Without thinking, I turned off the TV and hid in my room with the door closed. She couldn’t think I was out there waiting for her. Because that’s exactly what I was doing. Waiting.
Her keys jingled as she unlocked the door and entered. Did she walk like she was happy? Was that a thing?
She set her keys on the hook, and her movement seemed to stop in front of my room for two seconds. My heart lodged in my throat. Jesus. I pulled the ends of my hair and felt a wave of disgust go through me. Her brother was a senior on the team. One with pull and the ability to ruin everything for me. I was juvenile and pathetic, acting like this because of lust.
That’s all this was though. Lust.
A small cough carried through the door, and my heart froze. Was that… a cry? What the hell? I yanked open the door and found Ryann, her face twisted in pain as she sat on the couch. Her foot was pulled onto her lap, and she gripped it with a red face.
“Hey, what happened?” I asked.
“I think I twisted my ankle or something on the walk back. It’s throbbing.” She bit her lip and closed her eyes tight, groaning when she squeezed it. “Stupid shoes.”
I glanced at the black shoes she wore. They were way too tall. “You should’ve taken them off.”
“And be the girl walking back alone with shoes in my hand? No thank you.” Her blue eyes finally met mine, and when she sucked in a breath at my bare chest, pleasure rolled through me. But her comment bothered me, and as I walked into the kitchen to grab some athletic tape I stored under the sink, I figured out why.
“Your date didn’t walk you home?”
“No.”
I tensed, half-hunched over as I rifled through the box of stuff I always took with me wherever I moved. Band-Aids and alcohol swabs covered the bottom of it, but I finally got the black tape. “He should’ve walked you home.”
She swallowed hard as I approached her on the couch. I wasn’t sure if the slight reddening of her cheeks was because of the pain or because of me. I knew which one I wanted to be true, even though nothing was going to happen between us.
I sat on the cushion next to her and lifted her jean-clad leg up so her foot rested on my thigh. “How long did you walk on it with it hurting?”
“Probably a mile.”
“You could’ve called me,” I barked out, annoyed that she hurt herself and this guy wasn’t there to assist her. I paused my taping and glared at her. “I would’ve helped you.”
“You don’t have a car, J.D.,” she fired back, her voice a little stronger. “What would I have said? Hey, can youcarryme back home?”
“I would have.”
“Well, I don’t have your number.”
I froze. How had we not exchanged numbers? We were roommates. “Give me your phone,” I demanded, not caring that I sounded like a jerk. It was important for us to be able to call or text. She could’ve asked me to come get her. Besides, what if she got locked out of the place or hurt? “Please,” I added, hoping it sounded more sincere.
She slid her phone out of her pocket, and I entered in my number, sending a text to myself so I had hers. Knowing that was fixed made me feel a little better. “Call me next time.”
“I don’t plan on hurting myself again.”
“I would hope not.” I sighed and couldn’t stop staring at her. Her face was so pretty, and her expressive eyes and full lips invaded my thoughts when she was gone. Her brows drew together, and I focused on the task. Helping her with her injury.
I ripped the athletic tape so I had enough to wrap her small ankle, and I weaved it around, making sure it was tight enough to not hurt. “This should help for the next day or so. Can you try moving your foot?”
She wiggled it up and down, and the wince wasn’t as bad. “It feels sturdier.”
“Good. Here, stand up. Put some weight on it.” I set her foot on the ground, stood up myself, and held out a hand to her. She took it, and I pulled her up, not letting go when she shifted her weight back and forth. “Well?”
“Better, yes.”
“You need Advil. Hold on.” I waited until she sat again and got two pills from my bedroom. “This will help with the swelling.”
“Thank you.” She smiled for a second before pushing off the couch and twisting her face in determination.
“Uh, where are you going?”
