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

Noah sighs. “Give me that.”

  “I can carry it myself, thank you very much.”

  I’m not even sure why I’m fighting him on this. It’s completely silly, but I can’t seem to stop.

  He tries to pull the damn banner out of my arms, but I don’t let go.

  “I didn’t say you can’t,” he says through gritted teeth, pulling once more. “I said I’ll carry it for you. Dammit, why do you have to be—”

  “Fine.” I let go just as he’s pulling the banner.

  “—so damn stubborn?”

  Noah clearly didn’t expect me to let go, and he certainly didn’t expect I’d lose my balance while doing so. Together we fall to the floor, the two of us a mess of limbs.

  He sucks in a sharp breath as I fall down right on him, that damn banner that’s the cause of all of this sliding away somewhere. My whole body rattles from the impact, but at least I landed on Noah. He, on the other hand, landed on the floor.

  “I’m so sorry,” I say, my hand covering my mouth. I’m not sure if I want to laugh or cry, but at this point it could be either. “Noah, are you okay?”

  I reach forward to touch his face that’s turned into a painful grimace. “Noah?”

  “Hey guys, are you… Seriously, Russell? You’re getting some action while I have to do all the hard work?” I turn around to find his friend Elliott standing in the doorway, looking at us with a knowing grin. “Do I need to remind you that you volunteered us for this job?”

  “We’ll be right there.”

  With another shake of his head, Elliott leaves and I turn my attention to Noah.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure, you looked like you were in pain…”

  “Fine. C’mon, let’s get back.”

  Suddenly painfully aware of my position, I quickly get to my feet, offering my hand to help Noah up. In silence, we each grab a banner and return to our group, who give us curious stares, but don’t comment much.

  I look up at where Lisa wants us to put the banners. “I think we’ll need a ladder. I’ll go and…”

  Noah crouches in front of me and taps his back. “Jump up.”

  “What?” I stumble back a step, looking at him like he’s gone crazy. “You can’t…”

  “I’m fine, Sunshine.” Tap-tap. “Jump up.”

  Taking a deep breath, I step forward. “I seriously don’t think that’s a good idea,” I mutter, but do as he says, sliding one leg over his shoulder and then the other. His fingers grip my ankles for support and then he straightens to his full height.

  Letting go of one of my ankles, he grabs the banner and hoists it up. “Ready?”

  It’s actually much simpler than I thought it would be. Together we work in silence, setting the banners while Lisa directs us from the floor, always finding something to complain about.

  We’re done just as the bell rings, and students come rushing out of the classrooms.

  I slide down Noah’s back, feeling the strong muscles underneath my palms. He turns around, giving me a look I can’t quite decipher.

  His hand reaches for my face, fingers tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Pick you up tomorrow?”

  I swallow hard, nodding. “Sure. Tomorrow.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  NOAH

  “What is this?” I narrow my eyes at her as soon as she slides into the passenger seat of my car.

  “What?” she asks, looking completely confused.

  “This.” I pull at the neck of the jacket she’s wearing. A very big, clearly male jacket.

  “Oh.” She looks away guiltily. “It’s a jacket.”

  But it’s not just a jacket. It’s his jacket. And she’s wearing it while she’s pretending to be my girlfriend.

  Fuck.

  My hands grip tighter around the steering wheel as I try to keep my cool, but it’s hard. So damn hard. It shouldn’t matter. But it does. And I don’t like it at all.

  “It’s his, isn’t it?” I grit through clenched teeth.

  “He had like five of them, and we were dating.” She shrugs. At least she didn’t try to lie about it.

  “Well, you aren’t anymore,” I point out.

  She flinches at my harsh words, making me feel like an asshole as a flash of pain crosses her face. Still, she doesn’t cower.

  “No, we’re not. I just exchanged a real asshole boyfriend for a fake one,” she mutters angrily, and then turns to look out the window.

  Fucking hell.

  I rub my hand over my face. Will I ever say anything right with this girl? It feels like everything I do just pisses her off more than the last thing.

  But she’s right, I have no right to say anything. Not only do I not know the whole story, I’m her fake boyfriend. No matter how sometimes it doesn’t feel fake at all.

  We don’t say a word to each other until we get to school, the sound of the radio the only thing filling the quiet of the car.

  As soon as the car is parked, we get out. Jessica tries to run away from me, but I don’t let her get far. That damn jacket, taunting me.

  Oh, for fuck’s sake.

  Before I can think better of it, my hands land on her shoulders.

  “Hey!” Jessica pushes me back. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  I quickly work on sliding down the strap of her backpack and then start working on the jacket. “Getting rid of this thing.”

  Before she can protest any further, the jacket she’s been wearing is tugged free and thrown into the backseat of my car.

  “I need it for the rally!” Jessica protests, opening the door once again to get the jacket out. “You can’t just…”

  I take off my jacket and put it over her shoulders. Wrapping my arms around her from behind, I pull Jessica to my chest. Partly to keep her from punching me in the face, but partly because I plain want to.

  I lean down, inhaling her sweet scent. Closing my eyes, I let myself enjoy it for a moment. My lips brush against her earlobe as I whisper, “You can think I’m a jackass, but I don’t want you wearing another guy’s jacket while we’re together.”

  “Why does it matter?” she challenges, turning in my arms to face me, the fire in her eyes burning brightly. “This whole thing is fake. It’s not like we’re together for real.”

  Irritation in me spikes, but somehow I manage to rein it in. I close the distance between us. My voice cool and collected, the complete opposite of the emotions swirling inside me.

  “Fake or real, you’re mine. And as long as we’re together I take care of what’s mine.” Wrapping my hand around her waist, I pull her into my chest and kiss her.

  It’s hard and bruising. My fingers wrap around the nape of her neck, coaxing her to tilt her head backward and give me access. My tongue slides past her lips and into her mouth, twirling and sucking.

  Jessy matches the pace I set, not once shying away. Her body is brushing against mine, her fingers digging into my hair, giving it a slight pull.

  We’re punishing each other for the harsh words we said. Fighting a battle in which we both might be winners if she’d only open herself up to the possibility.

  I hadn’t even realized how much I want it until this very moment.

  The kiss ends almost as soon as it began, but my heart doesn’t stop for a second. Jessica’s breaths are ragged, just like mine, and I find a little solace in the fact that I affect her as much as she affects me.

  “Let’s go.” I intertwine our fingers and together we go into the pandemonium that’s the hallways of our school on game day.

  The Friday night lights shine brightly above us as we step onto the field, the cheers of the crowd deafening as we emerge from the tunnel.

  The lights, the people, the smell of the grass, it all sends a rush of adrenaline through my bloodstream, pumping me up for the kickoff.

  Elliott slaps my shoulder pad, a huge grin on his face. “Let’s smash those fuckers!”

  “Make them eat di
rt, dude.”

  We fist bump, just like we do before every game.

  I scan the field, taking everything in. As if of their own accord, my eyes land on Jessica standing with the rest of the cheerleaders on the sidelines. She’s in a matching blue and gray top and skirt, her hair pulled up in a high ponytail, pom-poms in her hands.

  She turns toward me, her gaze meeting mine like she could feel me watching. Something shifts inside of me. I remember our kiss from earlier. How she felt pressed against me, the feel of her mouth underneath mine.

  The need to go to her and claim her mouth is almost too much.

  She shakes her head, like she knows what’s on my mind, but a smile tips her lips.

  “Good luck,” she mouths just as everybody is called to stand for the national anthem.

  I try my best to push Jessica’s smile to the back of my mind as we go through all the pre-game stuff.

  The coin is tossed, and Greyford picks to receive. We each go to our respective teams, watch the kickoff and together with my best friend I lead the offense to the field.

  Everybody takes their positions. A light breeze cools my face as I scan the players of the rival team on the other side of the line, observing them carefully.

  After the signal, I don’t waste a moment, calling the play immediately. Our center snaps the ball into my hands, my fingers curling around the smooth leather. Taking a few steps back, I find my player just where I need him, and then I let the ball fly.

  Chapter Fifteen

  JESSICA

  “Did you get something to eat?” Mom’s voice comes from the speaker.

  “I did, don’t worry.” I’d roll my eyes, but can’t since I don’t want to mess up my eyeliner.

  My reflection is looking back at me from the mirror. I move a bit closer, my tongue peeking out as I draw a line along my other eyelid to match the first.

  “You know I don’t like leaving you alone to work late,” she sighs, and I can hear the rustling of papers in the background.

  “I won’t be alone, I’m going to a party.”

  “Still… be careful, okay? And you better get your ass home by midnight. I’ll be waiting.”

  Pulling back, I give my handiwork a critical gaze. A little bit of mascara and lip gloss and it’ll be perfect.

  “Home by midnight. Got it.”

  Somebody calls her name in the background, making her sigh. “I’ve gotta go.”

  “Don’t work too hard.”

  “I’ll see you later. I love you.”

  “Love you too, Mom.”

  The call disconnects, and I look at the phone. A photo of the two of us during our short vacation from last summer stares back at me. She’d been a stay-at-home mom for as long as I could remember, but after the divorce she had to find a job to support us. Working as a secretary for a law firm pays well, although the hours can be crazy more often than not. But she didn’t want anything from my dad. Said she won’t take money from the man who didn’t want her. Want us. Because he didn’t just divorce her, he divorced both of us. I don’t think I’ve talked to him more than a handful of times in the last five years, much less seen him.

  Shaking the dark thoughts away, I finish my makeup and go back to my bedroom to change into a skirt with a pretty flower pattern, a plain t-shirt and chucks on my feet. I tie a light sweater around my waist since I know we’ll be outside and it’s bound to get cold later in the evening.

  My phone buzzes on the nightstand. I pick it up and check the message.

  Evie: Are you ready?

  Me: As ready as I’ll ever be.

  Evie: Let me see what you’re wearing.

  I shake my head at her, but snap a quick picture of my reflection in the mirror, making sure to capture my tongue stuck out at her.

  Me: Happy?

  Evie: You look so cute!

  Evie: I call dibs on the skirt. I want to wear it for my next date with Liam.

  Me: As long as you promise there’ll be no funny business.

  Evie: JESSY!

  Evie: What the hell!

  Me: Just calling it as I see it.

  The doorbell rings, making me freeze for a moment. My body is immobile, but my heart is going into overdrive, beating furiously against my ribcage.

  Me: He’s here.

  Evie: Go open!!!

  Me: Right.

  Evie: *squeal*

  Evie: I’ll see you there, hot stuff!

  Shaking my head at her, I throw my phone on the bed and give myself one final look in the mirror. Smoothing out the hem of my skirt, I take one deep breath.

  “You can do this, Jessy. You can do this.”

  Things have been better this week, or so it seems. People were still talking, but true to Noah’s words they were talking about us, speculating all kinds of things, but they didn’t bring Jack into the mix or mention our messy breakup.

  I walk through my quiet home as the doorbell rings once more. For some strange reason my heart flutters in my chest, but I shoot the irritating feeling down, making sure to school my expression before pulling the door open and coming face to face with my fake boyfriend.

  Not that it helps much, because he looks good. Damn good. His hair is styled neatly and he’s wearing jeans and a light gray polo shirt that brings out the gray in his irises.

  Shifting from leg to leg, he looks at the empty space behind me before his gaze finally settles on me.

  He does a double-take, his eyes slowly taking me in from head to toe. I see his throat bob as he swallows, his tongue peeking out to slide over his lower lip.

  “You look…”

  I raise my brow, waiting.

  Noah just shakes his head. “Beautiful.”

  I can feel the color creep into my cheeks, and I’m grateful the room is dim so hopefully he can’t see it. “Thanks, you clean up nice too.”

  Another sweep of the space. “Ready to go?”

  Knowing Mom would be working late, I texted him earlier to pick me up at my place.

  “Just let me grab my stuff, I’ll be a second.”

  NOAH

  I look after Jessy as she goes to the back of the house, her hips swaying seductively with every step she takes. The material of her skirt caresses her smooth, lean legs, teasing me.

  I rub my hands over my face.

  This will be one long fucking night.

  While I wait for her I look around the small house. I was surprised when she told me to pick her up, ringing the doorbell and all that, but I didn’t want to make more of it than it was. Now I understood why she said it.

  The house is dark and quiet, meaning she’s the only person around.

  Guess I should have figured that one out.

  Everything looks neat and tidy, and definitely girly. Light colors. Throw pillows on the couch. Coasters on the coffee table in the living room. Candles.

  I move inside the living room, going to the bookshelf. There are some books there. A mix of romance novels and… are those horror novels? Sure looks like it. And photos. Lots of photos. Jessica in different stages of her life, from a toddler to the young woman I know, with an older version of herself who must be her mom. And then there are photos of her and Evie, some even of her, Evie and Liam. But none of her father. Is he out of the picture?

  “Snooping around?”

  I turn on the balls of my feet as soon as I hear her voice, feeling guilty at being caught. Her brows are raised as she looks at me, waiting for an answer.

  “Just trying to figure out what makes you you.”

  I want to ask her about the photos, about her dad, but I don’t think she’ll like it, and we’ve been doing so well these last few days. I don’t want to mess it up.

  “Ready to go?”

  “Whose place is this again?”

  The field is full by the time we get to the party, so I just park my car in the first available space and call it a day. I can hope no drunken idiot will scratch it on the way out because my parents will kill me.

  �
�One of the guys from the team. His family owns the land, but they said they’re cool with us using it.”

  Up until last year, all the parties happened at Andrew Hill’s house, but since he graduated last spring, we already knew that we’d have to find a new place to party. This is definitely a good option, at least until it starts snowing.

  I watch her as her wide eyes take everything in. “And you believe him?”

  “Guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

  I unlock my seatbelt but don’t hurry to get out. The only light illuminating the inside is the faint light of the bonfire from the distance. The party is already in full swing, with a dozen or so different cars and trucks parked in a circle around the bonfire. Somebody cranked up the music, because we can hear it all the way from here.

  “Are you ready for this?”

  Pretending in school is easy. Almost too easy. We both have different schedules and see each other during our one shared class and at lunch. Here people come to see and to be seen. They’ll look, and they’ll dissect every little thing we do.

  Those dark eyes turn back to me and prickles of awareness come alive underneath my skin. Her pink lips taunt me even in the darkness. “As I’ll ever be.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  We get out of the car and meet at the hood. The music is louder here, the smell of burnt wood and hay filling the air.

  I extend my hand toward her. Jessy looks at it for a second before placing her palm in mine. Her hand is warm, her skin slightly damp from nerves. I pull her closer, and she stumbles, her hand pressing against my chest for balance.

  Leaning down, I move closer, so close my lips are practically pressed against her ear. “Relax. I can feel you overthinking everything.”

  “Easy for you to say, you don’t have everything on the line.”

  Just my redemption and sanity. Not that I’d ever say that out loud. She doesn’t need to know that shit.

  Instead, I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her into my side and we walk toward the crowd gathered around the bonfire.

  Heads start turning as we come closer. People cheer, calling my name and congratulating me on the win with pats on my shoulder as we pass by. Of course, there is another group of people that’s just staring at us, whispering. Jessy notices it all too, her body tensing under my arm. But that’s the only thing giving her away. Her chin is lifted, her eyes staring right back at whoever’s gawking.