Peyton acted as nonchalant as ever.
“So, Corinne’s being released today? Why don’t I drive over there with you? I need to go down to Junction anyway. I have some shoes I need to return.” Valerie turned her attention back to Peyton, easily dismissing Stella.
Finally, Peyton met Stella’s eyes. “Do you want to wait here while I go pick them up?”
Was he serious? Was he seriously going to spend the night with her and then drive off with this… bitch? Why hadn’t he sent Valerie away already?
Had she read him all wrong? Had last night meant nothing to him?
The thought of his eyes when she woke up flashed in her mind. Oh, hell no.
He was simply being oblivious. Men could be idiots and this little vixen was simply playing him like a baby grand.
Stella dipped her spoon into her yogurt and took a bite before speaking. “I don’t know, Pey,” she said. “I don’t think Corinne will be up to company.” And it was true, too. Corinne didn’t like Valerie. She’d never forgive Stella if she allowed that Miss Valerie whatserface to insert herself today.
After the predictable Peyton pause, he nodded. “Stella’s probably right, Valerie.” He gently pushed the girl away from him and walked around the counter. “Probably better if just me and Stella go. When Corinne feels better, how bout I give you a call?”
Valerie looked from one of them to the other before setting her coffee on the counter. “Hmph.” And then she looked back at Peyton. “Walk me to my truck.” It wasn’t a question.
Maybe he did owe the girl some sort of explanation. Except…what would that explanation be? That he’d hooked up with his sister’s best friend while Corinne lay in a hospital bed?
Corinne could never know about this. The last thing in the world she needed right now was to feel betrayed. Stella was certain Corinne would view it that way.
And after Corinne and Misty were back home, would she and Peyton be able to hide it?
Most likely not. Corinne knew both of them too well, and sick or not, she’d know.
She just would.
They needed to let it go… for now… She didn’t even want to consider how she’d feel about all of this after.
Without saying a word, Stella walked out of the kitchen, leaving Peyton to deal with this problem on his own.
After a quickshower, applying some makeup and drying her hair, Stella had gone downstairs to find the kitchen empty. She cleaned up the remnants left over from last night and then filled Red’s water dish.
“The horses are fed. We should probably get on the road.” She didn’t hear Peyton come up behind her. He’d obviously showered as well. “We’ll take Corinne’s truck since her back seat’s bigger.”
Stella nodded, grabbed her purse and then followed him outside. She hated that things felt awkward between them now. Was he too, now contemplating Corinne’s reaction?
As he drove down toward the main road, the silence grated on her. And as much as she hated the idea of having ‘the talk’, they needed to clear a few things up.
“Sorry about Valerie.” He spoke suddenly, surprising her.
She didn’t want to ask but couldn’t help herself. “What did you tell her?”
He’d reached the main road by now and glanced from side to side before turning onto the highway. “I didn’t tell her anything.”
Stella stared straight ahead as she processed what this might mean.
“I tell her something and before we know it, it’s all over town. Figured you and I needed to talk about things first.”
The tightness in her chest eased up slightly. But they still faced complications. “We can’t let Corinne find out. Remember, I told you what she thought about that one girl you dated?”
Peyton ran his hand through his hair in somewhat of a frustrated motion. “That was years ago.”
Stella had considered that. But what if Corinne still felt the same way?
A whole lot of time had passed. They weren’t silly college girls anymore.
