Page 50 of Fragile

She pauses, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “Do you think he could tell something is going on with us?”

Panic flares in my gut at the thought that my best friend might not be okay with this. “I doubt it…”

“But…?”

I scrub the back of my neck as I sit next to her. “How do you think he’ll react?”

“I’m not sure. But he isn’t the boss of me, and I can date whoever I want.”

My lips lift in an honest to god belly-fluttering smile as I look at her. “Is that what we’re doing Quinn? Dating?”

Her shoulder lifts, a faint blush stains her cheeks. “I guess not yet… We would need to go on a date first.”

“Or be exclusive,” I reply without an ounce of hesitation, the words tumbling out before I can second-guess myself.

I pause, meeting her gaze, waiting for her response.

I can almost see the wheels turning in her head as she watches me. She bites her lip. “Exclusive, huh?” she finally says, playfully, but I hear something deeper in her voice too.

“Yeah.” I nod with a smile, feeling my cheeks heat. “I’d like that.”

Her smile beams like sunlight. “I’d like that too.”

I shake my head, partly unbelieving of her wanting me. But I focus back on her as her answer settles in, leaving me on cloud nine.

“Come on, Queenie. Let’s get you checked out by the physio.”

Chapter twenty-three

Quinn

I’m not allowed todo any cheer practice for two weeks.

The news delivered by the physio was less than ideal.

It could’ve been worse and that’s my mantra for right now.

“Get out of your head, Dawson,” Miles says, snapping me from my thoughts. Leaning against him, we do an awkward shuffle/hop dance around campus to get to my dorm room, since I refused to take the underarm crutches. And I didn’t want to draw that much attention to us by being hauled around campus by a six-foot-four football player either.

“Right,” I agree. “Out of my head.”

“Two weeks isn’t that bad. You won’t be off it the whole time either. They’re being careful.” He shifts his grip, making sure I’m steady. “Just a few more steps.”

I nod and bite back a grimace from the pain. My ankle throbs with every movement. If only I hadn't pushed myself to try that new stunt without more practice. If only I had been more focused on the risky move and not staring at the field, waiting for Miles to turn his head again.

“Okay, I know you said no carrying, but I don’t care,” Miles says before he scoops me up again and walks without breaking his stride, closing the half a meter to my dorm steps. So much for not drawing attention to us.

Once we reach my dorm, he fumbles with the key card, swiping it a couple of times before the door beeps open. Lowering me to the floor, only once he’s walked up the stairs, we step inside mine and Indie’s room, and I sigh in relief as the sight of my bed comes into view.

Miles closes the door, drops his gym bag down, as I hop over to my bed. “Stay here. I’ll get you some ice,” he says, leaving me alone.

Taking a deep breath, I hold back tears I’ve felt ever since we left the physio exam room. “It’s fine, it’s going to be fine,” I tell myself. “You have so much to do in the meantime.”

The door opens again, and Miles offers me an easy smile. He walks toward me, looking down at my ankle. “So, the hallway first aid kit doesn’t have any ice packs. I need to check the box in your hangout room. Will you be okay?”

Rolling my eyes, I say, “Yes, the clumsy cheerleader will be fine sitting on her bed, not moving.”

Reaching out to push him away, he grabs my wrist before I can connect with his stomach and slowly lifts my hand to his lips. He presses a featherlight kiss to my knuckles, all the while burning me alive with his intense brown eyes. “Need anything before I go? I won’t be long.”

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