SWNOVELS Chapter Splintered Ice: Prologue
“Yo, Barrett,” Simon calls after me as we head out of the locker room following practice. It’s our first practice back together after winter break. A brand-new semester and we’re gearing up for the most important games of our college career. “You wanna go grab some beers?”
Simon has been my roommate since junior year. We shared our house with Hayden when he first moved here, but since he and Eden became exclusive, he moved out. Simon and I decided to let Vaughn Carter move in with us. He’s a freshman at Wyncote this year, but he is practically a goddamn prodigy.
The kid is destined for greatness and there are talks of him going pro before graduating college. I wish I were going to be around to see how things pan out for him, but the rest of us are all going to be graduating this year.
“Hell yeah,” I tell him, nodding enthusiastically. “I’ll meet you at O’Hallarans?”
“Sounds good,” Simon agrees as he heads through the parking lot in the direction of his car. Sometimes we drive together to save on gas, but he had to run some errands after class so I didn’t bother questioning him.
After throwing my hockey equipment into the trunk, I hop into the front seat of my car. As I turn on the engine, my phone connects to the car and it begins to ring. Glancing at the screen, a groan slips from my lips as I see my little sister’s name flashing across it.
“What’s up, Stella?” I answer, attempting to keep the irritation from my voice. She’s three years younger than me and decided to move across the country to attend college. It pissed my parents off, but I was secretly thankful. Don’t get me wrong, I love my little sister and will protect her with my life… but goddamn if she doesn’t get on my nerves sometimes.
When I spoke to her two days ago, she was trying to get me to send her some money to go out since our parents wouldn’t. They want her to get a job, since they’re paying for her schooling. Being the brother that I am, I sent her some, but it feels like she only calls me when she needs something now.
“Hey, big brother!” Her voice is energetic and she sounds like she’s bouncing off the walls. I know she’s been partying and shit, but sometimes I wonder what she’s really getting herself into. “Is now a bad time?”
“Nope, just finished practice and I’m heading to the bar.”
“Okay, cool,” she says, pausing for a moment. “So, I have a huge favor to ask of you.”
Internally, I groan, closing my eyes for a second before pulling out onto the road. “What is it?” God knows what the hell she’s going to be asking of me now.
“So… Olivia just transferred to Wyncote this semester.”
My eyebrows pull together as I drive closer to the bar. “Olivia? Like your best friend since kindergarten?”
“Yes, stupid,” Stella scoffs, and I swear I can hear her rolling her eyes. “As if there is any other Olivia who practically lived at our house.”
My mind instantly drifts back to Olivia Davis. I haven’t seen her since I left for college. She was only fifteen at the time, still practically a child. She always wanted to be treated like she was older, but I couldn’t bring myself to view her as anyone other than my little sister’s best friend. I literally could not allow myself to look at her any other way.
“Why’s she coming to Wyncote?”
“Well, she’s majoring in biology. For some reason, Wyncote is supposed to have a better program for whatever it is she’s doing.” Stella pauses for a moment and I hear someone talking in the background but she shushes them. “I honestly don’t remember why she said it was better there. Either way, she’s there… like now.”
“And this affects me, how?”
Stella sighs. “Can you not be an asshole for, like, two seconds?”
“Can you maybe call me sometime when you don’t need something from me?”
Stella laughs. “Don’t act like you would actually want to talk to me. Unless it has to do with hockey, you tend to tune everyone out.”
My jaw tightens, but I don’t bother arguing with her. As I pull my car into a spot in the parking lot at O’Hallarans, I see Simon as he walks inside. “Get to the point, Stella. I need to get off the phone.”
“Olivia just moved there and doesn’t know a single person. Can you do me a favor and just, like, check up on her? Maybe make sure she’s okay and keep an eye out on her?”
“Don’t you think she’s old enough to take care of herself?” I question my sister as I turn off the engine of my car and switch the call back to my phone. Climbing out of the car, I hold it to my ear before slamming the door shut behind me.
Stella groans through the phone and I can tell she’s getting frustrated with me. It’s only natural; it’s the relationship we have together. There was a point where we got along really well, until we both started to grow up and grow apart. I will always look out for her, but we are definitely in two different places in our lives right now.
“Please, Sterling,” Stella practically begs. “You know I wouldn’t ask something like this from you if it wasn’t important to me.”
A sigh slips from my lips as I make my way closer to the entrance of the bar. “Fine,” I agree, not entirely pleased about the entire situation. “How the hell do you expect me to find her? I’m not going to go search the dorms looking for her. Do you know where she’s living or anything about her being here.”
“Look,” my sister says, her words rushing out. “I’m gonna text you her number, and just shoot her a message. Meet up with her and shit. I don’t know, just let me know as soon as you do.”
“What? No. I’m not going to do—”
“Thanks, Sterling!” Stella is rushing me off the phone now and her tone is filled with excitement. “I knew I could count on my big brother. You’re seriously the best. Sending her number now, love you!”
Stella ends the call before I even get the chance to say anything to her in response. She completely set me up. I agreed to check in on her friend and keep an eye out on her, but I didn’t need her damn number. If Stella could have just given me some information about her, I could have figured it out without having to meet up with her.
A text comes through from Stella with Olivia’s number and a reminder to send her a message ASAP and then to let Stella know. Groaning, I save the number in my phone and open my messages. I stare at the screen for a moment as I linger outside the door of O’Hallarans, not knowing what the fuck to say.
STERLING
Hey, is this Olivia? This is Sterling, Stella’s brother.
I cringe, rereading my message. What the hell was that? The stupidest thing I’ve ever sent. Sighing, I lock my phone and put it into the front pocket of my hoodie before heading into the bar.
Simon is already sitting there waiting for me. He turns to face me, handing me a beer that he already ordered for me as I drop down onto the barstool next to him. “I talked to Greyson. He’s heading over here too.”
“Cool,” I respond, nodding as I lift the beer to my lips and take a sip. My phone vibrates in my front pocket and I pull it out. I see Olivia’s name on the screen and exhale deeply.
“Who’s Olivia?” Simon questions me, his nosey ass looking over my shoulder at my phone.
Turning my head to him, I narrow my eyes, my lips pursed. “My little sister’s best friend. She just moved here and Stella wanted me to check in on her.”
“Ooh,” Simon raises his eyebrows, “is she hot?”
I drive my shoulder into his, pushing him away. “Fuck off and don’t even think about it.”
Simon chuckles, turning his direction back to the TV at the hockey replays as I open Olivia’s message. My jaw tics as my eyes scan the screen.
OLIVIA
Hi Sterling! How are you doing? I don’t know if Stella told you, but I just moved to Wyncote.
She’s just as fucking bubbly as I remember. And I hate it. That’s how Olivia always was. The kindest, most caring person I had ever met. And she got under my skin like no other with the way positivity just rolled off her. She’s like a ray of fucking sunshine and I would much rather see dark clouds lining the sky.
STERLING
Stella did tell me. She wanted me to check in on you and make sure you were good.
Fuck what Stella wanted. I’m not meeting up with Olivia if I don’t have to. If she doesn’t need my help with anything, then there’s no need.
OLIVIA
I’m good! Just getting settled in and adjusting to life here 🙂
She would send a goddamn smiley face emoji. Grabbing my beer, I take another sip of it before sending my last response to her for the night.
STERLING
Cool. If you need anything, let me know.
I send a quick message to my sister, letting her know I talked to Olivia. Before either of them can respond, I put my phone on silent and lay it on the bar facedown. I’ll do what my sister asked of me in terms of making sure Olivia is good.
We may have been close at one point, but that doesn’t mean we were ever friends.
She’s my sister’s best friend, not mine.