Cam asked her out the first time they’d met in the campus bookstore. She’d refused thinking he wasn’t serious. Another girl at her dorm went with him instead proving her original assumption right. Her first quarter kept her busy with a full schedule and a work study job in the computer department, but not so busy that she didn’t notice that almost every popular girl in her dorm went out with Cam.
They’d usually gush about hot he was with his cut body and great hair. Not that they ever spoke to her she just overheard them. College courses demanded more of her time than high school ever did. It left her little time to socialize.
The weight of his arm pulled her from her impromptu reverie. Her irritation seethed causing her to pull away, but he tightened his hold pulling her back to his side. A burst of chatter as students passed by quelled her initial protest. Currently, she wasn’t feeling all that loving toward Cam and could do without his arm wrapped around her.
His head lowered to speak into her ear. “No need for jealousy since you’re mine now.”
The words were half growled sounding more like a threat than some romantic promise, especially when accompanied by a tight grip. No, she didn’t feel the love. She wiggled her shoulders trying to loosen his hold without success. His behavior was getting more peculiar by the moment. Anxious to leave, she’d hear what he had to say and leave.
“What was so important that I had to leave class?”
His arm dropped from her shoulders as he grinned. “Oh that, I have a great idea. I know as a female you always are looking for romantic ways to show your love.”
Stella chose not to point out that in truth she was hoping he’d find romantic ways to demonstrate his love. Even her roommate Cece’s stoner boyfriend planned a romantic treasure hunt with the treasure being him stretched out naked beside a picnic basket in a wooded glen. She wasn’t hoping for a naked picnic, but anything to demonstrate her specialness would be nice.
“Ohhh,” she stretched out the word not knowing how to reply. A couple of girls passed by and gave Cam a thorough once over while giggling. Her presence didn’t seem to deter them one bit. It reminded her how lucky she was to have him as a boyfriend when so many other females wanted him. A bird high up in the tree began to sing. It sounded so carefree and joyous that she envied it.
Cam tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear as the wind tugged at her long hair whipping it across her face. It was his first move on their initial date. Her hair blowing in her eyes somehow shielded her. Strange, she needed a barrier between her and the man she loved. Times she wondered if she’d recognize love. Her parents certainly didn’t demonstrate it especially the last couple of years before the divorce. Even before things got bad, they seem more like amicable roommates.
No wonder Cam’s persistent pursuit eventually won over her. The fact that one of the hottest guys on campus picked her made her forget her father’s accusations of being a waste of oxygen. Cam’s preference made her important. Her gaze lifted, looking over his shoulder, and avoiding “the look” as the other girls classified it. Only last week, Elena, a fellow student, joked that when Cam turned “the look” on a girl she ripped her clothes off without him lifting a finger. Apparently, she hadn’t heard about her dating the notorious owner of such a compelling glance.
No telling how Elena would have reacted if she shared her status. Maybe she'd stumble away in a stupor. The offhanded remark alerted her that not only was their relationship not known, but meant it was far from exclusive. Part of her assumed all his sleeping around was in the past. All she wanted was to keep things the way they were even if she did have doubts.
Then there was the old Stella. That gal was much more opinionated. Oh she’d drop the man like he was an STD. Ooh, she could have done without the metaphor. Too bad, she couldn’t be the old Stella. She wanted to, but just didn’t know how. Cam smoothed his hand over her long straight fall of blonde hair while using his deepest voice. It made her feel as if he were treating her like a skittish dog. If there were a dog in their relationship, it wasn't her.