2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Stella

2 minutes remaining…

The three little words blinking on the bottom of my computer screen triggers my heart to pump harder than it did during this morning’s workout. The exam’s clock counts down the seconds remaining on my exam as I take one final breath and move my cursor to the submit button. Body odour of the strongest caliber fills my nostrils as the guy to my left swivels anxiously in his chair.

Swallowing the urge to gag, I sneak a glance over and see the poor guy made the mistake of wearing grey today on top of forgetting deodorant. The rancid smell coming from his underarms actually pales in comparison to the unfortunate stains running down either side of his torso.

Relatable.

With a heavy exhale, I press submit just as the timer starts flashing red. My screen returns to the home setting, sucking away the last two hours of brain power with a friendly reminder to swipe my access card on the way out.

Resisting the urge to flip off the cartoon tiger providing the animated message, I grab the items littering my desk and head out. I give Grey T-Shirt a supportive pat as I pass him by, and he acknowledges it with a defeated sigh.

Exam season gets to the best of us.

“How did it go?” Lou, who was waiting for me just outside the testing centre, shakes her wavy golden-brown hair out of her eyes as we start the walk back to our dorm.

I sigh, “It’s probably better if we don’t talk about it. That may have ruined my chances of making the Dean’s List this semester.” And if that’s the case, father is not going to be pleased.

Why couldn’t my older brother have been Taber’s all-star lacrosse forward but a terrible student? Or even an average student? Did he really need a degree that said distinguished on it?

If it was easy, everyone would do it.

“I’m sure you did better than you think.” Lou’s voice flows over the one in my head, yanking me out of my spiralling thoughts.

“You’re right, hon. Best to stay positive.” I give her a big smile, hoping it will hide my grimace. The returning nose wrinkle tells me I didn’t succeed.

“Good thing I have something that will cheer you up then.” Lou’s beautiful grey eyes turn up at the corners as a genuine smile takes over her face.

Excitement flows through my veins at her words, and unable to help myself, I clap my hands together and squeal in anticipation. Nothing beats surprises.

“Well, there’s a lacrosse party happening at Mason’s tonight, and I was wondering if you would want to be my plus one?” The excitement vibrating through me slows to a dull throb.

“A lacrosse party?” Throwing my hands on my hips, I whirl around to face my roommate, “Wouldn’t that mean you are already someone else’s plus one?”

A faint blush creeps along Lou’s cheeks like it always does whenever someone mentions her boyfriend. It has managed to stay adorable since they started dating a couple of months ago, and I honestly can’t imagine a day when Lou loses her signature relationship blush. My only complaint is now I have to share this amazing girl with another human being.

“I mean, Wes technically invited me, but he was adamant that you come along.” Lou ducks her head, a telltale sign she’s worried about upsetting me.

“And why would your sex-god of a boyfriend be so insistent I come along? Lord knows you two love your alone time.” I already know the answer to my question, but sometimes it’s fun to play along.

Plus, I can never miss out on an opportunity to poke fun at Lou’s newly active sex life.

“Well, that is true…” The blush on her cheeks grows rosier as a cheeky grin splits her face. Bet you a thousand dollars she’s thinking sinful thoughts right now.

Mama has never been prouder.

“But I think Wes wanted you to come for Cody. I mean, we will be together the whole time, but by the sounds of it, I think Caveman Cody misses you.”

I snort a laugh at the nickname as well as the statement. If the captain missed me so much, then why didn’t he reach out more? Or make up an excuse to see me?

He was worried what Mo would think.

The answer comes immediately but it doesn’t reduce my annoyance one bit. Sometimes asking rhetorical questions is not the way to go. If you don’t want the answer, don’t ask the question.

Bet you can guess who taught me that motto.

“I highly doubt Caveman Cody missed my company, but if my sister wants my presence at this party, then I will gladly attend.” A shy smile tugs Lou’s lips at my use of the endearment.

“I would really love for you to come tonight, Stella. I’ll even let you pick out my outfit.”

“And do your hair?”

Lou gulps audibly and I bite back a laugh. I dressed her up as an eighty’s rocker chick one time and she has never gotten over it. The matching leather pantsuits I’d picked out for us were uncomfortable, I’ll admit, but that didn’t stop us from winning the costume contest.

She puffs out a breath and nods tentatively, “And my hair.”

I let out a small shriek of excitement, “I already have so many ideas of what look I want to try on you.”

Lou tries to give me a smile but this time it’s her turn to grimace.

“Real talk: Do we want to give Wes an immediate erection or just enough of a tease that he will carry you off to bed and worship you for hours later?”

Lou props herself up with one of my pillows, the red velvet comforter shifting smoothly beneath her.

“Should I be concerned about the use of “we” in this scenario?”

I wave off her comment over my shoulder, not bothering to turn my attention from my open closet.

“I am simply an invested third-party observer, think of me as your fairy godmother who helps you get laid. I do the prep work, Wes does the real work, and you reap the benefits.”

Biting on her lip to keep from laughing, Lou tugs on her Blink-182 t-shirt, “Not going to lie, this normally does the trick.”

Pushing down the tinge of jealousy in my gut, I spin around and give her an indignant sniff, “You said I get to pick what you wear tonight and do your hair. Now, answer the question please.”

“Fine.” Flopping back on the bed, Lou stares up at the miscoloured splotches on my ceiling. I don’t know where they came from, and frankly, I hope I never do. First-year dorms have a lot of things going for them, but cleanliness and spaciousness are not some of them.

“I mean, we don’t know how long this party is going to be, and I don’t want him to suffer… so the second one?” Choosing to ignore the uncertainty pinned to the end of that sentence, I resume my hunt until I find what I’m looking for.

“Aha!” Using my weight to force the rickety closet door wider, I reach for the back of my closet and pull out a cobalt blue, low-cut top I have been saving for an occasion such as this one.

Truth is, half the clothes in here are things I have picked up for my roommate and I just keep them safe until outings call for them to be revealed. Not that Lou knows that, of course, I let her think she’s borrowing something of mine, and always end up letting her keep it.

It sounds worse than it is. I like to think of it as investing in my roommate’s wellbeing. Everything I buy for Lou always looks amazing on her, but if I gave her everything at once, she’d be overwhelmed. Plus, Lou is blessed with modest curves and a slight frame that she keeps hidden under baggy clothes, so I consider it my responsibility to help show off the amazing figure Lou doesn’t even realize she has.

The only reason she hasn’t caught on to my scheme yet is because the poor girl doesn’t have a clue how sizing works.

“I’ve never worn a backless shirt before.” Holding up the shirt backwards, Lou peers at it like it’s a puzzle she can’t figure out.

Walking the two steps from my closet to my bed, I gently take the shirt from Lou’s hands and turn it around to explain the item’s function.

“My dear Lou, you aren’t ready for a backless top. That would mean no bra.” The look of horror on my non fashionista’s face has me patting her hand in reassurance.

“This is the front. It’s meant to show off those impressive boobs you have.”

“That’s the front?” Disbelief oozes through her tone as I nod my head patiently.

“That’s right. Remember the movie we watched last night? Bend and snap? This is how to show off your snap without breaking Wes’ nose.”

I love my roommate dearly, but I wouldn’t put it past her to accidentally put her boyfriend in the emergency room. The pair of them met crashing into each other on move-in day, so pulling a Paulette from Legally Blonde really isn’t that far of a stretch.

“The colour is going to look amazing with your eyes, especially once I add some sparkly powder and do your hair.” I clap my hands with finality, leaving no room for argument.

“Wes does love my eyes.” Murmuring the words almost unconsciously, Lou continues to analyze the piece of fabric taunting her on the bed. Satisfied my job is complete, I walk back to my closet and start rummaging for myself.

“What are you going to wear tonight?” The question pulls a smile to my lips as a memory flashes behind my eyes. Closing them for the briefest second, I step back into the past only for heartache to yank me back to present.

Sparks of pain shoot up my torso, scattering like fireworks along my ribs, and sending a prick of heat behind my eyes. The phantom pain isn’t anything new and neither is the wave of grief, but it still manages to throw me off-balance.

“Stella? Everything okay?”

Quickly clearing my throat, I blindly grab the first item in front of me.

“Right as rain. This is what I’m going to wear.” I can’t see Lou’s expression from the tears blurring my eyes, but I hear her sharp intake of breath.

“Are you sure you’re… oh my.” The silence that follows is long enough for me to compose myself and look at the item I randomly choose from my side of the closet.

Oh, dear God.

Pasting a smile to my face, I drape the item on the bed for Lou’s scrutiny. It was not at all what I had in mind for tonight, but I said I was going to wear it so that’s what I am going to do.

The O’Brien stubbornness can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.

“Well?” I mentally flip through the hairstyle options I’d been considering for tonight and discard them all. This calls for something different.

A smile snakes from the corner of Lou’s lips, all the way up to the tips of her ears, “Caveman Cody might find himself with harder issues to handle tonight than just his recovery.”

I burst out laughing, “Wes has even turned your puns dirty, hasn’t he?”

A sly grin is all I get in response.