25. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Cody

I snatch the ball away from Hunter, pivot, and hurl it back across the gym.

Hunter gives me a dirty look before running to join the back of the line. I’ve had the team doing drills for the last hour, trying to get as much technical training as possible before tournament season kicks off again.

“Cap, you’ve got to let some of the guys make it past the defense line. I’m falling asleep over here.”

I turn to see our goaltender lounging on the ground, using his lacrosse stick as an uncomfortable pillow. Nico’s helmet is pushed onto his forehead, and unlike the rest of the team, there isn’t a drop of perspiration on it.

“The man’s got a new boo, he’s feeling lucky.” Mason gives me a shit-eating grin from his position on the defense line. The rest of the team is lined up near the massive tiger mural on the wall, Taber’s mascot growling at every player who has tried and failed to take a shot on net today.

“More like he’s been getting lucky.” Nico says the unhelpful comment loud enough for the rest of the rookies to hear, drawing hoots and cheers from the lineup.

I ignore them and wave for the next person to go. Wes charges forward, his speed considerably faster than it was at the start of the year, and almost manages to make it past me with a quick deke to the right. I catch the swerve just in time, knocking him off-balance with a shoulder check before stealing the ball and passing it to Mason. Wes grunts and returns to the line while Nico makes a show of yawning behind me.

“Can I check out early? I’ve got a hot date to get ready for tonight.”

I glance at the clock on the wall, “What time is your date?”

“Nine-thirty. But prep starts at six.” Nico shoots me a wink, “Not all of us can roll out of bed looking sexy as hell.”

Mason glances at the rookie, “I don’t know man, you always look good to me.”

“Aw babe, you’re making me blush.”

I pointedly look at the clock again, “Your prep time is three hours away.”

“That gives me just enough time to finish visualizing. Got to be in the right mindset to score some goals if ya know what I mean.”

I shake my head, wishing I could cut practice short so I could have my own hot date. It’s been three days since I last saw Stella, and every minute we’ve been apart is a minute she’s been weighing on my mind.

“If I’m stuck here, so are you. Next!”

STELLA: My first appointment is Friday 4PM. Think I could swing by your place after?

ME: Of course, but I don’t want you to drive.

My phone rings the second I hit send, and I grin as Stella’s aggravated voice comes down the line.

“Don’t be ridiculous, I am fully capable of driving myself to therapy.”

“It’s not about being capable, Stel. It’s going to be an emotional experience for you, and I don’t want you to be at risk because you’re distracted.”

Stella goes silent and I can hear the counter arguments forming in her head.

Finally, she sighs, “Fine. Can you drop me off and pick me up then?”

I smile, “Don’t sound so disappointed. At least we’ll get to see each other.” Quickening my pace to a jog, I run through the empty corridors of the university, my night class having started five minutes ago.

“Yeah.” Stella exhales through the phone, “I miss you.”

The pang in my chest feels dangerously close to homesickness that’s associated with a person.

“I miss you too. I knew not seeing you was going to be difficult but…”

“It’s difficult.” She laughs, finishing my sentence and just the sound of it makes my day seem a whole lot brighter.

“And it’s only been three days. Imagine what tournament season is going to be like.”

I hate being the one to voice concern, but it’s a concern that has been bothering me for a while now. It has only been 72 hours since I woke up beside Stella and gave her a goodbye kiss, but that feels like an eternity ago. We live in the same city and yet our schedules make it feel like we’re two boats passing in the night. Even our gym routine from first semester has been thrown off with additional lacrosse practices.

“Times three.”

“Huh?”

Stella laughs, a small sound that lacks any sense of humour, “We’re going to have to do this for the next three years. Until you run out of eligibility to play lacrosse. And by then, we should both be graduated.”

I frown, pausing outside my classroom door. The lecture is already underway, but this conversation is more important.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Make it sound like we’re not worth it.”

Stella sighs, “It’s just a lot to think about.”

Leaning against the nearby wall, I exhale, wishing the answers were closer than they are right now.

“You know, a girl once told me you can’t look at relationships with a rational point of view. We’re always going to be too busy or too complicated unless you’re willing to fight for it.”

“She sounds like a smart one, that girl.” I can hear the smile in Stella’s voice.

“She’s brilliant. And sexy as hell.”

“Oh? Please, go on.”

I chuckle, “There aren’t enough words in this world to describe you, Stel. You are wonderful. You are kind. You are mine.”

“And now he rhymes.” Stella laughs, “I love you, Ellsworth.”

“I love you too, O’Brien.”

The words come out as easy as breathing, a truth that has always been known but just now spoken out loud.

Stella sighs, “I should let you get to class. Text me later, okay?”

“Always.” I clear my throat before continuing, “And hey, we’re going to figure this out. It’s stressing me as well, but as long as we stay strong and stay together, it’s all going to work out.”

“I believe you. Now, run along before you get detention.”

I laugh and hang up the phone, pushing through the door and snagging an open seat at the back. The professor gives me a nod of acknowledgement, but no one else spares me a second glance.

There’s only one grinning fool in the back who realizes at least one person in this room is completely and madly in love.

Stella

Lou takes pity on me the next morning.

“Okay, I’ll workout with you.” My sullen mood skyrockets, the beaming smile spreading across my face making her own scrunch up in a grimace.

“But,” Lou holds up a hand, “No burpees. Or anything else that might make me puke.”

“Deal.” We shake on it, and I practically skip all the way back to our dorm to get ready. I’ve been in a bit of a funk not seeing Cody all week, but I’ve been doing my best not to let it show.

Obviously my efforts didn’t pay off.

“I don’t have to change, do I?” Lou tugs self-consciously at the oversized concert t-shirt tucked into her mom jeans. The fact she was thinking of wearing jeans to the gym tells you everything there is to know about Lou’s exercise regime.

“I’m choosing not to answer that. Here, I’ve got you covered.” I dash to my closet and return with an adorable gym outfit in my hands.

Lou takes the offering with a frown, “Why would you buy workout gear for me? You know I’ve never stepped foot in Taber’s gym.”

I shrug, “I always knew one day I’d convince you to join me. My willpower is just too strong.”

She mumbles something under her breath as she takes the matching tank top and leggings, the crease between her brows prominent as she studies the fabric.

“Are you sure this is my size? It looks too small.”

I call over my shoulder as I head into my room to change, “Have I ever steered you wrong when it comes to outfits?”

“It’s probably best if I don’t answer that.”

“Put an end to this misery.” Lou flops to the ground, her baby blue tank top looking spectacular against the backdrop of the core mat.

“You haven’t done a sit up yet.”

“Sit up? Since when are we doing sit ups? I thought we were done the workout.” It takes every ounce of willpower not to laugh at Lou’s baffled expression.

“Hon, we just finished warm up.”

Lou gasps, “But we were running!”

I nod my head patiently, “You have to warm up your body before starting the hard stuff. We were only on the treadmill for ten minutes.”

Lou scowls and I decide not to point out that she walked for nine of those ten minutes.

“What are we doing now then?”

“Well, normally I pick different HIIT exercises to rotate through, but I thought we’d start with some easier bodyweight exercises.”

Lou gives me a blank stare and I sigh, “Let’s try doing a few sit ups and see how they go. Try for five.”

She starts with painful slowness, her knees knocking together each time she makes it to the top. My cheering goes a long way to put back the smile on Lou’s face, and by the time she finishes five sit ups, she almost looks like she is having a good time.

Lou beams, “Are we done now?”

So maybe not that much of good a time.

I shake my head, “You’ve got two more rounds and then we are going to do some dumbbells.” The smile slips from her face and the scowl makes a grand return.

“Do you want to know the fun part about dumbbells?” I motion for her to lean in, which she does, but not before giving me the evil eye.

“We can use the mirrors to check out the gym bros.”

Lou looks at me quizzically, “I thought you and Cody were a thing now?”

I wave my hands impatiently, “It’s not about the guys themselves, it’s about admiring physique. Cody would appreciate my appreciation.”

Lou gives me a disbelieving look, so I play my final card.

“The best part is watching grown men pose to themselves in the mirror. Even the unfit ones do it, it’s like a free-for-all vanity contest around here.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I am dead serious. Take a look for yourself.”

Lou scrambles to stand beside me, and I nod over to the weight section across from us.

“Blonde in the left corner. Red shirt, black shorts. Looks like a swimmer with those lats.”

We watch in anticipation as the Dorito-shaped man finishes his hammer curls, drops the weights to the floor, and casually turns to the side, watching his arms pop with the infamous Mr. Universe pose.

“Does he not know everyone can see him?” Lou starts to giggle as he drops the pose and resumes lifting like nothing ever happened.

I shrug, “I have no idea, but they all do it. Gym bros are a different breed.” Nudging Lou’s shoulder, I call out our next contender, “Pornstar moustache, 12 o’clock. Checking his teeth for lunchtime leftovers.”

Lou gasps, “He just pulled something out of his teeth and ate it.”

“Nothing like a protein boost mid-lift.”

We crack up, drawing attention from other gym patrons nearby. The late morning crowd isn’t as intense as the early-morning one, so I’m not too concerned about ruining the do-or-die atmosphere.

Lou’s still laughing as she wipes tears from her eyes, “Have you ever caught Cody doing something like that? He’s technically a gym bro, isn’t he?”

“Oh, for sure. You know the way he runs his hand through his hair?” I mimic the motion, making sure to pause at the top to flex my bicep.

“It’s a good move.”

“I’ve caught him practicing it in a mirror at home.”

Lou grins, “No way.”

“Yes way. The only reason I didn’t give him shit about it is because it’s one of my favourite moves.” I wink, “Outside the bedroom, of course.”

Lou’s cheeks flush pink just as a familiar voice reaches me.

“O’Brien! Hitting the gym before and after the sun comes up now, eh?” Unruly dark curls pop into my peripheral and I turn to my friend with a smile.

“Any excuse to see you, Stephen.”

He sighs, placing a hand above his heart, “Always knew you would come around. The ‘fro grows on you, doesn’t it?”

Lou laughs, drawing Stephen’s attention. His dark eyes sparkle as they take in my gorgeous roommate.

“And who might this be? Cody is going to be pissed he was so easily replaced.”

“This is Lou, my roommate. She’s dating Wes from the-

“Lacrosse team! Hell, I love that guy. The team gets to train in the high-performance gym, away from us mere mortals, but he always makes sure to stop by and say hi.”

Lou smiles, “That sounds like Wes.”

“Small world.” Stephen shakes his head, a huge grin taking over his face, “Taber University just keeps getting better and better.”

I laugh, “You’ve been here too long.”

“Maybe.” A thoughtful gleam brightens his eyes, “Where has Cody been recently? I haven’t seen him since before the break.”

Lou shoots me a concerned look, no doubt worried her gym efforts to cheer me up have been in vain. Pushing down the sudden heartache, I paste a smile onto my face.

“Tournament season is fast approaching. Practices are mornings and afternoons now.”

What I don’t mention are the extra classes Cody is having to take due to his injury first semester. Our mornings and evenings have been stolen right out from under us, and once tournaments start up, our weekends will be gone as well. Cody keeps talking about spending our nights together, but when he has to get up at 5AM every morning and doesn’t get home until 10PM, the last thing I want to do is take away those few precious hours of sleep.

We went from spending every waking hour together to scheduling hangout times once, sometimes twice a week if we’re lucky.

The whiplash hurts to say the least.

“Bummer. Do you two still find time to bicker?”

Lou laughs, reclaiming Stephen’s full attention.

“I am glad someone else noticed their constant arguing!”

I cross my arms with a huff, “We are just two opinionated people. Sometimes we bump heads.”

“Sometimes?” Stephen grins, turning to Lou, “You should have seen them first semester. Every morning it was like watching two lions fight over a gazelle. Pure entertainment.”

Lou smirks, “Who would win?”

I narrow my eyes, “Choose your next words wisely.”

He chuckles, “With one exception, I always place my bets on O’Brien. And to-date, I have never lost a bet.”

I nod, satisfied with his answer while Lou raises her eyebrow in question.

“What was the one exception?”

Stephen grins, “Who was going to end up with O’Brien.”

I blink in surprise, “There was a bet for that?”

“Of course. And for that one, my money was always on Cody.”