Page 67 of Fragile

“Hey, Jay, you okay?” I ask, and his head turns to me in surprise. Pushing his glasses up his nose, he nods my way, and some of the tension evaporates from his shoulders.

“Olá, Quinn,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. Now I really look at him, his cheeks are flushed as though he’s been in a heated discussion. Hmm, interesting. Walking closer still, I extend my hand to the girl with blue hair and blue eyes.

“Hi, I’m Quinn.”

She looks at my hand, to Jay with a frown, and then back to me, giving me a small smile and a wave. “Georgia.”

Retracting my hand and accepting her wave instead, I say, “I don’t think I’ve met you before. What year are you in?”

“Sophomore.”

“Oh, same as us. Are you studying photography like Jay?”

Georgia shifts, looking a little uncomfortable. “Err, not exactly. I’m an artist, but I take Fine Art Photography, which is how I met your boyfriend here.”

A barking laugh erupts from my mouth, my hand flying up to capture the sound. “Oh.” I swallow the next laugh, schooling my face. “Jay isn’t my boyfriend. He’s my friend, but he’s totally single.”

“Gee, that doesn’t make me sound like the biggest loser. Not just single,totallysingle.”

Balking and backtracking I squeal, “I didn’t mean it like that!”

“Well, at least I know I can call you if I need a wing woman.”

“Jay—” I begin, but am cut off.

“Well, totally single guy, I’ll see you in class,” Georgia says, bumping shoulders with Jay as she walks past us. “Bye, Quinn.”

I look at Jay, my mouth open, and then back again to Georgia, a million questions racing through my brain.

“Don’t ask.”

Okay, then. Clamping my mouth closed, I roll back on my feet, trying to think of something else to say. Words never usuallyescape me, but I’m too intrigued by whoever that girl is. I’ve only ever seen Jay kiss a few girls at parties, I know he hooks up, but he’s Mr. Casual. I haven’t seen him interact with so much intensity before. “Okay, hate me all you want, but I need to know who she is.”

Jay sighs loudly. “It doesn’t matter. She’s in my class, like she said. She’s insanely talented, and we…don’t get along. At all. In any way, shape, or form.”

“Someone doesn’t likeyou?” I squeak in disbelief. “The sweetest guy in our group and she doesn’t like you?” I’m gesturing wildly to him, as though he doesn’t know who he is.

He laughs, but it’s more to placate my ridiculousness. “Anyway, I’ve gotta go get my SD card for my camera. Até já.”

“Adeus,” I reply, saluting him as he leaves.

My phone buzzes against my hip, and when I fish it out, I see Miles calling me. Fumbling to answer, I almost drop it twice in my haste to swipe. “Miles?”

“Hey.”

“Everything okay?” I ask, desperately trying to keep the shake of nerves from my voice, but it doesn’t stop my pulse quickening at the thought that something has gone wrong before the game tonight.

“Yeah, it’s just… I…” He pauses, and all I can hear is his breathing—steady, slow, constant. The silence stretches, making my heart race even faster. “I wanted to hear your voice.”

My shoulders sag in relief, the tightness in my chest easing slightly just as the realization sinks in. He came to me when he clearly needed something else. He came to me. “Well…” I clear my throat. “Here is my voice, just for you. Are you sure everything is okay?”

“Yeah,” he exhales roughly. “It’s better now I’m talking to you.”

My poor, loved-up heart can’t cope with him being this way with me. The flirting is fine; I’m used to it. It’s always been more of a joke. But this? This heartfelt side to him. It makes my feelings intensify to supernova status. Like, seriously, the human torch would have nothing on me, and I didn’t think that was possible. I’ve only glimpsed him being this honest and raw a few times in my life, and now he’s directing it all to me. I melt faster than a snowman in sunshine.

“I had an email from my dad. I think he’s trying to find other ways to get in touch on game days. I didn’t open it, but I felt…”

He doesn’t need to continue to tell me what I already know. He wanted to take something to ensure he doesn’t land on his bad side. He wanted to make sure he was going to play the game of his life for his dad. And this is why I need him to stop, because he doesn’t see it, but he is amazing. He’s one of the most talented wide receivers at his level, and he doesn’t need anything but himself.

---