Page 55 of Always Love You More

“It’s okay,” I groan, fighting back a cough. “What rumors?”

“I’m surprised you haven’t heard them.”

“It’s a really big school.”

She bites her lip, folding the washcloth in her lap.

“Sam,” I push, and she looks back up at me. “What rumors?”

“Guys …” She drops the washcloth onto the desk so she has an excuse to look away from me again. “Guys sometimes say they’ve been with me when they haven’t.”

I grind my teeth. “What?”

“It’s not—”

“Who?”

“Hmm?”

“Who started the rumors?”

“Oh, I don’t …” She turns back to me. “It’s okay.”

“That’s not okay, Sam.”

“When I hear something, I deal with it,” she says defensively. “Like that girl.” Leaning back in her chair, she adds, “I can handle myself.”

“But you shouldn’t have to.”

Her eyes go to the bruise on my side. “We both deal with things we shouldn’t have to.”

“If you hear a rumor like that again, you tell me, okay?”

She watches me for a moment before she finally whispers, “Okay.”

“I mean it,” I tell her.

She dips her chin, and I watch as she moves to neaten the supplies on the desk, putting everything in its place, then reaches for the frozen bag of peas. “I’ll go get you another bag.”

“You don’t have to—”

“I’m not asking,” she cuts me off. “You need to keep icing”—she waves her hand—“everywhere.”

She starts to stand, and I grab her wrist. “Thank you, seriously.”

She looks at me, likereallylooks at me, and it makes me feel like maybe … I don’t know … like maybe she sees me as something better.Someonebetter than I really am.

“Of course,” she breathes. “Be right back.”

She’s only gone a couple minutes before she’s silently easing through the door. It’s obvious from the way she moves that she’s used to quietly slipping through the house.

She hands me another bag of peas, and I press it against my side.

She slowly rakes her eyes down my chest. “Isn’t that cold?”

I tilt my head. “Thought that was the point.”

She laughs. “Don’t be a smartass.”