Worry tightened his features and his soaked hair clung to his skin. Droplets of water dripped off the tip of his nose, hitting my face.
“You’re dripping on me.” My voice came out raw and hoarse.
He smiled, easing some of his tension. “Sorry.” He scrubbed his face, wiping away most of the water. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, but quickly stopped at the pounding it caused my head. “I’m fine.”
“Good.”
He dabbed my forehead with a towel. I winced and pushed him away, seeing a scarlet stain on the cloth.
He scowled. “Didn’t you hear me yell at you?”
I tried to sit up, but he gently forced me back down. It was just as well, since my head hurt even more when I moved. I took the towel from him and lightly pressed it against my head. “I didn’t hear you until it was too late.”
I looked over at the sound of rushing footsteps. “Holy shit, Em, are you okay?” Beth asked, her worried face upside down from the angle I was at.
I was about to nod, but caught myself. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“We’d better get you home,” Thomas said. “Can you walk?”
“I think so,” I said as he helped me to my feet. I stumbled on my first step and Thomas caught me as I reached out for him. “Well, maybe not.”
He held out his other arm for support. “Here, let me carry you.”
My body heated at the thought of being that close to him again. Jesus, it was bad enough he just saw me take a nosedive into a rock. I wanted what little dignity I could have right now. “I can walk. Just give me a minute.”
Beth wrapped a towel around me and asked Hayley to get our things. Thomas transferred my weight to Beth, who looked like she might buckle at any moment. I leaned on her as we took a few tentative steps.
“You got her?” he asked Beth.
She nodded. “I’m stronger than I look.”
Thomas bit his lip and frowned. “Maybe I should go with you.”
“No.” It came out more vehement than I’d meant, but as I watched little rivulets of water drip down his toned chest, I knew that being around him right now–or at all, for that matter–was a bad idea.
“Give her some acetaminophen when you get home, and watch for signs of a concussion,” Thomas said to Beth.
“I’m fine,” I insisted. “Really.” Good God, what I wouldn’t give to lick those droplets off him…
Maybe I do have a concussion.
Both of them ignored me. “Got it,” Beth said as she put my arm around her shoulder. “C’mon, Evel Knievel. Let’s get you home.”
Chapter Twenty
Monday, August 31st
EMILY
Dark gray clouds blanketed the morning sky and the rain poured down in buckets. The air conditioning was on full blast in our sociology class, and I shivered as we walked in. In retrospect, maybe stomping in the puddles and swinging my umbrella around wasn’t such a great idea after all. My clothes and hair weren’t soaked, but damp, and stuck to my skin a little. I rubbed my hands along my arms, trying to warm up.
Beth nudged me. “There’s Thomas.”
He turned at that moment, meeting my eyes, and waved.
Beth smirked. “Looks like he saved you a seat again.”
“Shut it,” I mumbled before walking down the aisle to his row.
“Later,” she called out, the smirk still evident in her tone.
After maneuvering through the narrow row, I finally reached him. “Hey,” I said, dropping my bag on the floor.
He arched an eyebrow. “I don’t have to coerce you into sitting with me today?”
I gave him a tight smile and sat down. “Apparently not.” He did kinda save my life, after all. Sitting next to him as a “thank you” seemed like the least I could–
He reached forward and I froze, completely caught off-guard as he brushed my hair back from my forehead. His thumb ghosted over the small bump and cut in the corner. He looked over my bruise, his expression…tender.
Before I could dwell on it, he cleared his throat and removed his hand. “It looks much better.”
I nodded slowly and dug my notebook out of my bag, pretending his touch hadn’t affected me.
Twenty minutes into class, and I still couldn’t stop shivering. Goose bumps covered my arms and legs, and it was a tad nippy in here. I crossed my arms, hoping that nobody noticed. I would definitely have to run back to my dorm and get a sweatshirt before my next–
“Here,” Thomas whispered, handing me his black zip-up hoodie.
Why did he keep being so nice? I looked back to the board and continued writing notes. “I’m not cold.”
He rolled his eyes and muttered, “Your teeth are practically chattering. Just put it on.”