Meet Me at Midnight

02 | Truce?

Nick

Her words take me by surprise. They really shouldn't, but I had a glimpse of hope that she would change her mind about me. You know, with all this love in the air, maybe, just maybe, she could throw some love my way. But no. Stella Hope is the most stubborn woman I have ever met in my life.

She slams the door in my face. I chuckle and walk away. But not too far, though. Lucky for me, I scored the room right beside her. Now trust me, it wasn't something I had planned, but I'm not mad about it. Not at all.

If Stella knew I was sleeping right next door, she would find a way to get me kicked out of the lodge and left on a dirt road somewhere. Or in this case, snowy road. Stella Hope makes it her life mission to hate me, and that only makes me want her more. But nothing about her is easy. It never has been. I know it's cliché wanting the one girl who doesn't want you, but I can't help it. Stella Hope is hot, anyone can see that, and I want nothing more than to make her mine. Even if it's just for one night.

My door clicks open and I go to step inside, only to be stopped by a loud thud coming down the hall. I turn to find Andrew, stumbling along with a s**t-eating grin on his face. A bottle of something hovering in the air, his hands flailing all over the place, and he's singing some chant that I can't understand. By the slurring of his words, I doubt he even knows what he's singing about. He trips over his own feet and falls flat on his face. The bottle rolling across the floor, spilling a strong smelling liquor everywhere.

"Dude, not you too." I sigh, pulling my door closed and walking over to help him up.

"Hey, where did you take my wife, you neanderthal?" he pokes me in the chest a little too hard for my liking. If he wasn't messed up right now, I wouldn't put up with his nonsense, but I'll give him a pass, just this once.

"She's with Stella," I groan, pulling him to his feet. The dude is not small, so him going dead weight on me isn't making this easy. He's 6ft 4 and built like a brick shithouse. His fiancé Sarah she was easier to handle with her petite frame.

"Take me to her!" he demands, pointing towards Stella's room, but I shake my head. There is no way I am disrupting princess Stella again.

"Nope. You're coming with me, big boy."

The next morning, an infuriatingly loud gawking echoes throughout my room. Glancing around with only one eye open, I search out the culprit. Then I remember last night and look down to see my best friend laying on the floor. His legs curled so tight into his chest he almost looks small for once.

The ringing starts again, forcing me to get up and answer the phone myself because clearly he will not move anytime soon.

I push him around, trying to find his phone when it slips out of his jeans pocket. Sarah's face flashes on his screen. I go to answer it but hesitate for a second. I don't want to be the reason they get into a fight because he got so drunk he never made it back to their room.

"Dude, wake up," I shove him, but he's too out of it.

"Hey Sarah," I reluctantly answer, praying she's as forgiving as me.

"Oh, thank god he's with you. Is he okay?" she hurriedly asks, panic clear in her tone.

"Yes, and he's all yours if you want him, for a low price of telling me where to get good coffee around here?"

She chuckles, then a knock on the door follows. Opening it, I smile. Clearly, Sarah is the one who can handle her liquor in their relationship. She barely looks like she wiped out last night.

"You look almost like you aren't hungover," I tease.

She rolls her eyes and rubs at her forehead. "Please don't mention last night to me. I never want to drink that much ever again."

"Oh come on now, you're getting married in a few days. Let's not pretend you won't be drinking."

Laughing, she steps inside my room, but not far enough to see Andrew. "Coffee is downstairs in the lodge café and I can confirm it is amazing," she holds up a to go cup with a big grin.

"Perfect. Your fiancé is passed out on the floor," I step aside, "good luck!"

I head downstairs with a pep in my step. Today I am going to change her mind about me. I don't know how, but I will make Stella weak in the knees. It's sort of my speciality and I am her kryptonite.

Challenge accepted.

Rounding the corner, I spot her before she sees me. Her back is to me. Her long, wavy auburn hair is the first thing I see before my eyes travel down her body, taking in the tight-fitting jeans and black heeled boots. If there's one thing Stella has always been, it's eye catching and without even trying.

Back in college, she was the girl all the guys secretly wanted. And it was only a secret because they all knew none of them had a chance. It was easier to pretend she didn't exist than risk the embarrassment of rejection.

"Good morning, beautiful," I lean in, whispering over her shoulder. She shudders with a groan, but doesn't step away from me. She continues making her coffee as if I don't exist.

"Dark roast, black, thanks princess." This gets her attention.

"I'm not your maid. Make your own damn coffee." She spins and storms off, but not before shoving an empty white ceramic mug in my hand. I grip it a little tighter, clench my jaw.

I guess this is going to be harder than I assumed. She isn't one to fall for my teasing.

"Hey, are you here for the bride or groom?" I glance over to my left to see a tall, pretty blonde smiling at me. From first glance, I'd say she is related to Sarah, but I can't be too sure.

"I'm the best man," I nod and smile politely. She's cute, I can't deny that, but if she isn't a short auburn-haired rocket called Stella, I'm not interested.

"Oh, you're Nick?" She looks me up and down with a look I know all too well. This girl is trouble.

"Grace, hey," a very familiar voice breaks the conversation. "Stella, it's so good to see you!"

The two women hug, a very familiar, tight hug. I'd be lying if I didn't admit I was enjoying this view. Stella steps between us, creating enough space to squeeze herself in.

"Grace, is it?" I smile now, a little more flirtatious than before. My reason for hitting on this girl just became very clear to me. Stella Hope is the jealous kind. She may never admit it because she doesn't want me, but she sure as s**t doesn't want Grace here having me either.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Stella glares at me, a knowing warning in her eyes. "Alone." She grabs my hand and drags me with her out of the café and down the hall.

"It was nice to meet you, Grace," I shout as we round the corner.

"She is off limits for you. Do you hear me?" She pokes me in the chest, a little harder than expected. I frown, rubbing where it hurts. Stella rolls her eyes and turns to walk away from me.

Reaching out, I grab her arm and pull her back to me. She slams into me, her hands pushed up against my chest. I lean down and brush my lips against her cheek. Her heavy breathing encourages me.

"What's wrong, Stella? Jealous that Grace will steal all of my attention?"

She shoves me back, but her hands don't leave me.

"The only thing I want is for you to stay out of my way and leave Grace alone." She turns to walk away but changes her mind, dealing me one last blow. "Just because you used to be this big hot shot in college who could get any girl he wanted doesn't mean you are entitled to her attention."

"Ouch," I say, feigning pain clutching at my chest. I wanted to leave it alone and let her leave, but my ego won't let that happen. I pull her back into me and peer down at her. Her eyes are wide and bewildered, but she wasn't intimidated by me. She never has been.

“The only woman's attention I want is yours, babydoll. And judging by your jealous outburst, I think I've already won.”