Page 37 of I Don’t Need Your Protection (Harrington Bay Academy #1)

Addie

My eyes open and I take in my surroundings. I know it’s Monday and that it’s late because I’m not dead tired like I am every day. And Caleb’s trumpet didn’t blast in my ears.

Then I remember. I’m sick. I got permission from the nurse to miss classes today. She came by about an hour ago to check on me and told me my fever has dropped, but it’s not back to normal yet and I should spend the day getting a lot of rest. She hopes I’ll be able to resume classes tomorrow.

Glancing around, I find Caleb sitting on his chair. His eyes are on me, and I notice the small smile on his lips when he realizes I’m awake.

He gets to his feet, stepping toward my bed. “Good morning,” he says. “How are you feeling?”

“My head hurts a little, but I’m okay.” I squint as I stare at him. “Did you get any sleep? ”

He shakes his head. “Barely an hour, but don’t worry about me.”

I don’t like that, but I know by now not to argue with him. “So you skipped school, too.”

“Of course. I’m not leaving you out of my sight.”

That makes me smile. “Thanks.”

He nods.

I think back to last night. Didn’t I ask him to climb into bed with me to keep me warm?

Oh my gosh, I totally forgot about that.

When I woke up this morning, he wasn’t in my bed.

And I was too tired and busy with the nurse to think about it.

But now that it’s just him and me, I can’t stop the thoughts from taking over.

I’m not embarrassed that he slept in my bed. I like when he holds me. But then I remember Warner and I are…well, I’m not even sure what we are. He hasn’t visited me or texted me. Does he even care that I’m sick? Has Clarissa somehow manipulated him into not coming to see me?

I’m a little angry. Not hurt. Angry. If he really liked me, wouldn’t he want to visit me? Does he even know the real truth of what happened at the sleepover or would he just take Clarissa’s words?

Caleb watches me with narrowed eyes. “Are you okay?”

I like confiding in him, but I’m sure the last thing he wants to hear about is Warner. “Yep. Totally okay.”

He makes a face like he doesn’t believe me, but doesn’t press the subject.

We sit in silence .

“I guess I’ll go to the bathroom and stuff.” I get up and go there. I’ll probably stay in bed most of the day, so I won’t change out of my pajamas. Caleb is dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, looking so casual and sexy that my body gets warm just thinking about it.

As I wash my face and brush my teeth, I realize that I don’t want to think about Warner. He just makes me mad and fills me with negativity. Caleb makes me feel good. Cared for. Not so alone.

I’m just confused. I told my friends I’m not giving up on Warner, but I don’t really feel excited about him anymore.

But Caleb is my bodyguard. My bodyguard that looks at me like he wants to be so, so much more.

Or am I seeing things that aren’t there?

“Ugh!” I groan.

“Addie?”

It warms my heart that he’s calling me Addie and not Addilyn. Maybe whatever wall he built between us has been broken ever since he rescued me from the rain.

“Are you okay? I heard a shout.”

“I’m fine.”

“Okay.”

I’m smiling like a goof. I just love when he talks to me. It makes me feel all gooey inside.

I take a few minutes to calm my heart that’s galloping in my chest and leave the bathroom. Caleb stands near the bathroom, eyes on me as if he’s not sure if I’m okay or not.

I give him two thumbs up. “I’m feeling a whole lot better. ”

He raises a brow. “Well enough to go to school?”

I plop down on my bed like I died.

He chuckles softly, the sound almost music-like. “I thought you like school.”

“Yeah, I do.”

But I’d rather spend the entire day with him.

My eyes widen at the thought, but then I internally shrug. Yes, I want to spend the day with the guy who goes out of his way to make sure I’m safe and protected.

“Are you hungry?” he asks. “I had one of the guards deliver us food from the dining hall while you were in the bathroom.”

I lift my head from the bed. “I thought you don’t trust the guards.”

He tilts his head to the side. “There are a select few who work for your grandfather that I do trust. Everyone else is suspicious to me. I rely mostly on myself and ask for assistance if I need it.”

“Hmm. Okay.” I glance at the food containers on the table. “I guess I’m a little hungry.”

His smile is small. “Having an appetite is a good sign.” He gestures for us to sit down. He waits for me to lower myself on a chair before taking the one across from me.

We’re mostly quiet as we eat. I feel Caleb watching me and when I meet his gaze, he doesn’t avert his.

I smile. “So what are the plans for today?”

“The nurse told you to rest.”

“Yeah, I mean, the best thing is lying in bed in pajamas. But I can’t sleep all day. Maybe we can watch a movie or something.”

He thinks about it for a bit. “Sure. You can watch a movie.”

“I said ‘we.’”

He searches my eyes. “Movies are a distraction.”

I groan. “Again? Come on, dude. Make a sick girl happy by watching a movie with her. Pretty please?”

He watches me for a bit before releasing a breath. “All right. Only because you asked so nicely.”

I beam. “Awesome.”

We finish eating and Caleb throws away our garbage while I get comfortable in my bed and search for a movie. He stands near the table, eyes scanning around. Then they focus on me.

I pat the spot beside me, lifting a brow. “You promised, movie buddy.”

He hesitates. It’s like he’s worried he’ll lose focus as he watches the movie. But that won’t happen. I’m safe here and I know he won’t let me get hurt. Besides, one movie won’t kill him.

“Caleb.” I pat the spot on my bed again.

He heads over and sits down next to me. I lift my blanket, motioning for him to slide under. He does as I say, and I try to hide my smile.

There are a few inches between us. Caleb notices it at the same time I do. I scoot closer. He moves closer as well and wraps his arm around my waist. It tingles. I scoot even closer to him, so close our toes poke each other.

“I’m in the mood for a fantasy. Like maybe one about mermaids? Aren’t mermaids so cool?” I ask.

“I haven’t thought much about them.”

I playfully jab him in the chest with my finger. “You need more fun in your life, dude.”

“No. I need to be more vigilant so no harm comes your way.”

My mouth shuts as I look at him. “One movie won’t kill you.”

He doesn’t say anything. He knows I’m right, but he won’t admit it. And anyway, I know that he wants to watch the movie. Mr. Big Muscles might be this macho bodyguard, but he’s still just a sixteen-year-old kid.

I play the movie and we watch. The beginning is slow, but the mermaid world is so beautiful. Caleb seems a bit bored in the beginning, but when the plot and action pick up, he gets more into it.

We don’t talk because we’re engrossed in whatever is on the screen. The movie turns out to be better than I imagined, and I tell Caleb all the parts I loved.

He adds a little here and there, but he seems more interested in what I have to say. There wasn’t a lot of romance, which I find a little odd for a mermaid movie, but whatever.

Caleb is about to climb out of my bed since the move is over, but I grab his hand, begging him for one more. He scans my eyes for a few seconds before nodding.

I squeeze my arms around him. “Yay!”

I pick a very action one because I want him to enjoy it. The kind of movie with crashing cars and explosions. Caleb appears more into this one.

We’re still close to each other, with his arm around my waist. I rest my head on his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat. Though it seems to increase now. Because my head is on his chest?

When I look up at him, I find his beautiful eyes on me. We must be staring at each other for an eternity before he breaks his gaze and focuses on the movie.

His chest is so comfortable—way, way more comfy than a pillow. I wrap my arm around his waist, squishing myself to him as much as I can. I keep my head on his chest throughout the movie, and when we’re close to the end, I feel my eyes start to droop.

I’m half awake/half sleeping when I feel and see Caleb remove his arm from around my waist and stand up. He gently tugs me down on the bed and places my pillow under my head and Ellie in my arms. He then tucks my blanket tightly around me. Before he walks away, he brushes his lips across my cheek.