Page 35 of The Stand-In Boyfriend

“Who has better things to do?”

“Noah, I was just telling Jessy we should see if you guys want to help us decorate for tomorrow since we have a free period,” Lisa jumps in, although the question is clearly directed at me. Shocker, not.

“Were you now?” he asks, but his eyes are still glued on me. I can feel his silent question, but I don’t give him an answer since I’m not sure what to say to begin with. I could have gone and asked him to join us; hell, I could have gone to his table as soon as we got to the library, and I saw him. I probably should have. It’s something a girlfriend would do, but instead, I kept my distance, just giving him a quick wave before sitting down next to Evie.

“So, will you?” Lisa insists with an irritated undertone to her voice.

I watch him watch me, neither of us saying anything for what seems like forever. He’s standing so close to me I have to tip my head up to be able to look him in the eyes. We’re not touching, but that doesn’t prevent my blood from humming quietly at his nearness.

What the hell is going on here?

It’sNoah.

The guy who was into my best friend not that long ago. The guy whohurther. The guy who got me into this mess in the first place. And yet…

“Sure, why not? Elliott can help too. Just let us grab our stuff.”

* * *

“You know, people will start noticing if you keep acting weird,” Noah mumbles beside me. We’re in the storage room where the school keeps most of the decorations and banners, which is what Lisa wanted us to bring.

Of course she didn’t lift a finger, she’s just there to direct everybody, AKA boss us around. But I was happy to get away from the group, even if only for a little while.

“I’m not acting weird.”

“You’re not even looking at me. And last I remember, I don’t think that’s typical girlfriend behavior.”

“I’m looking at you.” I grab one of the banners and turn on the balls of my feet, smashing Noah in the chest in the process. “Happy?”

Noah sighs. “Give me that.”

“I can carry it myself, thank you very much.”

I’m not even sure why I’m fighting him on this. It’s completely silly, but I can’t seem to stop.

He tries to pull the damn banner out of my arms, but I don’t let go.

“I didn’t say you can’t,” he says through gritted teeth, pulling once more. “I said I’ll carry it for you. Dammit, why do you have to be—”

“Fine.” I let go just as he’s pulling the banner.

“—so damn stubborn?”

Noah clearly didn’t expect me to let go, and he certainly didn’t expect I’d lose my balance while doing so. Together we fall to the floor, the two of us a mess of limbs.

He sucks in a sharp breath as I fall down right on him, that damn banner that’s the cause of all of this sliding away somewhere. My whole body rattles from the impact, but at least I landed on Noah. He, on the other hand, landed on the floor.

“I’m so sorry,” I say, my hand covering my mouth. I’m not sure if I want to laugh or cry, but at this point it could be either. “Noah, are you okay?”

I reach forward to touch his face that’s turned into a painful grimace. “Noah?”

“Hey guys, are you… Seriously, Russell? You’re getting some action while I have to do all the hard work?” I turn around to find his friend Elliott standing in the doorway, looking at us with a knowing grin. “Do I need to remind you that you volunteered us for this job?”

“We’ll be right there.”

With another shake of his head, Elliott leaves and I turn my attention to Noah.

“Are you okay?”

---