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She stared at him for a moment. “Nothing, it’s just…you say things that other people would feel awkward about.”
He gave her a disarming smirk. “Improv will do that to a person. It’s a no-shame game.” He looked away and adjusted his sheets. “Plus, I was a foster kid. Being the new kid in a family six different times kind of inoculates you to awkward.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow.”
“And really, all awkward means is showing someone else that you’re human. I think that secret’s already out.” He gave her a somber look. “Hollyn, I’m not a robot—much to the disappointment of my former nine-year-old, Transformers-loving self.”
She smiled a little, but his focused attention on her was too much. She busied herself, pouring him a glass of ice water, and held it out to him.
He reached out, but before she realized what he was doing, he clasped the hand she’d braced on his bed railing instead of the cup. She jolted at the warm touch but didn’t move her hand away. He squeezed her fingers. “So you stayed.”
She felt frozen in his gaze, his hand around hers. Cal’s suggestion ofskin hungerfloated through her brain. “I—”
“That’s, like, amazingly cool of you.” He released her hand and accepted the cup from her. He took a small sip and winced a little. “Especially after everything that happened last night.”
“It’s fine,” she mumbled.
“No, it’s more than that. I was a jerk and you stayed anyway. So before I lose all toughness points and start whining about how much my stomach hurts and beg you to get a nurse with some serious pain medication in here, I want you to know that I really appreciate you staying. I woke up a little earlier when you were sleeping and…well, I’m just glad I didn’t wake up in here alone.” His gaze met hers. “You’re a good human being, Hollyn Darling. Thank you.”
The words and the newly minted nickname hit her harder than they should’ve, and she had to look away. She took a few steps back and crossed her arms. “It wasn’t a problem.”
He was quiet for a moment, studying her, and then he gave a quick nod. “I’m going to call my sister and let her know what happened. She’ll come up here, fuss at the doctors about something, and then bring me home whenever they’re ready to discharge me. Why don’t you go home and get some rest? I know it’s been a long night. You’re officially relieved of Good Samaritan duty.”
She rolled her lips together and glanced at the door. “You sure you’ll have someone to bring you home?”
He gave her a small smile. “Yeah, I’m covered.”
Hollyn wanted to get out of there more than anything, to escape back to the safety of her house, but another small piece of her felt reluctant to leave Jasper. “Do you need anything before I go?”
“Lots and lots of drugs,” he said with a serious nod. “Like all of them.”
She laughed softly and walked over to grab her things. “Got it. I’ll tell the nurse to stop in again. I hope you feel better.”
“Thanks, Hollyn.”
He was watching her too closely. Every tic felt amplified. She wanted to hide her face, hide her tapping fingers.Hide. Hide. Hide.
But she forced the next words out instead. “And”—she took a deep breath—“we’ll talk soon. At the coffee bar.”
It took him a second to register what she’d said, but then his lips spread into a smile. “Yeah?”
“My face will be doing”—she pointed at her twitching nose—“this. And I will be awkward because I suck at small talk.”
He looked pleased as punch. “I am one hundred percent here for awkward small talk.”
“And you will never, ever use me in a routine again.”
“I swear.”
At that, she finally felt herself smile fully. “Cool. See ya, Jasper Dearest.”
“Later, Hollyn Darling.”
Before she could blush from head to foot, she slipped out of the room, let the nurse know to bring Jasper meds, and headed out. Exhausted but, for the first time in a long time, hopeful.
