Page 9 of The Stand-In Boyfriend

There is hurt in her voice, and I hate that I’m the one who caused it. I am, but not enough to prevent me from saying the next words. “Well, I am.”

Pushing back the chair, I throw my backpack over my shoulder, grab my still half-full tray and storm away for the second time in mere hours.

Chapter Four

NOAH

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I don’t even have to turn around to know who’s behind me. I kind of expected it after I found out that the photo of me kissing Jessica went viral. From the angle it was taken it was probably one of the girls who were gossiping about her to begin with. Fucking vultures. Because that’s exactly what those girls are. Vultures. They’d do anything to see her fail, just because they’re jealous of her for some fucked-up reason.

“I don’t have the patience to deal with you now, Ward,” I mutter as I go to my car to pick up my gym bag for practice. Although we had practice every day for the past two weeks, today was the first official day. As quarterback and captain of the offensive team, I can’t be late or the coach is going to be pissed.

Yeah, Greyford is best known for its hockey team, but no matter what those assholes love to think, the football team isn’t shabby either.

“Well, that’s your problem,” Liam says as he keeps jogging after me. “Jessy? Really, Russell, Jessy?”

“What the hell does that mean?” I turn around abruptly to face him. I don’t like the tone of his voice one bit, and I surely don’t appreciate the insinuation hidden behind that question. Like there is something wrong with Jessica.

For some fucked-up reason I’ve become protective of little Jessica Bryant. There’s something about her that draws me in, a connection of sorts I can’t identify, but can feel pulling me to her. Much good that’ll do me, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

“Out of all people, you have to go and mess around with Evie’s best friend?”

“I thought you were Evie’s best friend.”

He stops when he reaches me, panting. You see what I mean? All the hockey guys boast how good they are but when it comes to a light jog, they’re a sweaty mess. We’ll see how good this season will be, since they lost some of their key players to graduation.

“Evie’s bestgirlfriend,” he corrects, making sure to put emphasis on ‘girl.’ Like I can’t see for myself that Jessy is most definitely a girl, a pretty one at that.

“Whatever’s happening between Jessy and me is none of your business.” I throw my backpack on the backseat and pull out the duffle, closing and locking the door behind me. But when I turn around, ready to ditch this conversation, I find Liam standing right in front of me, blocking my path. “Move, I’ve got places to be.”

“Are you two really dating?”

“What?”

“Dating? Because that’s what people have been saying.”

I grit my teeth in irritation and run my hand over my face. I seriously don’t have time for this. “I repeat, I don’t see how any of this is your goddamn business, Ward.”

Shoving him out of my way, I continue across campus toward the field, but Liam calls after me. I stop in my tracks, but don’t turn around to face him.

“I don’t know what the hell’s happening, but people are talking, andshe’sbeen hiding all day long. I figure you’d like to know that, you know, in case there is some truth to the rumors and all that.”

Fuck. I close my eyes.Just what I needed. What was I thinking? Kissing her like that? I wasn’t, that’s the problem.

“I’ll take care of it,” I mutter, more to myself than for his benefit, and continue down toward the field.

Cheerleaders usually have practice at the same time as the football team. So she should be here once it’s over. Maybe by then I’ll know what to do about the mess I put myself, and Jessica, in.

* * *

I’m dragging my sweaty ass back to my car after a two-hour-long practice when I see a glimpse of the brown ponytail with those damn ribbons. Seriously, no seventeen-year-old girl should look that hot with ribbons in her hair. But somehow Jessica does.

She starts to enter her car so I call out to her, breaking into a jog since I’m not sure that she’ll actually stop to give me the time of day. And I’m right. I can see her clearly weighing her options. I hurry up my pace so she can’t dash before I get to her.

Sighing in defeat, she leans against the hood of her car, that damn top snug against her chest drawing my attention. “Now I’m sure you’re stalking me.”

My brows quirk up. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

She huffs and rolls her eyes. “You jocks are all the same. You’d give anything for just a little bit more attention.”

---