Page 77 of The Love Playbook

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Despite my reassurance that I’m fine, Jackson does nothing but hold me all night long except for a few notable moments where he gets up to get me food or water or medicine. He also insists on putting the Icy Hot on my neck once my roommates get back with it, knocking and poking their heads in my room and then grinning like idiots when they see Jackson with me.

I ignore them, though I know I’ll hear about it later.

Jackson even skips his classes the next day, insisting I do the same so he can take care of me. Laughing, I email my professors. While my headache is pretty much gone, my neck is still a little sore. And Jackson insists that I make a full recovery before returning to my regular schedule.

I manage to convince him that he has to go to practice, which he does with great reluctance, kissing me multiple times—with tongue, finally—before he eventually leaves.

Which is, of course, when my roommates pounce. Like they’ve been lying in wait for this very moment. Honestly, they probably have.

“Heyyyy,” Ellie says as she pushes through the cracked open door into my room, Piper right behind her. “How are you feeling?”

I push myself to sitting, making room for them to sit on the bed if they want. “Alright. Better than last night for sure. I’m not sure if it was my oil, the Icy Hot, or both, but my neck feels loads better. It’ll be back to normal by tomorrow.”

“Good,” Piper says, exchanging a look with Ellie.

“So Jackson stayed the night,” Ellie says, trying and failing to hold back her grin.

“Uh-huh,” I agree dryly.

“So you guys worked everything out?”

Piper watches the back and forth between Ellie and me like she’s watching a Ping-Pong game.

“Yes,” I say primly. “We did. Thanks for asking.”

When I don’t volunteer more, it’s Piper that does the prompting. “Sooo, what does that mean exactly?”

Laughing, I pull the blankets higher up my lap. “It means you’ll probably be seeing a lot more of him.”

They exchange another look and Piper makes a face. “Does that mean you’re going to go back to kicking us out all the time?”

With another laugh, I shake my head. “No. You can stay around if you want. Just know that I can’t guarantee that we’ll be quiet.”

Both of them shake their heads, grinning, and Ellie looks me over closely. “You’re happy?”

With a smile, I nod. “I’m happy.”

She leans over to give me a hug. “Good. That’s what matters.”

And she’s right. That is what matters. Even if nothing is guaranteed. Even if everything ends one way or another, being happy while I can is what matters.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Jackson

I rush through my post-practice shower and change, not bothering to banter with anyone. I make time to fill Eli in when he stops me, though I’m chafing to get back to Autumn.

“Everything’s alright?” Eli asks again, despite me having filled him in on what happened last night. “She’s not too hurt, is she?”

I shake my head, pulling my shirt down my torso. “No. Just a little whiplash. Her bumper’s beat to hell, so she’ll have to find a good body shop to get it fixed, but it did its job. She’ll be fine by tomorrow, I think. She said her neck felt a lot better today, but she’s still home resting.”

Eli nods, his forehead creased in a thoughtful frown. “I think Ruben’s dad is a mechanic. He might know of a good body shop.”

After we talked last night, things between us were pretty much back to normal, but his offer dispels any lingering doubts that he might still be irritated with me. “Cool. I’ll ask him. Thanks, man.”

Eli holds out his closed fist, and I bump it with mine. “See you at home?” he asks.

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