Page 105 of Bossy Romance

Rochelle jogs up to us. “Hey, is she okay?”

“I’m—”

“She’s not.” I stop Nova before she can lie to more people. “Do we have an infirmary on the grounds?”

“It’s that way,” Rochelle says.

I scoop Nova into my arms. She lets out a yelp of surprise when I cradle her close to my chest.

Henry looks scandalized. Almost foaming at the mouth, he launches at me and tries to take Nova away.

Big mistake, buddy.

I snarl at him. “Back off.”

She’s mine.

Mine, mine, mine.

“Let me take her,” Henry insists. “I’m her partner.”

“If you were a good one, you wouldn’t have let her fall,” I snap.

“Adam, stop. It was an accident.”

I shut my mouth, but my jaw clenches. Tightening my grip on Nova, I stomp away. Thankfully, the kid chooses life and doesn’t follow me.

“Why are you acting like this?” Nova hisses, ducking her head into my neck to hide as we pass the crowd of Vision Tech onlookers.

“Like what?”

“All growly and over-possessive.”

“I’m not growly.”

“You’re acting like a caveman.”

“Cavemen aren’t as handsome as me.”

She snorts and then shakes her head. “Why are you so angry? It’s not like you’re the one with blood oozing down your arm.”

“I might as well be, Nova. It feels like I’m getting stabbed in the chest right now. So stop wiggling before you make your injuries worse.”

Her eyebrows slant over her eyes. “Why do you always switch personalities at the worst moment? I don’t need growly, over-protective Adam right now.”

“That’s the Adam you’re going to get.” I turn left and notice the tent with the giant red cross on it. “If you don’t want to meet this side of me, then don’t get hurt.”

She rolls her eyes. “I can’t believe this.”

I frown at her.

“You’re being dramatic. It’s just a few scrapes and bruises.”

“Should I put you down and test that?”

Her hands tighten around my neck. “We’re halfway there, you might as well take me the rest of the way.”

I shake my head. Nova knows good and well that her ankle is messed up. Why she’s fighting to stay strong and in control in front of me is a mystery. I know, more than anyone, that she’s not made of stone.

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