Page 86 of The Sound Of Silence

That shuts me up.

“Just let me see your foot,” he says on a breath, his tone significantly softer but still laced with frustration.

“I’m sure it’s not that bad. I can probably—”

“Willow!” he scolds, before bending and lifting my foot, forcing me to grip the wall for balance.

I glance down just as blood drips to the floor, causing my body to flush as nausea consumes me. “Oh. I don’t feel so good.”

Blood on the floor is one thing. Blood dripping from an open wound in my foot…completely different story.

Jesse chuckles, drawing my attention to his face as his lips pull into the most breathtaking smile I’ve ever seen. He shakes his head with his grin still in place, and I watch as a few stray strands of his messy hair fall to his brow.

It’s mesmerizing. Everything about him is mesmerizing.

And when his gaze finally meets mine, my heart stops, and a feeling of warmth spreads through me.

Sucking in a breath at how beautiful he is, I try to hide my feelings, but when I frown, I know I’ve failed.

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” he asks, misreading my expression.

“Um, yes?”

It really freaking hurts, but my words come out hesitant because I’m stuck on my thoughts of him. Wondering why he doesn’t smile like this all the time. Why he keeps this part of himself hidden.What happened to make him so sad all the time?

Jesse stares at me for a beat and then his smile curls into a smirk as his brows rise. “Are you okay there, Wil?”

“Wil?” I ask softly, the new nickname penetrating my heart even though it’s just a shortened version of my name.

“Would you prefer Buttercup?” he jokes, and it brings me delirious joy. Especially when he winks.He winks.

“Definitely not.” I giggle, loving when his stunning smile returns.

“Come on, I’ll help you to the couch and then get to work fixing you up.”

Jesse stands up and hooks my arm around his shoulder, settling his arm around my waist. I feel his fingers curl into me next, and I can’t help but lean into him.

After helping me hobble to the couch, he sits me down and kneels in front of me, lifting my foot once more.

When his face scrunches, and I see another few drops of blood fall, my eyes slam shut.

“Do you have any idea what you’re doing?” I ask, laying my head against the cushion, trying not to think of the pain.

“Not a clue,” Jesse admits, and I huff out a short laugh.

“Okay,” I mumble, not really in a position to worry about that. “Carry on.”

Jesse chuckles again, and I commit the sound to memory. Wishing I could play it on repeat… or save it as my ringtone… or keep doing things that bring it out of him.

“I think you’ve lost more blood than we realized, Willow.”

“What…why?” My eyes shoot open as I squirm in a panic, only stopping when Jesse holds me still, shaking his head.

“I’m kidding.” He smirks. “You just seem a little delirious.”

Shit. “I do?”

“You do.”

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