The Boyfriend Bracket
Page 12
With a pout she demanded, “Tell me.”
The imp in Will enjoyed Stella’s expectant pout too much. “Like everyone else, you’ll have to wait and see.”
“No fair.” The pout grew deeper. “Don’t I have perks? Being the girlfriend of the creator and the inspiration for the main character?”
“You make a really good point.” He pretended to think about it, then said, “But, no.”
“You’re mean!”
Will disengaged from the embrace and strode to a corner of his room. He reached behind the shelves filled to overflowing with graphic novels and produced a velvet box that fit in the palm of his hand. Stella eyed it when he returned to her side.
“I hope this makes up for the secrecy.” He took her hand and placed the box in it. “Merry Christmas.”
Stella flipped the lid and gasped. She pulled out a silver chain with a pendant in the shape of an hourglass with an exploding star at the center. “Is this the necklace Cyril gave Morla before he was captured and put into suspended animation?”
Will took the necklace from her. Stella turned her back on him. He undid the clasp and put the necklace on her. She closed her hand around the pendant, which rested just above her heart.
“I found this shop that does custom jobs,” Will explained.
“Doesn’t this symbolize Cyril’s immortal love for Morla? That wherever she is, he will always find her?”
“The infinity of time and the brightness of an exploding star. We continue to see its light long after it is gone.”
“That’s huge, Will.”
“Look, don’t freak out. I don’t expect anything in return.” Will spread a hand over his chest. “I know what my feelings are for you, and, like Cyril, I’m willing to wait. You don’t have to say or do anything. Just know that I’m for real.”
Her expression softened. “Will…”
“Will, you up there?” Cam called from out in the hall, his footsteps getting closer.
Stella slapped a hand over her open mouth. Fear was clear in her eyes. Will quickly looked around his room. Other than jumping out of a two-story window, Stella’s only option was the closet. He did a quick inventory of the stuff inside. Nothing too embarrassing for her to find.
He yanked open the door, and without prompting, Stella jumped in. Complete remorse slammed into Will. He hated having to hide Stella in such a manner. It wasn’t what the girl he loved deserved. But what could he do? As soon as he turned away from his closet, his bedroom door opened.
“Did you see my sister?” Cam asked. “I think she came up here.”
Not knowing what to do with his hands, Will crossed his arms. Feeling awkward, he uncrossed them, then stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
“No. No.” He looked around his room, totally blowing trying to act cool. “Not here.”
“You okay?” Cam stepped into his room.
Will stifled the urge to block the closet with his body. “Yeah. Yeah.” He ran his fingers through his hair. Stella had her hands all over the strands earlier. Were they sticking out? Did Cam notice?
“You don’t look okay.” Cam studied him.
“Too many people in the house,” Will blurted out, unable to think of a better excuse. “I hate parties.”
Cam stared at him for a long minute. Will resisted shifting his weight. It was torture. The closet wasn’t that big. And it was filled with his stuff. Stella wouldn’t suffocate, he reminded himself. Although it killed him that she was in there, kicking Cam out might only make him more suspicious.
Finally, Cam blinked. His facial features took on a concerned expression Will didn’t like. “I need to talk to you about something.”
Seeing an opening, Will turned Cam toward the door. “Sure,” he said. “Why don’t we do that downstairs? I’m thirsty.”
Cam quickly turned back around and sat on Will’s bed instead. “It’s better we talk here. It’s about Stella.”
Will’s ears perked up. He glanced at the closet. “What about her?”
“I don’t know how to say this,” Cam began, then sighed. “Dude, I know that you aren’t serious here, but you should be more careful around my sister.”
A thump followed Cam’s words.
“What was that?”
Will coughed into a fist. “Must be a rat. Been hearing things getting knocked over in the attic.”
Cam looked up. “Better take care of that. Where there’s one, there’s always more.”
“That’s what I keep telling Nana.” Will cleared his throat. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk over apple cider?”
“This is serious, bro.” Cam squeezed the back of his neck. “I saw Stella during that lame-ass mistletoe kiss. Thanks, by the way.”
“For what?” Will squeaked out. A cold sweat dotted his back.
“For not taking advantage of her.” Cam got to his feet. All the tension in his shoulders eased. “She used to have such a huge crush on you. We don’t want to get her hopes up.” He turned and walked to the door.
Will swallowed, feeling his throat close. “Of course.”
“Thanks, bro. I knew I could count on you.”
He bit his tongue. What Cam was basically saying was that no matter what Will did, he would never be serious about Stella. Not in her brother’s eyes, anyway. Heart heavy, he glanced back at his closet before leaving his room with Cam.
* * *
ONCE STELLA HEARD the door to Will’s room click shut, she counted to twenty. She figured the number was high enough that it ensured Cam and Will were long gone. That it was safe for her to leave the closet. Yet, when she reached twenty, she didn’t move. She sat on a stack of shoe boxes behind Will’s shirts. They all smelled like him. In fact, the entire closet smelled like him. Despite the cramped space, she was comfortable.
What Cam had said got her thinking. Until that night, she thought she’d hidden her crush on Will pretty well. Apparently, her secret-keeping skills were nonexistent since Cam knew about it. What was he thinking, warning Will away from getting her hopes up? Too late for that. Her hopes were up. Way up, as she closed her hand around the pendant on the necklace Will had given her. She couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present.
But no matter how good a mood she was in, it didn’t erase the fact that Cam was sniffing around. She and Will had to be extra careful moving forward. Stupid mistletoe.
TWELVE
NEW YEAR INSECURITIES
For New Year’s Eve, Will and Stella decided to drive down to the beach, despite it being four hours away, to watch the fireworks. Ringing in the New Year by the ocean seemed so romantic. The perfect place to be with the girl he loved. They made their excuses and snuck away into the cool night air.
At an hour to midnight, Will laid out a blanket a few yards away from the roaring bonfire on the beach. On the other side of the blue flames caused by the salty driftwood were the revelers who wanted to dance the last night of the year away. Those who wanted a low-key celebration spread out along the sand on blankets. The fireworks would fly from a platform floating by the distant buoys.
Stella stretched out on the blanket and patted the space beside her. Not having to be invited twice, Will positioned himself by her side and pulled her close. She rested her head on his chest, splaying her hand there too. She sighed in contentment.
Will cradled the back of his head by bending his other arm. He felt the same calm, the same ease that seemed to flow out of Stella into him. Watching the vast expanse above them on a clear night, it was easy to get lost in each other’s company. It was as if Will and Stella fit together in a way only the universe could be responsible for, he thought while running his fingers through her silky hair. He breathed in the salty breeze.
Yet no matter how content Will felt, his conversation with Cam over Christmas still bothered him. It led him to say, “I think Cam’s right.”
“Don’t let him hear you,” Stella responded with a snort. “His ego is big enough.”
“Because all big brothers are jerks?”
Will smirked. “I’m being serious.”
“And I’m not?”
He imagined Stella raising her eyebrow from her tone. The truth of their situation hit him all at once. “I hate to admit it, but you deserve better, Slappy.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
The quick defense in her voice warned Will to tread carefully. Murky waters ahead.
“Just that…” He sighed. “You deserve someone who can give you the world.”
Stella sat up and looked down at Will, her expression matching the seriousness of their conversation. “For your information, I don’t need a guy to give me the world. I can get everything I want myself. I’m the one who decides what I deserve. Don’t tell Cam. I love him, but he can be so blind.”
“You think so?” Will tried and failed to suppress his confusion.
“I know so.” Stella raised her chin. “Cam is so busy ‘protecting’ me that he doesn’t see that I’m more than capable of protecting myself.” Then she poked Will’s shoulder. “Where is this insecurity coming from? Is it because we have to hide this?” She pointed at him then herself in a back-and-forth motion.
“I’d be crazy not to want to show all the world that we’re together.”
“This isn’t some caveman thing, is it? Because I’m telling you now, that doesn’t fly with me. I want a guy who knows who he is and what he wants. A guy who can stand on his own.”
Will stayed silent for the longest time. Stella waited, but it seemed like she was lost in thought. He couldn’t allow her to think that the two of them being together wasn’t a good thing. Not after he had liked her for years. So he reached out and cupped her cheek. She covered his hand with hers and entwined their fingers together. Her attention returned to him immediately. Will loved that about her. Even before they got together—albeit on the down low—she always had the ability to make him feel like he was the only one who mattered in that moment.
“You’re a good guy, Will. You tolerate my brother for God only knows what reason.” She continued when he shook his head. “You take care of Nana and always check on her even when you don’t need to. And you understand that your parents are helping make the world a better place. What’s not to like?”
“My good looks? My awesome personality?”
“There’s that too. And the abs.”
“Oh, good. Nice to know my hours in the gym are paying off.”
Maintaining eye contact, she said, “Will, I know it’s tough keeping this—us—from him, but I wouldn’t have let us come this far if I didn’t think you were worth it.”
A smile tugged at Will’s lips. Then he brought the back of her hand to his mouth and said, “You’ve got it all figured out, huh?”
Stella faked surprise. “I’m shocked it’s taken you this long to fall for my charms.”
He sat up and closed the fingers of his free hand around the back of her neck. He brought her closer until their lips met. Stella sank into the kiss. Will felt her soften against him.
“I’ve been in love with your charms for years, Slappy,” he said against her lips.
She grimaced, pulling back so she could look into his eyes. “Why do you still keep calling me by that stupid nickname, then?”
He kissed the beginnings of her pout away. “It’s an adorable nickname.”
She rolled her beautiful eyes. The firelight danced in their deep brown depths. “I should really just break up with you. Maybe I do deserve better.”
With lightning swiftness, Will shifted them so Stella was on her back. She let out an oof of surprise, blinking up at him. He hovered over her, holding both her wrists above her head.
“Not going to happen,” he said, challenge clear in his tone. “You’re stuck with me, Slappy. Better get used to it.”
He saw the shimmer in her eyes, like she wanted to melt, but somehow she managed to maintain a straight face when she said, “Now that’s the guy I fell in like with.”
With heat in her eyes that called to a deep longing in him, Will bent down and finished the kiss he had started. The New Year came and went with them in each other’s arms. The beauty of the explosions in the sky was largely ignored for the moment they spent forging a deeper connection between their hearts.
THIRTEEN
ALL THE FORMALITIES
Stella closed her hand around the bursting star pendant on her neck and studied the dress form. Winter formal was a few days away, and something about her dress bothered her. The draped bodice looked fine. She’d properly executed the one shoulder. She had hand sewn every gray peacock feather onto the high-low skirt. It might have been her best work yet. But something was off. And she couldn’t put her finger on it.
“It’s not silver enough,” said Franklin from her bed. Arms crossed. Legs crossed.
“You don’t get to critique after abandoning me for the holidays,” she said, without taking her eyes off the dress.
“My mom wanted me to explore my roots. And that means Christmas in Korea.”
“Where is my something cute?”
“Oh, as if I would forget.” Franklin produced a wrapped present from his messenger bag and placed it on her bed. “Open it later.” Then he sighed like a drama queen. “Being with family was annoying half the time. Everyone kept feeding me. I have a figure to maintain, after all. The only good thing that came out of that vacay was my being scouted for a K-pop group.”
Stella chuckled. “Of course you’d be scouted. But I can’t imagine you singing and dancing in front of adoring fans.”
“That’s what I told the scout. I would rather dress the singers than be one.” Franklin waved a hand toward her. “Speaking of dress, yours looks like a cross between Grecian goddess and Vegas showgirl.”
“Ouch!”
“That’s not necessarily a bad thing.” Franklin unfolded himself off the bed and stood by her side, observing the dress along with her. “I think it’s the skirt.”
“Too many feathers?”
“Girl, there can’t be too many feathers. If you ask me, there aren’t enough. If you’re going there, then go there.” Franklin circled the dress form. “It’s the high-low hem throwing me off. That trend is over.”
Stella’s eyebrows came together. “You don’t think the skirt will be too busy if I make it full-on feathers?”
“No. Then again, that’s just me. You know how I love myself a bit of drama.”
“A bit?”
“Okay, a lot.”
Grabbing the basket of feathers from beside her desk, Stella got down on her knees and held up a bunch in front of the skirt. She tilted her head and considered. Franklin took the feathers from her and motioned for her to stand and step back.
From a different perspective, the skirt did look better without the shorter front. A part of her was annoyed that she hadn’t noticed it sooner. The other part was thankful for Franklin.
“Help me sew these on?” she pleaded.
Franklin smiled in a way any K-pop artist would be proud of. “I thought you’d never ask.”
* * *
ON THE MORNING of winter formal, Stella received a text from Will saying he was on his way from UCLA. He would pick her up for the dance that night. Her heart skipped. She was so excited to see him and tell him how proud she was of him. A week before, he had texted her the good news. Three editors wanted Morla, enough to go into an auction. She had no idea what that meant, but it sounded really important.
She was happy and nervous for him. He was gaining recognition. And he should be. The comic was fantastic. She didn’t think so just because the main character was based on her. Her pride came from a place of actual admiration. Even her life was on track. Soon she would be hearing from the colleges she had applied to. Then it was Project Runway, baby. Everything was perfect.
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Feeling buoyant and hopeful, Stella spent most of the day getting ready. With Franklin’s help, her dress was more beautiful than ever. She couldn’t wait to walk into that gym and show off her work.
“Stella,” her mother called from downstairs. “You have mail.”
Those three words sent her heart slamming against the walls of her chest. She rarely received mail. It could mean only one thing.
In her robe and with curlers in her hair, Stella rushed downstairs, taking the steps two at a time. That day’s mail was on the side table. By the front door. With shaking fingers, she sorted through the stack until an envelope with the words Parsons School of Design caught her eye.
* * *
THE SECOND WILL was done with his last class, he hopped into his truck and was on his way to Oak Hills. To Stella. He wanted to see her beautiful face. Hear her voice in person. No more calls. No more texts. He was eager to be in her orbit again. He wanted to tell her about the results of the auction. The comic he had been painstakingly working on was being published by DC Comics under their Vertigo imprint. The same company that had brought Sandman to the world. It was official. He was several degrees of separation away from Neil Gaiman.
He had never allowed himself to dream of the possibility. Now it was on the table. Surreal was the best word to describe his current situation.
But when Will was an hour out of town, he pushed aside his desire to head straight for Stella’s house. She was probably busy getting ready. He needed to do the same. If he saw her now, there was no way he was leaving her side. She wouldn’t appreciate going to winter formal while he was still in his jeans and T-shirt.
He checked his phone and sent Stella a quick reply about picking her up. There was also a text from Franklin reminding him to pick up a bouquet. It was a nice change from a typical corsage, the boy with a neon streak in his hair said. Who was Will to disagree? Smiling, he silently thanked Franklin’s quick thinking.
Before he left for UCLA after holiday break, he had asked Stella about her dress. She’d refused to show it to him. No matter how he poked. Prodded. Begged. She stayed firm. She even kept the color to herself.