Page 71 of I Blame the Alcohol

He smirks, “Like the view?”

“It would be better if you lost the shirt.”

“We’ll get to that. Now, can you open the present already? I’m getting nervous.” I laugh before realizing Cody actually does look nervous.

Stomach clenching, I turn my attention back to the gift, tugging at the pieces of tape holding it together. Two pieces of material fall into my hands, and I let out a gasp.

“Did you buy me a bikini?”

Cody sits back up and nods with an anxious smile.

“You made it sound like you didn’t have one, so I figured it might be a good gift.” My heart starts to pound as he continues, “You can practice wearing it around me until you are comfortable enough to wear it out in public, but it’s time to show off that body, Stel.”

I hold up the bikini, the black zipper and camo print making it look like something G.I. Jane would wear to the beach. Cody moves next to me on the bed, coughing softly into his hand.

“I thought the colour would help show off your warrior side. And make other guys too intimidated to approach you.”

I laugh softly, tears silently cascading down my cheeks.

“It is perfect, Cody. It is so perfect.” I shift on the bed, turning to bury my face into his neck, “Thank you.”

I feel him smile against my shoulder, “Merry Christmas, O’Brien.”

“Merry Christmas, Ellsworth.”

A feeling of hope blossoms inside me, a feeling I haven’t felt since my mother and I got driven off the road by a drunk driver.

I will never be the girl I was before the accident, the one who had a loving mother and a father who loved on occasion. But maybe one day I can become someone who isn’t afraid to show her battle scars to the world.

Chapter 22

Cody

I groan as my phone buzzes in my hand.

“Another one?” Stella looks up from her tablet with an amused eyebrow.

“Nico is already planning a post-break party.” I mutter the words, silencing my notifications to stop the insistent buzzing of the team group chat.

“Ooh, what’s the theme this year?” Stella sits up in her seat, eyes already sparkling with excitement. Mo chuckles from the row in front of us, holding the seat with the best view of the front of the plane.

“Don’t let Stella pick the theme, everyone will end up naked and covered in neon paint.”

Stella sighs, “That was always my favouriteTeen Wolfepisode.” She shoots me a wink, “You always reminded me of the twins.”

Completely lost, I look to Mo for help.

He shrugs, “Don’t look at me, Jackson was my favourite. He got the hottie.”

Stella rolls her eyes, “Of course you liked the character who was the biggest douche.”

“He was the best lacrosse player too.”

I raise my hand, “Should I take the twins comment as a compliment then?”

The siblings ignore me and continue to bicker about fictional characters I have never heard of. My phone screen lights up once more, silently this time, so I reach over and pull up the thread.

WES: Everything dipped in chocolate.

---