Page 6 of The Stand-In Boyfriend

And I’m in trouble. The initial shock must have worn off because now Jessica’s glaring at me. Her teeth sink into my bottom lip, hard, a warning of sorts.

The message in those dark, bottomless eyes is pretty clear.Back off or else...

Still, I can’t resist. I give her mouth another tender swipe before breaking the kiss and pulling back.

“You should have let me drive you to school,” I say, my tongue swiping over my lower lip. It feels tender from her vampire tendencies.

Jessica puffs out air in frustration and I know she’ll blow up soon, demanding an explanation.

“Gimme those.” I take the books from her hands and throw my free arm over her shoulder, guiding her away from the lockers and down the hallway.

I can feel the girls’ gaping mouths and wide eyes monitoring our every move as I steer Jessica away from them. I give them an extra wide smile as we turn the corner. It’s only then that she explodes.

Ducking out from underneath my arm, Jessica stops in her tracks and turns to face me.

“What the hell wasthat?” she hisses at me, stabbing a finger in the middle of my chest.

I lift my arms in the air in the universal sign of surrender. “I was just trying to help you.”

“Help me?” she whisper-yells.

The defeated and embarrassed girl from before is long gone. The fire burning in her eyes is so bright I’m surprised she didn’t turn me into ashes.

“Yes, help you. You’re welcome, by the…”

She doesn’t even let me finish. “I don’t remember asking for your help, and especially notthatkind of help!”

I cross my arms over my chest defensively. “Well it worked, didn’t it? The kiss shut their mouths pretty quickly. I bet they won’t be talking about you moping after that jackass hockey player anytime soon.”

Her mouth hangs open, but no words come out. Good. Not that it lasts long.

“Ugh, you’re infuriating!” Jessica stomps her feet in irritation. She actually looks quite cute doing it.

“You aren’t any better.”

“Whatever.” She flips her ponytail, turns on the balls of her feet and storms away.

A sharp pain spreads through my temples. “Fuck.” So much for doing something nice. Being nice gets you nowhere.

The bell rings.

Sighing, I hurry down the hallway. I have to run if I don’t want to be late to class.

My long legs cross the distance quickly, and soon I’m just behind Jessy. She must hear my footsteps because she looks over her shoulder, her eyes turning grim when she sees me.

“Why are you following me?”

“You’re one little ray of sunshine, aren’t you?” I ask dully. “I’m not following you, I’m going to class.”

My answer earns me another glare. This time when she returns her gaze forward, her ponytail slaps my chest.

We walk in silence, getting to the last classroom in the hallway, just as the warning bell rings.

The classroom is nearly full as we slip inside. Jessica walks up and takes the first open seat, pointedly ignoring me.

Whatever.

My fingers clench, and only then do I realize, I’m still holding on to her books.

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