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back from my face. “I can’t think of anyone better to spend it with.”

    I hiccupped and could barely keep my eyes open. She patted my hand and took the can. “I’ll set it right here.”

    I smiled and leaned my cheek against the cushion. Transformers marched across the screen. I watched until the colors blurred then closed my eyes.

    The doorbell jarred me.

    Kerri eased forward.

    “Expecting anyone?” I asked, awake now.

    She shook her head. “Trey took it good. I don’t think it’s him.”

    We didn’t get many visitors. I shrank down on the couch. “If it’s Axel, tell him I’m not here.”

    “I’m sure he heard about your accident by now,” she whispered. “And he’s probably frantic that you haven’t called him.”

    I waved her away. “Yeah, yeah.”

    “Hurry!” Jesse’s voice called from the other side of the door. “Pizza’s getting cold.”

    My stomach rumbled and my guts twisted. My reactions to him were far from normal.

    Kerri opened the door.

    “You didn’t call, and I was picking up chocolate and pizza and a chick flick for myself tonight. Thought I’d see if you would help me with it.”

    “Whatever.” I laughed. He was persistent, I’d give him that. Sometimes I wished he wasn’t a musician. He seemed like he’d be fun to date—I mean, other than the drinking-smoking-panties parts.

    He handed the pizza box and movie to Kerri. “Hold on. I have a few more things in my car.”

    He disappeared from the door and returned a minute later with a six-pack and a huge bouquet of candied roses. He set the beer on the counter, then bowed and gave the flowers to Kerri. “For you.”

    I smiled. He was pretty charming.

    “Thank you,” she said with a smile.

    “Oops.” He plucked one from the middle. “You can’t have all of them.” He turned and carried it to the couch. Dropping to one knee, he bowed his head and held out the rose. “For you.”

    I rolled my eyes and bit off half the bud. Strawberry chocolate flooded my mouth and my stomach gurgled.

    Jesse stifled a laugh and trailed his fingers gently over my cast. “How’s it going?”

    I made a face. “We’ve been a waste of a day, just sitting around. I barely woke up.”

    “Does it hurt?”

    “Only when I move.”

    He grimaced. “Sorry.”

    “I suppose everyone should know what a broken bone feels like.”

    “Can’t believe this is your first one.”

    “Me either,” Kerri said, bringing over the pizza, plates, and beer.

    I leaned over and slid the movie off the top. “What’d you bring us?” I raised an eyebrow at the title. “ You’ve Got Mail? Seriously. You are in a chick-flick mood.”

    “What?” He snatched the box from my fingers. “It’s a great movie.”

    I smiled. “You’re a trip.”

    He popped the movie in and maneuvered me around on the couch, gingerly sliding beneath my legs and settling them on his lap. Again, he had me at a disadvantage—couldn’t move without hobbling around, nowhere else to sit. I should have taken the recliner when we got home. At least this time he kept his fingers off my skin.

    After polishing off half the pizza, he set his plate down and traced designs across my cast. “We should sign this.”

    Kerri jumped up. “Oh my gosh—yes! I totally forgot when we got home.”

    I turned my foot from side to side. “But it’s so pretty.”

    “You can’t have a cast without signatures. You’d be a total loser.” Kerri handed Jesse a blue marker and she squatted beside the couch, scanning my pink canvas. Resting her hand gently on my ankle, she swooped a big signature and dotted the ‘I’ with a heart. I laughed.

    Jesse pulled the cap off with his teeth and drew a giant heart. I grimaced. He put his initials in the center.

    He handed the marker back to Kerri and wiggled out from under my legs. He punched the pause button on the remote. “Be right back.”

    Kerri leaned over my leg and examined the heart. The front door banged open