pink more. Dion finally leaves her and walks down the aisle before sitting down next to his dad in defeat.
Calista starts walking but stops when she sees Phoebe standing there.
“I can’t look. Tell me what’s happening. Are my kids ruining the wedding?” Harley groans.
“They’re stealing the show,” I say with a chuckle. “But Phoebe isn’t moving at all.”
She looks over my shoulder. “Oh crap. Come on, Calista, be the big sister you need to be right now. Take her hand,” she whispers.
Rome’s waving and blowing out a frustrated breath, his eyes venturing from Harley to Phoebe. Calista just stands there.
Phoebe sticks her two fingers into her mouth. I’m about to hop over the pew until Phoebe stares in our direction. But it’s clear she’s only looking at Stella. Then Stella does a little twirl and acts as if she’s throwing the petals. Phoebe laughs and twirls down the aisle a step or two. She stops, so Stella does the same thing and Phoebe twirls. It’s the longest walk or dance down an aisle ever, but Phoebe finally reaches Stella. Instead of walking to the front and her dad, she walks right into our pew, sitting on the floor between Stella and me.
“She’s amazing,” Harley whispers in my ear before bending down to get Phoebe, who rips her arm out of Harley’s hold.
“I sit here,” Phoebe says.
Harley holds up her hands. “Whatever floats your boat.”
Calista walks down, doing a great job of sprinkling the petals on top of the ones Phoebe did. Then the music changes. I glance at Colton waiting at the end of the aisle. He smooths his shirt under his tuxedo jacket and inhales a deep breath.
Juno and Austin step into the room and the women all ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’.
“She’s beautiful,” Harley says behind me.
Stella turns to me, but she nods to Harley in agreement, slyly wiping away a tear.
“The dress is kind of big, no?” Rome asks from where he now stands on the other side of Harley.
Juno looks beautiful. Her dress is just really poofy. I open my mouth to respond but Stella shoots me a look.
I hear Rome say, “Ouch.” Phoebe steps up on the pew between Stella and me, but she still can’t see, so she leans forward to peer down the aisle. Stella’s hands instantly fall to my niece’s hips so she doesn’t fall over, and my heart thumps. That move, which I’ve seen my sisters and sisters-in-law do a million times, comes from such a motherly instinct. It shouldn’t hit me the way it does, making me imagine her doing that with our own child.
We all sit down, and Austin sits next to Holly, taking Easton in his arms. I slide over to make room for Phoebe, who spends the majority of the ceremony staring at Stella and sliding her hand in and out of Stella’s.
Colton and Juno say their vows, kiss, and are announced husband and wife. I watch my sister start her happily ever after with the man she’s been in love with her entire life.
A pang of jealousy hits me because I’m not sure I’ll ever experience what she’s got. If I look around at my family these days, all I find are couples. Holly and Austin, Liam and Savannah, Brooklyn and Wyatt, Phoenix and Griffin, Cleo and Denver, Rome and Harley. They’re holding one another, kissing and sharing something that couples in love do. Then there’s me and poor Sedona, who’s rubbing her hands over her belly and watching Juno and Colton with a smile. I don’t know how she’s smiling after what happened with Jamison.
We all file out of the pews after the happy couple, and once we’re in the vestibule of the church, everyone goes to get their coats. I ask Stella for her coat check number since Phoebe is still attached to Stella.
At the coat check, Harley slides up next to me. “I like her, and I’m not just saying that because she managed to keep my kid quiet for the entire ceremony.”
I glance at her, and based on her level of giddiness, if she wasn’t so pregnant, I’d think she was drunk. “Thanks. I like her too.” I pass the coat check guy my tickets and my gut twists.
I’m doing it again. Taking care of Stella because it’s second nature to me when I should just be leaving her to do her own thing.
“Are you going to win her back?”
“Nope.” Yet another reason I should keep my distance. Everyone thinks being nice to Stella means something.
“I can see the sexual tension between you guys. It’s clear you two still have a thing for one another.” She nods and grips her stomach.
I glance down. “You good?”
She shoos me. “Fine. It’s my fourth, I know the signs of labor.”
I nod. She knows more than anyone here probably, the way her and my brother keep popping out kids. I tip the coat check guy.
“Ask her to dance tonight? Start slow,” Harley says.
“Okay, thanks for the advice.”
I head back over to Stella and my niece, Harley joining me.
“And maybe you should drive her home? Or is that too awkward?”
I walk a little faster, hoping to lose her because there are already enough people up in my business.
“Here’s your coat.” I hold it out to Stella. “Want to ride together to the reception?”
Jesus, I just can’t help myself.
“Sure,” Stella says, which surprises me.
Harley gives me a thumbs-up behind Stella’s back.
“Me too!” Phoebe yells and raises her hand.
“Oh no, you come with me and Daddy.” Harley reaches for Phoebe’s hand, but she runs and hides behind Stella.
Then there’s an awkward game of “catch me” between Harley and Phoebe that occurs around Stella, but Rome comes over and swoops Phoebe up in his arms, pretending she’s a plane even though she’s crying and screaming “Stella” as though she’s in the cast of A Streetcar Named Desire. If we weren’t the focus of everyone’s attention before, we are now.
We’re finally free to go, so I escort Stella down the stairs. As is typical of my luck, we run into the worst possible person we could—Stella’s ex-boyfriend.
Eleven
Kingston
“Owen,” Stella says. I hate the way her voice sounds breathless.
“Well, look who I found.” Owen smirks at my hand on Stella’s lower back.
I retract my hand as if we’re back in high school again, but I have to remember, she’s not his anymore.
“Juno and—” I start, but he cuts me off.
“Colton. Yeah, I heard.” Owen rocks back on his heels. “You’re looking great, Stella.”
Is it bad that I’m happy she’s covered up with her coat? That he doesn’t see her stunning figure in the dress she’s wearing?
“So do you. What do you do now?” she asks.
“I own my own fishing boat.”
She nods. “That’s awesome.”
“I heard you’re a doctor now?” Of course he heard. It was all over Buzz Wheel.
“I’m in my residency.”
“Congratulations. Tell Juno and Colton I said congratulations, okay? I gotta go. I’ll call you next week, King.” He heads down the sidewalk before either of us can respond.
Whatever level of comfort Stella and I had reached vanishes, and just like that, it’s awkward and weird.
After senior year, it took a while for Owen and me to find our way back to friendship, and even then, it’s never been the same. He blamed himself for my shoulder, and I blamed myself for hitting on his girlfriend—even if she wasn’t technically his girlfriend in that moment. There’s still this level of competitiveness between us that wasn’t there before we both fell for Stella.