Hostile for the Holidays

9. Stella

NINE

STELLA

“Everyone is going to The Merry Moose tonight to hang out,” Sadie announces as she passes the platter of beef tenderloin to Daniel.

“Who’s everyone?” I ask, distracted as I pull my eyes from where I’ve been staring at Jasper’s lips for the hundredth time this meal.

I’ve been replaying the moment between us by the tree over and over, but it still doesn’t feel like it could have happened. Did I almost kiss Jasper?

His head had dipped low, making his intentions known, and instead of pulling back, I leaned in.

That wasn’t even the most alarming thing.

In that moment, when I was teasing the back of his neck with my fingers, I realized I’m attracted to Jasper. There had been the tell-tale flutter in my belly, the quickening of my pulse, and then to my horror, my underwear was soaked.

After my parents interrupted us, I’d pretended nothing had happened, continuing to hang ornaments with Jasper on the tree, all the while fighting the dull ache between my thighs. Before dinner, I’d escaped to my room to change my underwear, vehemently tossing the wet pair into my laundry hamper to rid myself of the evidence of my body’s traitorous actions.

“Friends from high school, anyone in town for the holidays and the wedding.” Sadie’s response brings me back to the conversation.

That sounds like a bad idea. It’s one thing to try to convince Daniel, who doesn’t know Jasper’s and my history, but I don’t know that I’m ready to take our fake relationship out in such a public place. Things between us are intense, maybe now more than ever, as I try to figure out what that almost-kiss means. How are we going to convince our old classmates that we’ve patched things up and started dating of all things?

Before I can turn down the invitation, Jasper answers for me.

“We’ll be there.”

The Merry Moose is a favorite hangout spot in Cedar Hollow. Its décor changes with the season and my favorite time of year is when it’s decked out in holly and strands of lights with large, vintage-style colored bulbs. Wreaths are hung on the walls, ornaments dangle in rows from the ceiling, and the large mahogany bar is lit up red and green beneath the bar top.

In the back of the bar there are two pool tables, a dart board, and a Skee-Ball game that I currently hold the record for the highest score on.

The moment I walk through the front door, it’s cozy and warm, with Christmas music playing beneath the buzz of people’s conversations. I’m happy I came.

Jasper walks in behind me, and helps me out of my coat, hanging it on one of the many hooks on the wall by the door.

After I adjust my sweater and hair, I turn back to the bar and the whole place is staring at us.

We’re like exotic animals at the zoo. Jasper and Stella out in the wild. Never seen before. Or at least not like this.

Jasper clasps my hand in his and pulls me forward. “Come on, let’s get a drink.”

Our forward motion snaps everyone back into their conversations yet I can still feel eyes on us as we make our way to the bar.

Beside me, Jasper’s shoulder brushes mine. The contact shouldn’t be unnerving. It’s a simple shoulder brush. Two sweaters rubbing up against each other. But combined with the depth of his hazel gaze on me and the way his scent—warm, yet fresh like mint and cool mountain air—wraps itself around me, I’m hyperaware of how every cell in my body is reacting to him.

I fight against every single one of those cells, and stiffen in response.

“Why are you so close?” I ask, annoyance seeming to be my only way to handle this new development.

“When you like someone, you want to stand close to them,” Jasper whispers.

I cough out a laugh. “So, you can see why this would be a struggle for me.”

His confident smile doesn’t waver. “Then we’ll practice.”

Jasper shifts his body behind mine, caging me in against the bar.

Maybe if I suck in, I can create more space between us. But suck in what? My front is already pressed firmly against the bar. My butt?

I squeeze my cheeks together, but the action only makes my glute muscles swell, lifting and extending my ass outward. The opposite of my desired outcome.

Sucking in your butt isn’t a thing because it’s just there existing behind you, and the only thing it can do is flex or relax.

“Are you flexing your butt?” he asks.

“You wish,” is my only comeback.

What the hell is wrong with me? I’m a twenty-eight-year-old woman who has stood next to men before.

Not Jasper Jensen, my oh so helpful brain retorts.

So, I give up and let my butt exist in the miniscule space between us.

He lifts one hand off the bar to get the bartender’s attention, and the shift in movement has his front brushing against my back, his black denim-clad crotch skimming against my ass. It’s only a graze, and yet my body reacts like he put his hand between my thighs.

Jasper Jensen, my longtime rival and the bane of my existence, has stirred something inside of me, and that something is now on the outside.

I’m hot. I’m achy. And my underwear needs to be changed. AGAIN.

I’m so startled by the sensation, I drop the glass of water I’d just filled from the water station in my hand and it spills all over the bar.

“Shit. I’m sorry.” I reach out for a stack of napkins, trying to mop up the water.

Jasper reaches over me to help, but it doesn’t help, because it only reminds my body of how delicious it feels to have his pressed to mine.

“I got it,” I snap.

“Just trying to help.”

“Well, you’re not,” I hiss, trying to put extra venom into my response. It’s my only defense mechanism at this point. “It’s my mess and I can clean it up myself.” I’m clearly referring to the spilt water, not what’s happening between my thighs.

Just then, Cady Cosgrove, a classmate of ours, approaches us.

“I can’t believe it.” She giggles. “Stella St. James and Jasper Jensen. Together. And you’re not being forced like that community service mandate after the chemistry lab fiasco.”

“Ha ha. Yeah, that was hilarious.” I laugh extra loud, hoping it will cover up all the uncomfortable feelings I’m having.

Jasper and I had the same top grade in chemistry class, and we were determined to outdo the other by finishing the extra credit lab assignment Mrs. Vlasky gave us, but we got in a fight and nearly burned down the chemistry lab. It earned us after-school community service, and we had to clean the lab while our classmate, Leena Basu, ended up completing the extra credit and getting the top grade.

A small group of high school classmates and old friends join our group and we move to a high-top table near the bar, so we can set our drinks on it.

“We’ve seen all the articles and media about your company, Jensen,” Scott Symes says, “but tell us what you’ve been up to since we saw you last.”

I might have been tempted to sneak off, but the second Jasper starts talking about his company and the virtual reality program they’ve built for education purposes in schools, I’m captivated.

The program sounds great, but it’s also how passionate Jasper is when he talks about it. Several people ask him questions about the technology and that’s when he really geeks out. But instead of being turned off, I find myself leaning in to hear more.

The way his eyes light as he talks, the curve of his mouth is not only sweet, but kind of sexy. And before long, I’m staring at his lips again.

The group quiets and I lift my eyes to Jasper’s to find him staring back at me, a playful smile on his lips.

“I could go on for hours, but the real excitement is Stella’s promotion to Creative Director at East & Ivy.” He pulls me in close, pressing his lips to my temple and from the stirring in my core, it’s clear I’m going to have to do laundry soon or I’m going to run out of clean underwear.

I give Jasper a small smile. I need to play the part after all. “Thanks, Jass.”

“That’s so amazing.” Cady beams at me. “I love East & Ivy.”

“Thank you.” I carefully lift my espresso martini in a cheers motion.

“You two are Cedar Hollow’s ultimate power couple.” Rex, an old cross-country teammate of ours, tips his head toward Jasper. “Congrats, man.”

“How do you two do the long-distance thing?” That’s Daniel, who just joined the group with Tom and Sadie.

Of course he’s the dissenter here. We’ll just have to make some story up about video chats and planned weekends to visit each other.

“I’m moving to New York next month,” Jasper announces right as I take a sip of my espresso martini and I end up spraying it out of my mouth.

“Jesus, Stellie.” Sadie wipes at her face. “What the heck?”

“Sorry, it went down the wrong pipe.”

“No, it sprayed out of your mouth.”

“Anyways, Jasper is moving to New York?” Cady’s eyes light up. “For Stella? That’s so romantic.”

“For business,” Jasper corrects. “And for Stella.”

The group continues their conversation, the discussion moving to Sadie and Tom’s wedding.

“Excuse me a moment.” I pick up my martini and move away from Jasper.

Sadie’s in mid-conversation but her eyes meet mine. You okay?

I give her a quick nod before leaving the group. I can’t talk right now, I need a moment to collect my thoughts, so I head straight for the back of the bar where the Skee-Ball game is located. A game of Skee-Ball always puts things into perspective.

I pull out my credit card and swipe it on the card reader, then pull the lever to release the set of balls.

Before the game begins, the lights on the scoreboard flash with the initials of the top three highest scorers.

I blink. The top place holder isn’t SS for Stella St. James like it was a year ago. Staring back at me in the top spot are the initials JJ.

Jasper Jensen .