Secrets of the World's Worst Matchmaker (The Baileys Book 7), стр. 29
“She told me Ethel was drunk and she needed a ride home?”
Juno scoffs. “Neither one of them has had one drink and I drove them here. Unfortunately.”
I stop her before we go through a door to the back room. “We should talk.”
She’s shaking her head before I get a chance to continue. “Later, okay? I’m so nervous about tonight and I just need to concentrate on that right now.”
I can’t fault her for not wanting to hash out our history when she’s working.
“Maybe we can ride back to Lake Starlight together. Ethel could drive your car?”
“Um… no, but we could meet up later tonight if you want.”
“Perfect.”
We walk through the door, and lo and behold, Dori and Ethel are at a table, playing cards.
“Grandma, did you tell Colton to come here?”
“Did I?” She looks at Ethel.
I raise my phone in my hand. “I have the text.”
“Oh yes, funny, I thought I was messaging Kingston. You know how he works in Anchorage. Thought he’d be on his way home.”
“I told you Kingston was coming tonight.” Juno straightens chairs and tables that are lined up with partitions like voting booths. Even when they switch seats, they won’t be able to see one another.
“Oh, did you? My memory must be going.” Dori taps her temple. “It’s not so good anymore.”
“I’m the matchmaker. Colton is getting married, remember?” Juno’s voice has an edge to it I’ve never heard directed toward Dori.
“You are not too old for me to take you over my knee, Juno.” Dori’s stern voice says she’s serious.
“I would have helped you with all this anyway.” I straighten some of the partitions. “This is ingenious. Where did you get the idea from?”
“Kingston. Go figure, but it’s pretty cool, I think. It’s a bit of a twist. Hopefully, it will pull some people in.”
“Definitely.”
A waitress comes into the room and asks if we need anything, so I order a beer. She nods and walks away.
“Anyone else coming besides Kingston?”
Juno bends over to retrieve something from her bag and her ass is in my face. Her ass has been in my face plenty of times, but this time it’s a struggle not to grab her by her hips and pull her into me.
I have a lot of guilt for not telling Juno why I’m marrying Brigette, but I can’t chance it getting out. No one but Brigette and myself knows this is a green-card-only kind of marriage, and if something leaked, I could be in some serious trouble.
The waitress returns and places my beer on the table. “You have some women who just came in. Micah is getting them a drink, then they’re on their way back.”
“Great.” Juno’s eyes get all wide and excited like they do when something she’s been anticipating finally arrives. “Kingston and some of his firefighter buddies are coming tonight too. So at least I’m offering some good-looking guys.”
I haven’t asked her why she’s doing this. She’s always done strictly matchmaking with a personal touch. But I’m not going to ask her right now in front of everyone.
“Rummy!” Ethel screams and puts her cards on the table.
Dori scowls and tosses her cards on the table. “I gotta pee.”
Dori stands and leaves for the bathroom, Ethel following as if their bladders are in sync.
A woman pops her head into the room. “Is this where we’re supposed to be?”
Juno rushes over. “Yes. Yes. Come—” She abruptly stops speaking, making me look over. “Stella?”
“Kingston’s Stella?” I whisper more to myself as Juno looks over at me.
But it’s Stella who looks as if she might faint.
Fifteen
Juno
Holy shit, as if Colton showing up wasn’t enough of a surprise, Stella Harrison is here.
In Alaska.
In Anchorage.
Not in New York.
“Stella?” I say.
She catches her drink before it falls. “Juno?” Her eyes scan the room. “Colton?”
The last time we saw Stella was at Holly and Austin’s wedding, which seems like ages ago. She and Kingston talked the majority of the night, but after that, nothing that I know of. If he knows she’s back in town, he hasn’t shared it with me.
“Oh, um, you’re running this?” Stella says. “My friend from work thought it’d be fun.”
She’s been here long enough to have friends at work?
Dori and Ethel’s arguing rings out of the hallway as they come out of the bathroom.
My eyes widen. “Oh my God, hide.”
Her friend’s attention darts between Stella and me as though she’s asking, “Is this chick serious?” But Stella must hear it in my voice because she disappears behind the partitions and hides in one of the booths I’ve set up.
“Oh, someone showed up.” Grandma Dori beams as though she’s surprised.
Thanks for the encouragement, Grandma.
“Colton’s going to drive you home now.” My eyes widen at Colton, who’s sipping his beer.
“He’s drinking. I told my son I never drive with someone who’s been drinking,” Ethel says.
Colton stares at his beer. “I’ve had about two sips.”
“Drinking is drinking. I don’t know your tolerance. Maybe it’s zero. I’ll drive us.” Ethel puts her hand out to Colton for his keys.
He stares at her hand then lifts his gaze to me with an expression that suggests I would never make him do such a thing as drive all the way back to Lake Starlight with Ethel behind the wheel of his truck. But I know Grandma, and if she sees Stella here, all hell is gonna break loose. Rumors will spread, and if Stella’s been hiding out in Anchorage, she’s not ready to face what happened all those years ago.
I always felt close to Stella, what with her only being a few years younger than me. When the guys wanted to start a band, she’d hang around the garage, and she was my bleacher buddy during the baseball games.
“Just let her drive,” I plead.
“And your name is?” Dori asks