Page 61 of All That Glitters

He chuckles. “I don’t think you’re capable of killing a butterfly right now, Goldie.”

I blink a few times, and once I feel more stable, I jerk away from him.

“You’d be surprised at the strength that immense anger provides.”

He shakes his head. “Do you ever run out of spite?”

I smile sweetly at him. “No, I buy mine in bulk.”

A laugh huffs out of him. He gestures to the front door of the building.

“Come on, you can murder me after you rest.”

“I don’t get why Paisley called you,” I grumble as I follow him out of the building and into the cool afternoon air. “I told her I was fine.”

“And because she’s a good friend, she didn’t believe you. Just like I don’t.”

“You consider yourself a good friend?” The words come out without thinking. He’s done so much for me recently, but the past still stings. Plus, I haven’t eaten since breakfast, so I’m a little more snappy than is probably warranted.

“I’m sorry,” I quickly say. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Jameson gives me an unbothered smile.

“It’s all right, I know you haven’t slept enough. That’s what we’re going to remedy.”

I study him as we walk through the quad. The sun brightens his complexion, but there are unmistakable shadows beneath his eyes.

“When’s the last time you slept?” I question.

“I sleep,” he replies. “Just not well.”

I frown. “Haven’t you heard that you’re supposed to take care of yourself first? Like putting your oxygen mask on before you help the person next to you if a plane is going down.”

“I don’t think I’d follow that rule.”

“Jameson!” I scold. “You can’t be serious. Of course you would put yours on first.”

He glances at me, his mouth ticked up in one of his signature barely there smiles.

“Depends on who’s in the seat next to me.”

I shake my head to show my incredulity, but inside, my heart is being tugged toward him. He’s always been the selfless type. That’s what made him taking the internship hurt so much. It was so out of character it shocked me. Then again, the kiss changed things. But if that’s true, why hasn’t he given up taking care of me?

“How about we make a deal?” he suggests. “You go home and eat and sleep, and I’ll do the same.”

“How will I know you’re holding up your end of the bargain?”

I don’t know why I’m considering this deal. Maybe it’s because deep down I know if Jameson and I were on a plane while it was crashing, he’d turn to check if I was okay before even thinking of himself. Or maybe it’s just because I’m getting too tired to fight.

“Nash will say if I did, and Paisley can say if you did,” he says.

“Paisley isn’t my roommate. Why would she know if I’ve slept?”

His smile turns wry. “Because she’s on her way to your place right now to take care of you.”

I run a hand over my face and sigh.

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”