The taste of iron on my lips makes me shut my mouth, but it’s too late, I’ve already tasted blood.
A strong, firm grip at the back of my head helps me sit up. My left eye struggles to open, but I can clearly see Keoni kneeling in front of me, Alysa to my right.
“Holy shit!” she screams before turning around. “What the hell, Jason?! You ASSHOLE!”
“I said it was an accident!!”
“I’m alright.” I struggle through the obvious lie. I’m starting to feel a little dizzy.
“I wasn’t aiming for him, I swear! I was trying to hit Amber!”
“And that makes it any better?!”
Everything just silences when Keoni pulls off his shirt, bunching it up into a ball, and places it over my nose. “Put your head back, Ayden.”
I’m upset that I can’t smell right now. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish I could get even the hint of his bodywash. It’s like coconut butter on a rainy day.
Doing as he says, I tilt my chin to the sky just as he helps me up. His arm wraps around my back, sliding under my arm, and he hoists me to my feet. I’m glad he doesn’t try to carry me—I’m fully capable of walking.
But I’m not mad that he doesn’t let me go. I drape my arm over his neck, keeping my head tilted back, yet from the corner of my eye, I glance at him.
“I’ll take you to the nurse.” He pulls me closer before shooting a look I can only describe as hateful over our shoulders. I don’t know who it’s directed toward, but if I had to venture a guess, it’s probably Jason.
We walk quickly, though I can feel him easing the weight from my steps, which I suppose I appreciate. I don’t feel faint, but since he hasn’t asked, I’m not going to share that piece of information.
Selfishly, I like it right here. Leaned against him with his arm around me, his other holding his shirt against my face.
Instead of leading me to the school nurse’s station, he guides me through the locker room to the sports doctor’s office. At the sharp right, he pushes the door open.
“Oh crap, Keoni. Is that Ayden?” Dr. Johnson says. The sound of a clipboard being placed down on wood is accompanied by rushing feet. “What happened?
“He got knocked with a football. His nose may be broken.”
“Naah,” I say, though the word fumbles out without much confidence.
I’m moved to sit, and as Keoni takes the back of my head, he slowly removes his shirt. It tugs slightly at my skin, and I bite back a groan.
Dr. Johnson leans forward toward my face, and that has Keoni stepping aside. “Looks like it got you in the eye too. That was ahard throw. Was it direct?”
“No, but Jason wasn’t far, and it looked like he threw it at full power. Saw the entire thing, and I’ll be making sure his coach knows exactly what happened.”
My heart skyrockets at the irritation in his tone.
Johnson walks away as Keoni steps out of view. I want to ask him to stay, but I’m not about to voice that. It would sound too weird to ask him not to leave. Maybe even needy?
Hah…ugh…
A body suddenly reappears in front of me, causing me to jump on the soft cushion under me. “I said, head back,” Keo murmurs. “It’ll help stop the bleeding quicker.” As he steps between my spread legs, his hand comes under my chin, and with a wet cloth starts cleaning off my lips.
“That could get him in trouble, maybe even suspended,” Johnson says from somewhere else in the room. “Big game this weekend, that could?—”
“I don’t care.” He rises to his full height, and I keep my eyes locked on his amber ones. “I’m reporting it.”
When he takes the cool cloth away, he folds it in one hand while keeping my chin firm in his grip. Then he presses it gently against my nose, leans to the side, and grabs my wrist, guiding my hand up to hold it in place.
“Thanks…”
He offers a sad smile.
