3. Stella

THREE

STELLA

Jasper cleaned up my vomit.

That knowledge makes me both want to laugh and cry.

If I wasn’t so self-conscious about my current condition, I would give myself props for this unintentional revenge plot, because if Jasper thought he got the best of me by being my seat mate, then I showed him.

I could have sworn I heard the flight attendant fawning over how he was such a good boyfriend. Pfft. She knows not what she speaks of. And I would never. As if .

Things happened on that flight that I’m not proud of, and throwing up isn’t even one of them.

I snuggled my head in Jasper’s lap. Then, I vaguely remember touching his nose and I might have called him handsome. It’s all part of the delirium I experienced once the worst of the food poisoning had passed, when dehydration and exhaustion had taken over.

As I make my way off the airplane, wearing Juniper’s sweater, I throw the hazardous waste bag containing my beautiful cashmere cardigan into a nearby trash can and say a prayer for it. Even if it could be cleaned, the memories of what happened are too haunting to move forward in our relationship.

By the end of the flight, my stomach started feeling better, and as my fatigue and dizziness lessened, I felt the need to put distance between me and Jasper. He’s seen me at my worst now, and I know it’s only a matter of time before he uses it against me in some way. Needing to pull myself together so I can cling to what shred of dignity I have left, I take advantage of the fact that Jasper is helping an elderly couple get their suitcases down from the overhead bins, and rush off the plane without saying goodbye.

It’s fine. I’ll dry clean Juniper’s sweater, then set it on his family’s porch and we’ll never speak of this again.

All I want to do now is get my suitcase from baggage claim and run into the comforting arms of my family.

Nothing as extravagant as the montage of airport arrivals at the end of Love, Actually , but my parents and Sadie gathered behind a simple ‘welcome home’ banner would suffice. It has been months since I saw them.

When I come up the escalators to the main terminal, there’s a crowd of people waiting but no one there for me.

No biggie.

On my way to baggage claim, I pull out my phone to check my messages, to see where I should meet them, but there aren’t any.

That’s odd.

I’m scrolling through my recent contacts, a moment away from calling my dad, but then I make eye contact with a guy across the baggage claim carousel.

No. No. No. This can’t be happening.

For the second time today, I want to hide.

I pray that I can grab my suitcase and be on my way before he sees me, but that’s when I see the sign he’s holding. And it’s in the next second that his eyes latch onto me.

There, smiling and waving a sign with my name on it in colorful gemstones, is my sisters’ fiancé’s cousin, Daniel.

Fuck.

I didn’t think this day could get any worse, but in fact it can.

Daniel and I spent one drunken night together after a Noah Kahan concert last summer. It was an okay time—I mean with Daniel, because Noah’s performance was phenomenal—but nothing I wanted to pursue and while I’ve tried to keep things cordial because he’s going to be part of my sister’s family once she marries Tom, I finally had to tell him that there’s nothing between us. That didn’t help. He only came on stronger thinking I was playing hard to get. Over the past few months, he’s been sending me flirty text messages which I’ve ignored hoping he will get bored and move on.

While I knew he’d be at the wedding, I didn’t anticipate seeing him at the airport. And him standing by baggage claim with my name on a sign was not on my ‘home for the holidays’ bingo card.

And from the way he lights up when he sees me, it appears he hasn’t moved on.

“There you are, gorgeous.”

He moves in for a hug, but I hold my travel bag between us to keep from our bodies pressing together so it ends up being an awkward side hug.

“Wow, Stella. Red is your color.” He whistles loudly. An annoying catcall whistle that makes me cringe. “You look amazing.”

“Thanks, I have vomit in my hair,” I say flatly. “What’s with the sign?” I glance around, looking for any member of my family to swoop in and save me.

“I’m your ride.” He opens his arms wide and his potent cologne hits my nose.

Even if I wasn’t recovering from food poisoning, I don’t think I’d be able to stomach the overpowering scent.

“I thought my dad was coming to pick me up?” I ask, dread making my stomach churn again.

“I volunteered. Told your dad it would give us time to catch up.” He winks and it’s awkward. Nothing like the smooth charm Jasper had displayed on the plane. Oh god, now I’m comparing other guys to Jasper. I think the plane flew through a wormhole and landed me in an alternate universe.

“But why are you here so early? I thought guests weren’t coming until after Christmas.”

“Tom’s here and you know he’s like my brother. We spend the holidays together now that my parents are overseas, so your mom offered for me to stay in your family’s guest room.” A huge smile pulls across his face. “Isn’t that great? We’ll have plenty of time to hang out. Rekindle that spark between us.” He gives me another twitchy wink and I think I might be sick again.

Daniel’s annoying and a bit pushy, but he’s nothing I can’t handle.

The question is, do I want to spend my two-week holiday vacation heading off his advances? His over-the-top flirting and barrage of innuendos. Visions of my peaceful, relaxing time at home are now filled with the scent of Daniel’s cologne and the sight of his leering smile directed at me.

Then there’s the fact that I don’t have a date to Sadie and Tom’s wedding. I’m a bridesmaid and Daniel’s a groomsman so we’ll be together at every event with no one to run interference between us and make Daniel understand once and for all, I’m not interested.

I need a moment to process my thoughts.

“I’ve got to—” I motion, turning to look for the nearest women’s restroom, but I run smack into a man’s chest.

Jasper.

When my eyes lift to his, it’s the oddest moment. Hours ago, I was avoiding him, now the sight of his hazel eyes and knowing smile are like a lifeline.

It must be because in this moment when I’m faced with Daniel, a past romantic mistake that I’m going to have to endure through the holidays, Jasper seems like the least unpleasant choice. I’d rather bicker with Jasper than be the subject of Daniel’s affection. The thought has my mind spiraling. I never imagined Jasper Jensen would be a safety net.

And that’s what I need right now.

A shield. In human form.

The only way to show Daniel I’m truly not interested is if I’m with someone else.

I need a boyfriend to keep Daniel’s advances at bay.

I don’t have a boyfriend.

My thoughts ping-pong as I try to come up with a solution to this mess.

But just maybe, I could pretend.

Would Jasper play along?

He was awfully good at pretending to be concerned about me on the plane.

Jasper’s gaze lifts from me to Daniel, then back to me. I do my best to send him a silent plea. I hate the thought of pleading with Jasper but the alternative in this situation is worse.

“There you are,” I say, leaning into Jasper’s clean scent to escape Daniel’s overly manufactured one.

“You left your water bottle on the plane.” He hands me the pastel pink metal bottle.

“Oh, thank you so much, babe .” Jasper’s brows lift at the term of endearment. “You know it’s my favorite one. I don’t know what I would do without such a thoughtful boyfriend .” I wrap my arms around Jasper’s waist and am surprised by the muscles that are present underneath his sweater. How firm and corded they are.

“Boyfriend?” Daniel groans behind me. “Sadie didn’t mention you were seeing anyone.”

I turn to face him, trying not to delight in his defeated expression.

“It’s a surprise. I haven’t told my family yet.” I motion between the two of them. “Daniel, this is Jasper. Jasper, Daniel. Daniel is Sadie’s fiancé’s cousin and he’s staying with my family over the holidays.” I do my best to keep my smile even but Jasper hasn’t said anything yet and it’s starting to make me squirm. Is he really going to play along? It doesn’t seem like something he would do for me.

Daniel extends his hand to Jasper. “Stella and I have history. Romantic history, so I’m ready to step in if you mess this up.” He motions between me and Jasper, but then his expression softens. “I like your sweaters.”

I’d completely forgotten that Jasper and I are wearing matching sweaters. It’s a nice touch to sell our supposed relationship, and for a moment I regret having said they were ugly.

“Thanks! Jasper’s grandmother made them,” I say, beaming with pride.

It’s quiet again and awkward tension settles between the three of us.

Okay, what now?

I glance around the area, trying to remember what I was doing before Daniel blindsided me.

“Oh, my suitcase!” I rush over to collect it from the carousel, but right before I can claim it, Jasper’s hand reaches around me, easily lifting it off the moving track and onto the ground.

“Thanks.” I bat my lashes sweetly and Jasper scowls at me.

We’ve got to wrap this up before he blows my cover.

“Do you two need a ride?” Daniel asks.

“No!” I shout before Jasper can answer. “We’ve got our own transportation. Thanks.”

“I guess I’ll see you at your house, Stella.” Daniel gives a final glance between me and Jasper before walking toward the exit, dropping the sign with my name on it in the trash on his way out.

“Okay, bye!” I give a quick wave as relief washes over me at Daniel’s departure. But then I turn to meet Jasper’s hard expression head on and wonder if I dodged one bullet just to be struck by another.