The Stand-In Boyfriend (Greyford High Book 5) Read online

  “But…”

  “Promise me, Elliott.”

  He must see I mean business, because he turns serious. He nods his head once. “Fine. I promise.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  JESSICA

  “You should go home, I don’t need babysitting,” I protest and throw a pillow at Evie.

  “You shouldn’t be alone.” She catches it and puts it behind her back.

  “I’m fine.” Just going insane. Evie’s been here all afternoon hovering over me like a mother hen. I love her, but God, if I hear her ask one more time if she can do something for me or bring me anything, I’m going to scream.

  “That’s what you keep saying, but I don’t believe you one bit. You fell off the top of some makeshift pyramid and you have a ginormous ankle to show for it! And don’t even start me on the fact that you didn’t even bother to tell me. I had to find out through gossip. Gossip, Jessy!”

  I cringe because she’s right. “I’m sorry, Eves.” I pull her in for a hug. “I told you, everything was a mess, and then Noah showed up out of nowhere, and he took me to see the nurse; after that it was a whirlwind of classes. Hell, I wouldn’t have even thought of calling Mom if the nurse hadn’t reminded me. Forgive me, please?”

  “Fine,” she huffs. “But just so you know, that doesn’t make you any less of a shitty friend.”

  “Duly noted.”

  “I’m serious.” She shoves me away. “Next time you better remember to call me. I was worried sick!”

  “Let’s hope there won’t be a next time.”

  “Even better.”

  I shift in my seat. “Now are you ready to go?”

  Evie’s mouth falls open. “Jessica Ann Bryant! Are you trying to kick me out?”

  “Not really, but I’m sure you have way better things to do.” I run my hand through my hair. “And I think I’ll call it a night anyway.”

  My ankle has started to throb again in the past hour or so. I have tried my best to ignore it, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to for much longer. I just want to shower, put some ice on my leg, swallow down a painkiller and crash although it’s not even seven in the evening.

  “Do you need…”

  I give her a hard look that effectively shuts her up.

  “Never mind.” Sighing, Evie gets up and grabs her bag.

  “I’ll seriously be fine. I just need some rest. And if it’ll make you feel better you can be the one to pick me up in the morning to drive me to school.”

  I pull my leg off the coffee table where I had it propped to keep it elevated, pushing against the couch to stand up. A stab of pain goes through my calf as soon as my feet touch the ground. I bite the inside of my cheek to prevent a whimper from coming out, but I must make a face, because Evie is scowling at me.

  “Where are your crutches? You shouldn’t be putting weight on that leg. Are you sure nothing is broken? Maybe you should have gone to the ER to have it checked out. Just in case.”

  “It’s just bruised, plus it’s been a while since I changed my ice pack.”

  “Crutches?”

  I sigh. “They’re… around.”

  The look she gives me is skeptical, but she doesn’t comment further. Instead, she gives me a hug. “Please be careful.”

  “You’ll see.” I force a smile onto my face. “I’ll be like new in no time.”

  “If you say so. I’ll leave you to it, but I’m one text away if you need me, okay?”

  I roll my eyes. “Yes, Mom.”

  “Go and put some ice on it, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Evie gives me a hard glare when I try to walk her out. “Tomorrow,” I agree and limp toward the kitchen instead. Noticing our empty glasses on the coffee table, I sigh and stop to grab those too to put them in the dishwasher while I’m at it.

  I’m about to cross the hallway when I hear the front door open. Mom? Nah, it’s too early, it must be Evie.

  “Hey, did you forget something?” I turn around, but it’s not Evie standing in the hallway. “Noah? What are you doing here?”

  He takes me in from head to toe like he’s surprised to see me standing there. Which is stupid, because he’s in my house.

  Finally, his eyes return back to my face, his lips pressed in a tight line. “Better question is, why aren’t you lying down? And where are your crutches?”

  Here we go again.

  I wave him off. “I’m fine. I was just going to…” But I don’t get to finish because my ankle wobbles, making me stumble.

  Holy shi—

  Arms wrap around me from behind, pulling me against a hard chest.

  “You were saying?” Noah asks over my shoulder. His chin is resting against my shoulder, his warm breath tickling the sensitive skin behind my ear.

  “Wha— Oh, right. I was just getting ready to go to bed.”

  “Mm-hmm…” His chest rumbles behind me and I can’t help but relax into his warm embrace.

  “It’s true,” I protest weakly. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”

  “I crossed paths with Evie as she was leaving.”

  “Right,” I say, reluctantly pulling back. I know there is no way I can stay like this forever. No matter how much I like it. “Well, you saw me, so…”

  He grabs the glasses from my hands and goes toward the kitchen. “Did you eat anything?”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Try again.”

  I run my hand through my messy hair. I seriously need to shower. “Noah…”

  He interrupts me. “Noah nothing. Go and take a shower, and I’ll order a pizza.” I glare at him, so done with people bossing me around. “You can glare all you want, but I’m not leaving, Jessy.”

  A shiver runs through my body when I hear him use my nickname.

  “You don’t have to fake it, there’s nobody to see the show.”

  The glasses clink loudly as they connect to the counter. I flinch at the sounds. Noah’s back is tense, his head lowered. I can’t see his face, but I know he’s pissed.

  The guilt slams into me, hard and unyielding. Noah has been trying his best to help me out, and I’ve been acting like a royal bitch.

  “Noah, I…” I try, but he doesn’t let me finish.

  “Go and take a shower.”

  Sometime later, I find Noah sitting on the living room floor, his books open in front of him as he scribbles something down. The sense of guilt from before returns in full force. He could be literally anywhere, yet he chose to come here.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper, leaning against the doorway.

  The shower helped wash away the remnants of the day and my frustration. My ankle is still hurting, but overall, I do feel slightly better. More human.

  Noah looks up at me, his eyes slowly taking in my bare feet, loose pajama pants and tight fitted tank top, my wet hair and makeup free face. I should feel exposed and vulnerable standing like this in front of him, but for some reason I don’t.

  “It’s okay. It’s been one hell of a day.” He looks tired; there are bags underneath his eyes that I haven’t noticed before.

  “No, it’s not. You tried doing everything in your power to help me today, and I’ve kept pushing you away and spouting snarky comments. I’m sorry.”

  “Apology accepted.” He pats the couch next to him. “Come sit. Pizza should be here soon. How’s the leg?”

  Crossing the room, I plop on the couch and lift my leg onto the pillow that’s still on the coffee table. My ankle is even more swollen then before, if that’s even possible, and the bruises have turned that ugly dark blue-purple shade.

  Noah’s hand lands on my leg, fingers skimming over the bruised flesh. Tingles that have nothing to do with pain spread though my leg.

  “It hurts a bit,” I say, shivering.

  “You should put an ice pack on it. Did you get anything for the pain?”

  I shake my head. “Not since the nurse’s office.”

  His blue eyes catch mine and hold. We stare
at each other for what feels like an eternity. My hand inches forward, to… I’m not even sure what exactly, but the doorbell rings, startling us both.

  “That’s the pizza.” Noah jumps to his feet and goes out of the room. I can hear him talking to the delivery guy in the foyer.

  When he comes back, he’s not only carrying pizza but also an ice pack. He places it on my ankle before sitting next to me, a pizza box in his hand.

  My stomach rumbles loudly, making me realize for the first time that I haven’t eaten since lunch.

  “You got the veggie one,” I say, dumbfoundedly looking in as he opens the box. Not believing it.

  A small smile tips at the corner of his mouth. “I know how you like your greens.”

  “But you don’t,” I point out.

  Noah shrugs, picking up a slice and taking a huge bite. “I can eat anything.”

  I stare at him for a moment, looking at him eat. “You really are a good guy, Noah Russell.”

  He swallows and looks away, color heating his cheeks. He looks boyish and kind of adorable.

  “Not always.”

  Everything that happened last year with Evie crosses my mind. How is that guy the same one sitting right here next to me? Evie has tried to tell me that Noah isn’t a bad guy, but I didn’t want to believe her. Not until now.

  “What happened?”

  I don’t have to explain, he knows.

  “I… I don’t know. I liked Evie, but I knew she didn’t see me like that, and I knew she was slipping through my fingers. I drank one too many, and thought if I could show her, maybe it would make a difference. But it didn’t.”

  No, it didn’t. Shame and regret are written all over his face. And I can’t help but wonder… does he still feel something for her? Is a part of him still in love with her?

  My heart squeezes painfully.

  No, you’re not going there. Stupid, stupid heart. He isn’t yours. He never was and never will be.

  “I never meant to hurt her. Never meant for it to get that far… I…”

  “I believe you.”

  But it doesn’t stop the ache in my heart.

  NOAH

  I pick up the box and take it to the kitchen. Jessy has grown silent as we finished our dinner. Well, she was more absentmindedly nibbling at her slice while I munched down half the pizza and watched her. I could practically hear her think next to me, but for the love of me I couldn’t figure out what’s on her mind. She said she believed me, but it had to be something I said. What else could it be?

  Coming onto Evie last year was the lowest point of my life. The look in Evie’s eyes as we were finally interrupted, the fear in them, will stay with me forever. I have never been more ashamed than after it finally hit me what I’d done.

  When I return to the living room she’s staring ahead, but her eyes are unfocused. Her head snaps toward me when she hears my footsteps.

  “I think we should stop this,” she says, her gaze trained somewhere over my shoulder.

  “What?” My heartbeat kicks up a notch, palms turning sweaty. She couldn’t be talking about…

  “Us.” There is finality in her voice. “I think we should stop this fake dating thing before it gets out of hand.”

  I run my hand over my face. “Where is this coming from?”

  She can’t break it off now. We have weeks before homecoming. It’s too early.

  “Will it really make a difference if it’s now or if it’s in a couple of weeks? We were breaking up regardless. Not that there’s actually anything to break. This is—we are—fake.”

  “It’s not fake to me,” I blurt out, the words coming out before I can stop them. At least they’re not those words.

  “What?” Her dark eyes grow wide, but at least she’s looking at me right now. If she wants to break this off, she might as well look me in the face when she does it.

  Not that there is actually anything to break.

  Nah, just my fucking heart.

  “It’s not fake to me. It might have started like that but…” I slowly move closer, because I know she might bolt otherwise. “It stopped being fake after a while.”

  “You’re joking.” She looks at me as if waiting for reassurance. I have none. “You have to be joking.” Still nothing. “You… are for real?” It comes out as a question.

  Can she really not see it?

  Doesn’t she feel it?

  Jessy lifts her eyes all the way up to my face. I’m standing so close she doesn’t have any other choice. Slowly, I pick up her hand and press it to my chest, right over my wildly beating heart.

  “Can’t you feel it?”

  “B-but you… and Evie and…”

  I shake my head. “There is no Evie and I, not for a while.”

  “But you suggested fake dating. Why?”

  “I still felt guilty over what happened, and you looked like you needed help.”

  “I don’t need anybody to save me.” She tries to pull her hand out of mine, but I don’t let her.

  “I know that now, but Jessy…” I pull her up. Her chest brushes against mine as she inhales sharply at the contact. I look down at her. Her hair has started to dry and it’s curling wildly around her face. Her skin is pale, cheeks rosy, lashes long. “Maybe I needed you to save me.”

  Then I kiss her. I’m prepared for her to push me away and tell me to fuck off, but at least I’d get one final taste of her lips. Only she doesn’t.

  Jessy’s fingers dig into my hair, pulling my head back as she returns my kiss. Her mouth fits perfectly against mine; hell, she fits perfectly against me. Like she was made for me. She tries to stand on her tiptoes, but loses her balance. My hands grip her hips, steadying her. Her tongue dips inside my mouth, and I lose myself in the feel of her. She overwhelms all my senses in the best way possible.

  Her touch.

  Her smell.

  Her very presence.

  It’s all I know, all I want.

  “Jessy?”

  We both jump back in surprise when we hear an unfamiliar voice, turning toward the door.

  “Mom!”

  I look between Jessy and the woman. Her mother.

  Fuck.

  I’m not sure who’s more mortified by the situation, Jessy, me or her mother.

  “What are you doing home?”

  Her mother gives me a glare that matches her daughter’s so well it would be funny if she hadn’t just caught us making out in her living room. She turns her attention back to Jessy. “I came home. And I see you have company.”

  “I— uhh…”

  I wipe my sweaty palms against my sides and step up, offering her my hand. “Noah Russell, Mrs. Bryant. I’m so sorry to drop in like this.”

  Her brows rise, the look of distrust still in her eyes, but she shakes my hand regardless. “Melany.”

  “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

  “Likewise.” She gives another look toward her daughter, eyes lingering on her foot. “Jessy, should you be standing?”

  “I’m fine.”

  My jaw tightens. Those fucking words.

  “Just a little bruise.” A tense silence falls over us in which we just try not to stare at each other.

  I rub at the back of my neck. “Right, I think I should…”

  “Noah’s my boyfriend,” Jessy blurts out just as I finish with, “Go.”

  We exchange a look.

  Mrs. Bryant sighs. “It’s too late for this. Jessy, I think you should say goodnight to your…” she pauses. “Boyfriend.”

  “Sure thing, Mom.”

  Then she looks at me. “We’ll do all this—” she waves at the room “—another day, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  I quickly grab my things and put them into my backpack. Jessy insists on walking me to the door.

  “Pick you up tomorrow?”

  “Nah.” She shakes her head, her eyes glued to my lips. “I can skip morning practice since my leg is screwed, and we’re working on conditioning. Eves wil
l pick me up.”

  “Then I’ll see you at school.”

  I lean down, pressing my mouth against hers in a soft kiss. Jessica sighs happily when I break the kiss, my forehead still pressed against hers. “Go inside and lock the door, Sunshine.”

  Chapter Twenty

  JESSICA

  “So, Noah?” Mom asks first thing in the morning, looking at me over the rim of her steaming hot cup of coffee.

  I stop in my tracks for a moment. Leaning my crutches against the counter, I hop toward the coffee pot, pouring myself a cup. I’ll need it for this conversation.

  “Yup, Noah.”

  “How long has this been going on?”

  “Not long.” I shrug. “Just a few weeks.”

  “And when did you plan to tell me?”

  I take a sip of coffee and burn my tongue. “Ouch.” Mom’s brows are raised as she waits for an answer. “I didn’t… I’m not…” Taking a deep breath, I try to calm my nerves. “There has just been a lot going on. I didn’t want to bring him around if he… if it’s not serious.”

  “Jessy,” she sighs, taking a seat and patting the one next to her. I limp toward her and sit down. My ankle is slightly better today, although it’s still pretty bruised and hurts like a bitch. “It’s normal for you to not be sure and to flirt with guys and go out on dates. You’re a teenager. These are the best years of your life. You should enjoy them.” She gives me a stern look. “To an extent, okay?”

  “Sure thing, Mom.” I can’t help but chuckle.

  Mom wraps her arm around my shoulder and pulls me in for a hug. “Some people are lucky to find their forever love while they’re young, some people take a little bit more time, but every person that enters your life is there for a reason. Find that reason and enjoy the time you have, because if there is something you can’t get back, it’s time.”

  “You bitch!” I say as soon as I slide into the passenger seat of Evie’s car and toss my crutches on the backseat.

  She winks at me playfully. “You’re welcome.”

  I punch her in the shoulder. “I can’t believe you let him into the house without telling me. I could have been naked.”