21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Cody

Incoming Facetime Call…

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

My mom’s smiling face fills my phone screen, her signature Santa hat standing loud and proud atop her blonde hair.

I grin into the camera, “You’re a few days early mom.”

She frowns, “Today is December 25th, Cody. Have you been training so hard you forgot?” She squints, peering into the camera, “Where are you?”

It’s Christmas already?

“Oh,” I turn the camera around to give her a sweep of the guest bedroom. “Mo invited me to stay with his family over the break.”

“You mean Mentor Mo?” My mother’s eyes widen as she takes in the pristine state of the room, “What a lovely colour. I didn’t realize your friend was so affluent.”

I nod, admiring the dark green colour decorating the walls, “Me neither. Turns out his father is a bit of an entrepreneur.”

“Based on the size of that room, I’d say he’s more than a bit of an entrepreneur.” She shakes her head with wonder, no doubt picturing the closet-sized office that doubled as a guest bedroom in the house I grew up in.

“Didn’t Mo have a younger sister? Sally?”

“You mean Stella.” Just saying her name has my chest expanding with pride.

“Stella! That’s right. She’s a freshman this year, isn’t she?”

“Yeah. We’ve gotten pretty close over the break.”

My mother’s eyebrow raises knowingly, “Will I be meeting this girl anytime soon?”

“Hopefully.” The thought of introducing Stella to my mom already has my face breaking into a cheesy ass grin.

“I see.” My mother beams through the screen, her happiness as infectious as ever, “In that case, I cannot wait to meet her.”

Her camera jostles and I get a shot of Hank waving from beside a lit-up palm tree.

“Merry Christmas, Cody!”

Choosing not to comment on the fact he is half naked in a set of elf boxers, I wave back with a smile, “Merry Christmas, Hank!”

My mother sighs, “I can’t believe you forgot what day it was.”

“I’ve been keeping busy. Must have slipped my mind.” I run a hand through my spiked hair, uncomfortably aware the break is quickly coming to an end.

Soon, Stella and I will be going back to school. I’ll go back to being a varsity captain and she’ll go back to tormenting her roommate with every residence event possible. And we will… what? Go back to being gym buddies? Go on dates when I’m not training, studying, and coaching?

Whose place would we stay at?

A headache starts to form at the back of my skull as the questions of reality come crashing down. This break has been amazing, Stella and I have spent more time together these last few weeks than we have all year, but how will we manage in the real world?

My mother’s voice breaks through my spiralling thoughts, pulling me back to present.

“Well, don’t go pushing yourself too hard. You’ll be back in routine before you know it.”

That’s what I’m afraid of.

We chat for a few more minutes before ending the call with promises of bringing Stella home soon. My phone pings with a series of incoming texts, confirming my forgetfulness.

Nico: Merry Xmas Sexy.

Mason: Hope you’re holed up with a lacrosse bunny somewhere. Happy Christmas Ellsworth.

Wes: Tis the season to feast upon the blood of our enemies – Championship banner here we come! Merry Christmas, Cap.

I smile, typing out replies and sending a few messages of my own. Once I’m finished, I grab my phone from the nightstand and pull up Mo’s number.

“You know we are living in the same house.” Amusement seeps through his voice, and I can easily picture the smirk on his face.

“I need a favour.”

“Shoot.”

“Can you drive me to a nearby mall? I need to make a purchase.”

Mo chuckles, “That’s the easiest favour I’ve ever had to deliver. Meet me on the driveway in ten.”

“Did you know it’s Christmas today?”

The Cadillac’s engine rumbles as Mo accelerates onto the highway. The black model is identical to the one he was driving back in Taber, making me wonder how many of these the O’Briens have on hand.

“Is it?” Mo shrugs, “Came up fast this year.”

I’m stupefied by his reaction. From what I’ve seen, Mo’s family isn’t devotedly religious, but even the laxer Christians tend to celebrate the opportunity for a family gathering.

“Does your family not celebrate it?”

“We used to.” Another shrug, “It was mom’s favourite holiday, so every year she would go all out on decorations, making sure Santa left everyone a surprise under the big family Christmas tree. After she died there just didn’t seem to be a reason to celebrate anymore.”

I frown, thinking over his response. Most families would have come together after such a terrible loss. The O’Briens used it as an excuse to withdraw from each other even more.

“Does it bother you?”

Mo shoots me a sideways glance, “Does what bother me?”

“The barriers the accident created within your family.”

He falls silent, his focus returning to the icy roads ahead. Mo’s expression remains detached as he thinks over my comment, like he’s a third-party observer rather than one of the affected family members.

It’s a little unnerving if I’m being honest.

“It would be nice to see a glimpse of the man my father used to be. Sometimes it feels like we lost both parents in the accident.”

I study the hard edge of Mo’s profile, his rugged features giving no indication of the emotions buried beneath.

“So, I guess sometimes it bothers me.” He shoots me a wry grin, “But really I owe you a thank you.”

I blink in surprise, “For asking uncomfortable questions?”

Mo shakes his head, “For bringing back the old Stella. It’s been a long time since I have seen her sparkle like she does now.”

“Sparkle?” The frivolous word sounds ridiculous coming out of his mouth.

“You know, the exuberant way she tackles life with as much glitter and pizzazz as possible.”

I chuckle, “That has nothing to do with me. Your sister’s sparkle is one hundred percent her own.”

“For sure, but you have helped bring it back. And it’s really nice to see.”

Touched but unsure of what to say, I fall back against the leather seats. Stella and I have come such a long way, but it feels as though we have a much longer road ahead.

We’ve spent almost every night together since the pool seduction, which has been beyond amazing, but every morning I wake up to the sound of Stella choking on her past. Besides encouraging her to seek professional help, there is nothing I can do except provide emotional support.

Mo flicks on his indicator, slowing down as the exit for the city centre comes into view.

“It goes without saying what I will do to you if this relationship leaves Stella with a broken heart.”

I nod, meeting his hardened gaze, “I would expect nothing less than agony followed by a slow death.”

A car honks as we merge into the lane and Mo calmly flips off the driver.

“Always knew you were more than a pretty face, Ellsworth.”

Stella

CODY: Where are you?

The second I see his name pop up on my phone, my day feels infinitely times better.

It’s pathetic, really.

ME: I could ask you the same thing. You’ve been MIA all morning.

CODY: Did you miss me?

ME: Not as much as you missed me.

I grin, watching his typing bubbles pop up then disappear. Beating Cody in conversation is almost as satisfying as teasing him in the bedroom.

Almost.

Humming to myself, I kill time waiting for his response by pulling up the photo Lou sent me this morning. It’s of her and Wes wearing matching Christmas pyjamas, looking sickeningly adorable with a Happy Holidays! sign held up between their smiling faces.

CODY: Come to your bedroom so I can show you how much I missed you.

Now there’s an offer any self-respecting woman should never refuse.

I pivot in the hallway, almost crashing into my father as I go running around the corner.

“Stella. You should know better than to run indoors. Watch where you’re going.” An arm reaches out to steady me as cold blue eyes meet mine.

“Sorry, father. I am late for a date.”

Booty-call would be more accurate, but that is one detail I am sure my father could go without. His eyes narrow, taking in my baggy sweatshirt and loose cargo pants.

“You may want to get yourself cleaned up. Your hair has seen better days.”

Ouch.

Holding back a grimace, I give the man who funds my lifestyle a tight smile.

“Good idea. I will get right on that.” I go to step around him but hesitate when I remember Lou’s photo, “Merry Christmas by the way.”

Jonathan turns his head sharply, and for a moment, I swear I see a glimmer of regret break through his hardened gaze. But as always, my father choses the safer, more distant route and gives me a stiff nod before continuing down the hall.

Shaking off the disappointment, I return to the mission at hand and make it to my bedroom without any further hallway accidents. There’s only one man I want to crash into at this point and I find him waiting for me on my bed with a small white box in his hand.

Wait. Why is there a small white box in his hand?

Trying to absorb the sexy figure lounging on my pink comforter in a plain white t-shirt and black jeans, it takes a second for my brain to connect the festive dots.

“Is that for me?” He nods and I don’t bother holding back my squeal of excitment.

Cody chuckles, “Don’t get excited until you open it.”

I march over and snatch the box from his hands, “You could have gotten me an empty box and I would still be excited. The last Christmas present I opened was wrapped in an obituary and it was incredible.”

Cody gives me a confused look and I laugh, “It was from Lou.”

“Ah.” He nods, no longer needing an explanation.

I gingerly sit next to him on the bed, my hands shaking slightly as I peel off the lid. Up close, the box isn’t white but covered in white sparkles, making it look like a layer of fresh snow perfectly glued in place. Baby pink paper tissue greets me when I finally get inside, the meticulous wrapping already bringing tears to my eyes.

For me, presents have never been about the purchase. It’s about the thought and effort behind the gesture.

“At this rate, I’m going to die of old age before the big reveal.” Cody’s breath tickles my ear, his proximity much closer than it was two seconds ago.

I shush him, “Don’t rush me. I’m enjoying myself.”

“By all means then. Admire the pink paper.”

I try for a scowl but end up beaming in his direction, “I will, thank you.”

Cody heaves a sigh, flopping down on my bed. The mattress bounces beneath me and I’m suddenly distracted by the sight of his bare torso peeking out beneath his shirt.

He smirks, “Like the view?”

“It would be better if you lost the shirt.”

“We’ll get to that. Now, can you open the present already? I’m getting nervous.” I laugh before realizing Cody actually does look nervous.

Stomach clenching, I turn my attention back to the gift, tugging at the pieces of tape holding it together. Two pieces of material fall into my hands, and I let out a gasp.

“Did you buy me a bikini?”

Cody sits back up and nods with an anxious smile.

“You made it sound like you didn’t have one, so I figured it might be a good gift.” My heart starts to pound as he continues, “You can practice wearing it around me until you are comfortable enough to wear it out in public, but it’s time to show off that body, Stel.”

I hold up the bikini, the black zipper and camo print making it look like something G.I. Jane would wear to the beach. Cody moves next to me on the bed, coughing softly into his hand.

“I thought the colour would help show off your warrior side. And make other guys too intimidated to approach you.”

I laugh softly, tears silently cascading down my cheeks.

“It is perfect, Cody. It is so perfect.” I shift on the bed, turning to bury my face into his neck, “Thank you.”

I feel him smile against my shoulder, “Merry Christmas, O’Brien.”

“Merry Christmas, Ellsworth.”

A feeling of hope blossoms inside me, a feeling I haven’t felt since my mother and I got driven off the road by a drunk driver.

I will never be the girl I was before the accident, the one who had a loving mother and a father who loved on occasion. But maybe one day I can become someone who isn’t afraid to show her battle scars to the world.