Page 68 of Clara Knows Best

“Is the ambulance coming?”

“It came, but we sent it away,” Jesse said. “She’s comfortable and stable. You can just drive her to the clinic in Marfa. They’ll probably admit her for overnight observation. And they’ll stitch up her head,” he added, winking at Bella.

Ambulance costs could be devastating, Clara knew. Perhaps that was another reason Bella’s parents were looking so relieved.

“Come with me to the hospital,” Bella commanded him.

“No, I would be in the way. But if they make you spend the night, I’ll visit you in the morning. Before breakfast.”

“Okay,” she said trustingly.

It’s just a crush, Clara reminded herself, watching him interact with the little girl.I’m not in love with him. This is the same old crush.

Jesse was a good-looking guy and he was hopelessly cool; it was only natural to have a crush on him. It didn’t have to go beyond that.

It would be the height of stupidity, for example, to fall in love with him.

“What’s the matter?” he asked her, when Bella and her family had left for the hospital. He put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against his side. “You’re quiet. Was it the blood?”

“No, I feel fine,” she answered automatically, overly conscious of the fact that he had never even hugged her before. What the heck was he doing?

“Good. Are you starving?”

“I ate mychoripan.”

“Good. I guess I lost mine. Let me get another one and then we’d better get our dance out of the way.”

“Okay.”

He looked hard at her. “You really feel okay?”

“Yes,” she said firmly.

He seemed to realize that his arm was around her, and removed it. “Good.”

She would have liked him to leave it there, but it was probably for the best, because it seemed to interfere with her word processing skills. “You keep saying that.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re not really convincing me.”

“Do I look sick or something?”

He looked her over again. “No, you look…” He paused.

“Good?” she suggested helpfully.

“No, you look great,” he said seriously.

“Oh. Thanks.”

“You didn’t hear it from me, though,” he added.

“Why not?”

“Why not what?”

“Why don’t you want me to hear it from you?”

He looked confused and then annoyed. “Why are you doing this? What’s with you lately?”

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