8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Stella

I shiver as we push through Taber’s main entrance, the cold night air biting through my thin jean jacket. Not my best weather choice by any means, but the denim-on-denim look was worth it.

“Why didn’t you bring a real coat, Stel? There was a coat check for a reason.”

Cody breaks our hand hold to shrug off his winter jacket and wrap it around my shoulders. The worn fleece sleeves hang past my hands, enveloping me in Cody’s leftover body heat. I snuggle deeper into the warmth, not bothering to protest the act of chivalry.

“Because I knew you’d bring one for me.”

Cody grunts, his breath visible against the dark night sky.

I fall silent, tilting my head back to spy the faint stars shining above us. It’s easy to spot the one that shines the brightest, just left of the crescent moon peeping through the clouds. I sneak a look at Cody then blow a quick kiss to the star, a tradition my mom and I created back when she was alive, and we’d had a really good day.

The more love you give, the more you’ll get. Which star are you going to choose tonight my darling girl?

I smile at the memory, it’s one I haven’t had in years. If there was one thing my mother believed in, it was that the universe provides if you’re willing to give something in return. For her, that meant spending every day of her life performing little acts of kindness to anyone and everyone that crossed her path. Whether that meant donating her last dollar or being the first to raise a toast, my mother was the brightest star long before her soul drifted into the night sky.

“I, uh, had a good time tonight.” Cody’s gravelly voice drags me back to present and I turn to see his wind-bitten cheeks smiling sheepishly at me.

“Oh, did you now?” Despite my teasing tone, a beaming smile takes over my features.

I’ve never had a good poker face.

He nods, deadpan, “Not the worst Friday night I’ve had.”

I throw my head back and laugh, the freezing wind picking up the sound and carrying it far away. Snow crunches under our boots as we approach the doors to my residence building, and with a quick swipe of my access card, I lead us inside.

“Thank you for tonight, Cody. I mean it.” My voice sounds louder now that we’re inside and a glimpse of my reflection in the night-painted window has me holding back a wince.

Alberta winds are such a bitch.

Cody crosses his arms and leans against the corridor wall, the motion pulling his paisley shirt tight against his broad chest. My eyes track the movement, lazily tracing every muscle outline peeping through the deep red material.

“There’s no need to thank me. I owed you, remember?”

The cheerful glint in Cody’s brown eyes is making me forget a lot of things at the moment. Things like why it would be a bad idea to invite the varsity captain back to my dorm.

One night of fun wouldn’t hurt, would it?

“I don’t know why you used the past tense. Last time I checked, you are only off the hook if I approved of your performance.” I pretend to shoot him with my finger while Cody rolls his eyes.

“You O’Brien’s are always changing the rules, aren’t you?” He pushes off the wall and takes a step closer. One more step and our bodies would be pressed together.

“Somebody’s got to keep you on your toes.” I tilt my head back to look up at him, his shoulders almost completely blocking my view of the overhead lamp barely staying alive.

I’ve never been much of a climber, but I’d be willing to give those shoulders a go.

We stand like that, staring at each other for what seems like forever. Finally, I realize I’m still wearing the man’s jacket and shrug it off.

That’s probably what he’s been waiting for.

“Why’d you do it?” The question leaves my lips as I pass the jacket back to him.

“Do what?”

“You know,” I wave my hands in the air like I just discovered mime was my sole reason for living, “For pretending we were together back there.”

I was surprised when Cody started the charade, but mostly relieved. Having to admit one’s single status, or worse, a just-friends situation is so much worse after witnessing a cute couple fake fight over the retelling of their love story.

“Oh, yeah. No worries.” Cody shrugs as if he didn’t just save me from a long night of single itis. All the single ladies out there know what I’m talking about.

“Why’d you do it?” I repeat my question, watching closely for a reaction. Cody falls silent, his jaw clenching slightly as if the interrogation is starting to make him uncomfortable.

Interesting.

“You know, Mo always goes on about how much of a stand-up, honest guy you are. But pretending to be my boyfriend back there doesn’t fit with the wholesome vibe you’ve got going on. So, why did you do it? Why did you play pretend?”

Cody’s eyes darken and a line furrows between his brows. But still, he remains silent.

Damn the stubborn man and his powers of resistance.

Tapping my fingers against my lips, I look at him in mock contemplation, “Something doesn’t add up here, Ellsworth. Mind helping a girl out?”

He gives a slight shake of the head, so subtle I almost miss it. The muscles popping along his jawline are hard to miss, though.

Not that I’m going to complain about the view, but the man is going to need dentures by the time he’s thirty if he keeps that up.

I take half a step closer, bringing me well within touching distance.

My heart starts to pound at the close proximity, my breaths becoming more and more shallow. Cody, for his part, doesn’t seem to be breathing at all, just waiting for my next move.

“I think maybe you like breaking character, Ellsworth. I think maybe you like breaking the rules sometimes, being the rebel nobody expects the hardworking varsity captain to be.”

My words are no louder than a whisper, but they manage to waken the energy between us. Our eyes have yet to break contact and suddenly the temptation to touch him feels too strong to resist.

So, I don’t.

Cody exhales heavily as I press my hands against his chest. My eyes never leave his as I gently slide my hands up the front of his shirt, up and around the back of his neck.

“I think you’re wrong.” Cody’s voice comes out raspy, the growl-like sound sending a shiver down my spine.

“Well, I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

Pulling him down to my level, I don’t give him a chance to think before I press my lips against his.

Cody

Stella O’Brien is kissing me.

I am kissing Stella O’Brien.

Different variations of that same thought run through my head like a victory lap stuck on repeat. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about kissing Stella before now.

Ever since that fateful morning at the gym, this girl has plagued my mind from the moment I wake up to my last thought before I fall asleep.

And now it’s finally happening.

Stella’s small hands impatiently tug at my neck, bringing me closer to her mouth that has yet to come up for air. Our tongues tangle together like the desperately needed oxygen will be found if we just keep searching. She nips my bottom lip and I groan, the unforgotten semi in my jeans springing to life once more.

Stella finally breaks contact for air, and I drop down to her neck, leaving a trail of gentle kisses along the narrow slope and down to the top of her collarbone. My hands trail down the curve of her ass and grip the top of her thighs, lifting her up to my height and spinning us around to use the wall for leverage.

Grabbing my face, Stella brings my mouth back to hers, kissing me through a moan as she grinds against the bulge in my jeans. I kiss her back hungrily, using my body as a cage to keep her where I want her.

I couldn’t tell you how long we stayed like that: lips locked, Stella’s legs around my waist, callused hands trying unsuccessfully to rip through western wear. All I know is one minute my senses are being overridden by a savage pixie and the next someone is awkwardly clearing their throat behind us.

“Oh hey, Stella. I thought that was you.” My lust-filled brain clears just enough for me to realize we are still standing in front of the entrance to Stella’s residence building.

Where anyone and everyone can see us.

Oops.

I gently lower Stella back to the ground, holding onto her arm as she steadies herself. After she gives me a dazed nod, I gently release her and turn to see none other than my favourite rookie and his girlfriend standing by the residence door.

“Hey Lou! Yup, it’s me.”

Stella nervously tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and I have to bite back a smile at the chaotic state of her hair. Her cowgirl hat got knocked off in our make out session and my hands made quick work of messing up Stella’s normally impeccable mane.

I make eye contact with Wes’ girlfriend, who immediately blushes deep red like she was the one caught doing something naughty. Wes, on the other hand, seems to be speechless for the first time in his life.

“Good to see you, Wes.” I give him a nod but he just gapes in return.

“You just… her… what?”

Swivelling his head between the two of us, Wes looks more dazed than Stella did when I put her back on the ground.

“He was just making sure I got home safely. Right, Ellsworth?” Stella’s lip gloss is all but gone, her toothy smile shining through every feature on her face.

“You got it, O’Brien.” I smile back at her when the bomb hits.

I kissed Maurice O’Brien’s younger sister.

Guilt floods my system, the damaging evidence blazingly obvious. I should have walked her home and left like an actual gentleman. Mo made me responsible for her protection and wellbeing, and yet her hair looks like someone manhandled her against a wall.

Oh God. I manhandled Mo’s baby sister against a wall.

And she really enjoyed it. So did you.

I push the devil voice aside and try my best to tune in to the conversation going on around me.

“… were going to grab some pizza and watch a movie if you’d like to join?”

All three of them are looking at me expectedly and it takes a few seconds for me to connect the dots.

Mo is going to kill me.

Panicked, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, “I, uh, actually have to get going. Early morning practice and all that.”

Wes shoots me a look at the blatant lie, but I am already heading for the door.

“I’ll catch you later, okay?” I steal one last glance at Stella who looks back with disappointment etched across her face.

All three of them stay silent as I push open the door and step into the bitter cold, the residence door swinging shut behind me. Ignoring the tug in my chest, I start trudging back to my car, wishing with each step that doing the right thing didn’t feel so wrong.