Page 49 of The Stand-In Boyfriend

I should probably move closer, but I need the space. If I come any closer, I might be tempted to strangle her.

“I’m…” Jessy starts but stops herself when she sees the look on my face. Because if she saidfineone more time I wouldn’t even have to move, I’d strangle her from where I’m standing. “Better.”

I nod my head, my eyes going to her ankle. “Do you need me to bring you a new ice pack?”

“This one is still cold enough.” The silence settles over us. “Noah?”

“Yes?”

She looks away, her cheeks turning pink like she’s embarrassed by what she wants to say. “Thank you,” she murmurs. “For taking care of me.”

Something inside of me cracks at the vulnerability in her voice. Sighing, I push from the wall and move closer to her. Sitting down on the bed beside her, I place my hand over the ice pack, checking it’s still cold enough.

“No thanks needed, Sunshine.”

The nurse comes back, breaking us out of our bubble. “Are you feeling better, or do you need me to call your parents?”

Of course Jessy assures her she’s fine, and after the nurse checks in on her ankle one more time, she gives her a green light to go to class, telling her to use crutches for a few days so she doesn’t put all of her weight on that leg and come back if it becomes too much.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” I promise.

“I don’t need a babysitter.” Jessy glares at me as she starts getting off the bed, but her feet wobble underneath her a bit. I shoot forward, steadying her.

“You were saying?” I lift my brows, waiting for her to say anything, but she just huffs.

Grabbing both our bags and throwing them over one shoulder, I offer her a hand.

She looks down, and then puffs a strand of hair that slipped from her ponytail. “I didn’t have a chance to change after everything that happened.”

I let my eyes slide over her body. She’s wearing a loose top and a pair of leggings. “What’s wrong with this?”

Jessy starts putting a shoe on her good leg, and when I try to crouch down to help her, she gives me such a murderous stare that I back up.

“Besides the fact that I’m all sweaty? Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

I want to roll my eyes at her, but don’t think she’ll take it well, so I keep my mouth shut. Once she gets to her feet, I give her the crutches the nurse found somewhere in the storage. Jessy glares at them unhappily, but a grimace appears on her face after she takes one step, so she changes her mind.

“If nothing else, I’d suggest you stop by during lunch to put another ice pack on the ankle.”

“I’ll think about it. Thanks for all your help.”

Slowly we get out into the quiet hallway. First period has already begun, and we’re late as it is, so I take it extra slow, looking down so I can read Jessy’s face.

Jessy gives me a side glare. “I’m not dying. You don’t have to hover over me like that.”

“I never said you are. What you are is one huge pain in the ass.”

“That’s because I’m not used to…this.” She waves her hand. “I’m not some weak damsel in distress.”

“Again, never said you were. Needing help occasionally doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.”

She looks at me for a few moments, those dark eyes sucking me into their depths.

“I’ll remind you of that when somebody tackles you to the ground.”

I crack a smile. “Deal.”

Our trigonometry teacher gives us the stink eye when we enter halfway through class, but I ignore her. Leaving the hall pass on her desk, I help Jessy to her seat and then take mine.

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