“It was nice meeting you, Chelsea,” he said.
“Likewise, Max,” she said. “That was your name, right?”
“Right.”
He turned to Stella, who looked as unsure now as she did the first time they’d met. Max wasn’t sure what washappening between the roommates, but it felt like something had shifted.
“I’ll call you later?” he said. He didn’t mean for it to sound like a question, but it did.
“Yeah,” Stella said.
“Cool, let me just grab my stuff.”
He went back to Stella’s room to grab his phone and wallet where he’d left them on Stella’s nightstand, and he could hear the two women speaking in hushed whispers.
“Okay, I can see why you’ve been ditching me for him now,” Chelsea said.
“When did I ever ditch you?” Stella said.
Even at a lower volume, Max could hear the exasperation in her voice.
“You know what I mean,” Chelsea said. “He’s had you wrapped around his finger ever since you met, and now I see why. That’s all I’m saying.”
“He doesn’t have me wrapped around his finger,” Stella said.
“Sure, Jan.”
Max was ready to head out, but he wasn’t sure if he should interrupt this conversation that seemed to be veering closer to a fight. He knew he couldn’t hide forever, though, so he figured it was best to just leave before things got worse.
When Max stepped back out, Stella and Chelsea quickly stopped talking and Stella moved toward him.
“I’ll walk you out,” she said.
“No, that’s all right,” Max said. “It’s too cold for you to be out like that.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m just getting into a car anyway,” he said.
He pressed a quick kiss to her lips before she could say anything else and then grabbed his shoes and coat from the door.
“I’ll see you later,” he said.
Stella only nodded, and he couldn’t help himself. He walked back over to her and kissed her again, this time lingering. Max could feel Chelsea watching them, but he didn’t care. He quickly kissed Stella yet again before he forced himself to pull away.
“Bye, Stella,” he said.
“Bye, Max,” Chelsea called from behind her.
The words felt like a dismissal, and Max could feel Stella tense in his arms. A part of him wanted to stay. He didn’t know what the situation was with Stella and Chelsea, but he didn’t like how Stella seemed to fold into herself with Chelsea around. But Max knew this wasn’t his fight. If Stella wanted him to stay, she would’ve asked him to.
So with one final kiss to her lips, he made for the door and left.
Thirty-Five
Stella knew something was off between her and Chelsea. What she didn’t know was what to do about it.
After Max left their apartment, Chelsea peppered Stella with questions about what they’d done the night before and if he’d be coming back. By all accounts, it seemed like Chelsea was excited for her, but Stella couldn’t shake the feeling that it was forced. An act.
