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

  “Okay, fine. You’re forgiven. So where are you taking me?” I ask, looking at the road. We’re already at the outskirts of Greyford, where there is less traffic, and the street lamps are further apart.

  “I told you, it’s a surprise.”

  “I don’t like surprises.” I cross my arms over my chest, pouting. Which makes his grin pop out once again.

  “Well, you’ll have to wait and see.”

  “Are you taking me out of town so it’s easier to get rid of my body once you kill me?”

  Noah throws me a quick glance before returning his attention to the road. “You have a pretty messed-up mind, did you know that?”

  “So people keep telling me.” I shrug nonchalantly. While most girls get giddy about rom-coms and romance novels, I prefer a murder mystery. The bloodier it is, the happier I’ll be.

  He chuckles, shaking his head.

  Figuring we’re done with the conversation, I decide to play with the radio to find something more upbeat, but Noah’s hand shoots forward, clasping over mine.

  “What now? Can’t change the radio station either?”

  “We’ll be there soon.”

  “That’s just a shitty excuse for not allowing me to mess with the radio.”

  Shaking off his hand, I start changing the station, all the time pointedly looking at him and waiting for him to say something so I can tell him I was right, but Noah keeps quiet. I bet it takes everything in him to do so, but he does.

  I’m still leaning forward, messing with the radio, when I see lights not too far in front of us.

  “Is that…”

  “Yup.” The P pops, and the grin is back.

  I shove him slightly in the shoulder, which just makes him laugh harder. It’s a nice laugh. A rumble that comes from somewhere deep in his lungs.

  “How…”

  “One of the guys on the team mentioned it today. Somebody bought the old drive-in theater and decided to re-open it. It should be once a month for now, and then depending on how many people are interested, they might open it more often,” Noah explains as he drives us inside and parks in the first open space.

  For something that just opened, there is quite a crowd gathered here. Probably twenty or so cars. I recognize a few of them as the ones our classmates drive to school.

  “So… what do you say?” He’s almost giddy with excitement. Like a little boy who just entered a candy store.

  “Well, I guess I won’t have to knee you in the balls, so there’s that.”

  “What?” He covers his crotch defensively. “Why would you do that?”

  “Well, that was my defense in case you actually brought me here, to the middle of nowhere, to kill me. Knee you in the balls and run for my life.”

  “You’re one bloodthirsty woman.”

  I point my finger at him. “You better remember that.”

  I lift my gaze and am met with his baby blues staring right at me. I didn’t even realize how close we were up until this moment. Both of us leaning toward the other, my finger grazing the soft material of his shirt, his warm breath touching my skin.

  He must have realized it too, because at once, we both pull away, looking around awkwardly, just to avoid each other’s gaze.

  As I look around the parking lot, I notice a couple staring in our direction. “Hey, is that…?”

  I tilt my head in the direction of the car, not really sure of the guy’s name, but I’m quite positive he’s on the football team.

  “Dean. He’s the one who said it opened.”

  “Do you know what we’re watching?”

  A grin spreads over his lips. “Well, now that you’re asking…”

  Chapter Twelve

  NOAH

  I was completely right, and I’m not even sure if I should be fascinated or freaked the fuck out. The jury is still out.

  From the corner of my eye, I see Jessy throwing more popcorn into her mouth, munching happily as her big brown eyes take in the bloody mess that’s going on on the big screen.

  And since I’m watching her instead of that dumb movie I’m not even interested in, I notice her throwing a curious glance here and there in my direction.

  “What?” Jessy breaks the quiet, her hand stopping in mid-air and hovering over the popcorn bowl.

  “Nothing.” I shake my head but don’t move my eyes off of her.

  “You sure? Do I have something on my face? Wait, no, I’m eating popcorn, did one go down my shirt?” She looks down at her cleavage and my eyes instantly follow suit.

  She didn’t dress up, just a pair of skinny jeans and a fitted green shirt, but the scoop-neck shows off just enough of her chest to make my mouth water.

  “Nothing fell in your shirt.”

  “So you were looking at my boobs?” Now she’s glaring at me with suspicion in her eyes.

  I sigh and let my head fall against the headrest. “Is there a way to win against you?”

  “I don’t think so, although you’re always welcome to try.”

  “I’m not even going there.” I shake my head.

  “So will you tell me why the hell you were staring at me?” She shifts in her seat to give me her full attention.

  “Just trying to figure you out. You’re so… different.”

  “Is that a bad thing?” She tries to sound casual, but I can see that she’s waiting for my answer, wondering what I’ll say.

  “Not really. But if it were any other girl sitting here, she’d be in my lap by now.”

  I know I probably sound like a prick, but it’s true. We should be trying to sell our relationship, yet she’s acting either aloof or like a friend.

  “That’s why you brought me here?” One of her perfectly-shaped brows lifts in a silent question.

  “I brought you here because some guys mentioned it was open and that they were going. People will start to wonder if they don’t see us around. It’s a small town. You said it yourself, we have to sell this relationship to them, and we won’t do that by disappearing during lunch hour.”

  A frown appears between her brows, and I almost regret my words, almost but not quite. She would see my bullshit for what it is. “I guess you’re right.”

  “So…” I try my best to stretch my legs in the limited space there is. My body is growing stiff from all the sitting. I tilt my head to the screen where the movie is still playing, not like either of us is paying any attention to it. “You really like that stuff, huh?”

  “It’s fun.” Jessy shrugs, her eyes falling down to the popcorn. “Mostly in a really lame and that’s-so-stupid-nobody-sane-would-ever-fall-for-it way, but fun still. What do you like to watch?”

  I think about it for a moment. “Does ESPN count?”

  “You boys and sports.” Jessy rolls her eyes, but a small smile is tugging at her lips.

  “I might also have a thing for superhero movies,” I admit, wanting to give her something back. Knowing she needs it if I want her to open up to me. I don’t know why it matters, but it does.

  “Marvel or DC?”

  This time I’m the one rolling my eyes. “Why do people always assume it’s one or the other? Can’t I like both?”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes!”

  “Fine.” She lifts her hands in the air in surrender. “I’m just asking, no need to scowl at me like that.”

  I grab her hands and pull them down, keeping them clasped between mine. “They’re both good in their own way. When I was younger I was really into comics. I think I still have them all stashed somewhere since my mom doesn’t like to throw anything out.”

  Jessy laughs, the sound echoing in the small cab of the car. “Blame it on the mother, why doncha? I bet you’re still reading them occasionally.”

  I might give them a peek every now and then, but there is no way I’ll admit to it now.

  “You’re insane.”

  “Mm-hmm… Then why are you suddenly blushing?” she teases, one of her hands slipping out of my grasp and pushing a
gainst my chest almost playfully. I catch it before she can do it again.

  “It’s darker than a rat’s ass in here. There is no way you can see if I’m blushing or not.”

  She turns to me, the movie all but forgotten, and points her finger at me. “But you didn’t say you weren’t blushing, now did you?”

  Shaking my head at her, I look down. Her hands are small, so small my palms cover them completely, fingers long and slender. I slide my palms against hers, feeling the softness of her skin.

  “You’re delusional.”

  I interlace our fingers, lifting my eyes to look at her.

  “You only wish.”

  The light is dim, the only thing reflecting it is the big screen in front of us, but I swear I can see her eyes dancing with mischief. It’s surreal, seeing her like this. So cheerful and happy. It’s like watching a completely different person. This is a softer side of Jessica Bryant I haven’t seen before, at least not directed at me, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t like it. Because I do. I like it a lot.

  “Do you at least have a favorite?”

  “Sure, Iron Man is my favorite.”

  I slide my thumb over her wrist, feeling the way her skin pebbles underneath my touch. Her whole body shudders, but she doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t tell me to stop or let go.

  “And then you say you don’t have a preference between Marvel and DC.”

  “I don’t.” I burst into laughter. “But if I had to choose just one superhero, Iron Man would be it.”

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why him?”

  “‘Cause he’s a badass?”

  “He’s just a big boy playing with his toys.”

  “Toys he invents. He’s smart.”

  “And I’m sure the fact that he’s a rich playboy doesn’t hurt, either.”

  “Jessica Bryant, do you want to tell me you have something against my favorite superhero?” I mock gasp.

  “Ehh…” She frowns, lines appearing between her brows.

  I press my hand against my chest, pulling her along. “You wound me.”

  It’s only then that she realizes that I’ve been holding her hand all along. She tries to pull it away, but I don’t let her.

  “Noah.” Jessy looks down at our hands, and then slowly peeks back at me through her eyelashes. They’re dark and long, surrounding her almond-shaped brown eyes.

  My grip on her hand tightens slightly, pulling her closer. Those doe-like eyes fall to my mouth, and then look back at me. Her tongue peeks out, wetting her pink lips, and I can barely hold in my groan.

  We’ve been sitting in the car for the past hour. The small space filled with her fragrance was driving me insane, and now this?

  A strand of her straight hair slips out from behind her ear and caresses her cheek. With my free hand I reach forward and brush it back in place, the tips of my fingers grazing against her soft cheek.

  “Who’s the one blushing now?” I ask teasingly.

  “I—”

  “Shh…” I press my finger against her lips, stopping whatever she planned to say.

  I look down at her mouth, and then back into her eyes, trying to see what she wants. I know what I want, that’s not even a question, but what about her?

  Does she want to kiss me as badly as I need to kiss her?

  Can she feel this… something shifting between the two of us?

  Leaning down, I watch for any change in her. My heart is beating frantically against my ribcage, working twice its normal speed.

  I’m so close I can see faint freckles scattered over her cheekbones, feel that intoxicating scent of hers that’s been all I could think about lately.

  “Jessy,” I whisper, looking, waiting for something. Our mouths so close our lips are brushing together.

  Bang. Bang.

  The knock on the glass breaks the spell around us. Jessy jumps back like I burned her.

  Groaning in frustration, I turn around to find none other than Elliott looking at us through the closed windows and waving like the idiot he is.

  I’m going to kill him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  JESSICA

  I lift my gaze from the book that’s in front of me and catch sight of Noah quietly laughing at something one of his football buddies said. They’re huddled together a few desks away from ours and seem like they’re having more fun than what’s appropriate for this gloomy place.

  As if he can feel my gaze, his eyes lift and find mine. His smile widens like he’s actually happy to find me watching him. His friend says something that has Noah shoving him away, without breaking eye contact with me. Then he does something unexpected. He winks at me.

  I suck in a breath, warmth spreading through my body as my heartbeat kicks up a notch.

  Calm down, Jessy. It’s nothing, he’s just playing his part. Like you should play yours.

  If only it were that easy. I still remembered our almost kiss from the other night at the drive-in theater. The way we were squeezed together in the small space of his car. How I could feel his warm breath touch mine. His big palms enveloping my much smaller ones.

  I’d have let him do it; I’d have let him kiss me if his friend hadn’t stopped our mouths from touching with his sudden barging in.

  “You’re not even listening to me!” Evie says, snapping me out of my Noah-induced haze.

  “What?” I jump a little in surprise.

  “Earth to Jessy, where are you at?!”

  I straighten the page that I stopped reading at and offer her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I got lost in thought for a bit.”

  Evie tips her chin toward the desk where the boys sit, a Cheshire cat smile curling her lips. “More like lost in Noah,” she sing-songs playfully. “How is that going, anyway?”

  “Eh… It’s going?”

  I’m seriously not sure what to tell her. We’ve been officially fake dating for about a week now, and nobody has questioned anything just yet, so I guess that means we’re good?

  Just then the door to the library bursts open, which makes the frown on our school librarian deepen even more than usual, and Lisa storms in, her perfect curls bouncing off her shoulders as she walks, eyes scanning the space. Until they land on me.

  “Jessy! There you are.”

  Evie and I exchange a confused look, but don’t get a chance to comment.

  “I’ve been looking for you.”

  “Me?” I point a finger at my chest so there is no confusion.

  “Yes you, silly.” She rolls her eyes and laughs. Not sure at what, but she does. “Anyhow, I talked to Miss Lopez and she agreed that since we have a free period we can use it to get a head start on decorating and I figured you’d like to help.”

  “Umm…” Lisa taps her foot on the floor impatiently. “Sure?”

  In all honesty, I was hoping to spend the free period catching up on some reading and spending time with Evie, but if decorating now gets me home faster later, why the hell not?

  “Awesome!”

  “Sorry Eves…” I turn to apologize but she’s already packing her things.

  “I can help too,” she offers, not leaving room for us to argue with her. Not that I would. I’m not sure who all is helping with this, but I know I’ll always want Evie in my corner.

  Lisa doesn’t look happy, but thankfully doesn’t comment. We quickly grab our things and start toward the door. Other students in the library are giving us a mixture of curious and irritated gazes, and I’m so ready to be out of here.

  “Hey, is that Noah?”

  “Yup.” I don’t turn around to look at him. “Come on, let’s go.”

  “Why don’t you ask him to help us?”

  I push a strand of hair behind my ear. “Oh, I’m sure he has way better things to do…”

  “Who does?”

  For the second time in minutes, I’m startled. I turn on my heels only to find Noah and his friend standing right behind me. His brow is quirked in q
uestion, that half-smile of his tipping his lips.

  “What?”

  “Who has better things to do?”

  “Noah, I was just telling Jessy we should see if you guys want to help us decorate for tomorrow since we have a free period,” Lisa jumps in, although the question is clearly directed at me. Shocker, not.

  “Were you now?” he asks, but his eyes are still glued on me. I can feel his silent question, but I don’t give him an answer since I’m not sure what to say to begin with. I could have gone and asked him to join us; hell, I could have gone to his table as soon as we got to the library, and I saw him. I probably should have. It’s something a girlfriend would do, but instead, I kept my distance, just giving him a quick wave before sitting down next to Evie.

  “So, will you?” Lisa insists with an irritated undertone to her voice.

  I watch him watch me, neither of us saying anything for what seems like forever. He’s standing so close to me I have to tip my head up to be able to look him in the eyes. We’re not touching, but that doesn’t prevent my blood from humming quietly at his nearness.

  What the hell is going on here?

  It’s Noah.

  The guy who was into my best friend not that long ago. The guy who hurt her. The guy who got me into this mess in the first place. And yet…

  “Sure, why not? Elliott can help too. Just let us grab our stuff.”

  “You know, people will start noticing if you keep acting weird,” Noah mumbles beside me. We’re in the storage room where the school keeps most of the decorations and banners, which is what Lisa wanted us to bring.

  Of course she didn’t lift a finger, she’s just there to direct everybody, AKA boss us around. But I was happy to get away from the group, even if only for a little while.

  “I’m not acting weird.”

  “You’re not even looking at me. And last I remember, I don’t think that’s typical girlfriend behavior.”

  “I’m looking at you.” I grab one of the banners and turn on the balls of my feet, smashing Noah in the chest in the process. “Happy?”