I didn’t wake up.
That must have really happened.
The first time I’d thought about a girl for more than just a one-night encounter, and she’d shown up and asked me for a one-night encounter.
What the hell am I supposed to do now?
At least I’d managed to get creative at the last minute and convinced her to have a drink with me. It would give me a chance to potentially interest her in something more than a one-night stand. I didn’t think I’d be satisfied with a single evening based on the way she kept intriguing me. Still, she seemed pretty determined for some feedback-based sex andhadn’t asked for anything more. I took a deep breath and ran a hand through my hair and then pinched myself once more for good measure.
Well, fuck. It’s really not a dream.
I pulled out my phone and texted my cousin, Jace, looking for a distraction from my own thoughts.
Me:Come play video games with me.
Jace:You come to me. I live above a bar. You live on a college campus. Think, little dude.
Me:Be there soon.
I changed into workout clothes and figured I’d get in some exercise by running there. Maybe it would help with this weird pounding in my chest.
Am I nervous to sleep with this woman?
It would be safe to say that my bedroom nerves were nonexistent, and my performance record was impeccable.
Obviously. That’s why she came to me.
Oh shit, now there’s pressure.
I needed a distraction and a drink. Playing video games with Jace was probably the best option on the table.
I stepped out of my dorm and bumped into Chelsea, the freshman from the other night. We’d never hooked up and hadn’t seen each other since I’d ignored her attention in favor of chatting with Sophia, but she shot me a sultry smile like she’d already seen me naked or was perhaps currently thinking about it.
“Hey,” she said. “I was just stopping by to see if you were around tonight.”
“I’m headed out,” I said as I pulled my buzzing phone out of my pocket and turned it off. It had been nothing but a nuisance since Sophia wrote that damn article.
“I saw the article about you.” Chelsea smiled, twirling her hair around her finger. “I was hoping to spend some time with you tonight since we got interrupted by the reporter at the hockey party.”
I blinked twice, replaying the events of that night.
Uh, yeah. That’s not how that happened. I was too shaken from my encounter withthe reporterfrom ten minutes ago to even deal with this right now.
“I sent you a DM,” she said.
I took a deep breath and let it out through my nose. “I’ve gotten too many notifications to keep up,” I said. Not that I would have responded either way. Her eyes screamedpuck bunny. The closer I got to being a professional athlete, the more the women who threw themselves at me were clearly interested in being a trophy girlfriend. I was not interested in that experience at all, nor did I intend to take advantage of them.
“Well, I’m here now. Maybe you want to hang out with me for a bit before you take off?” She smiled coyly.
“I’m sorry, Chelsea, I don’t want to be rude, but I do want to be clear. I am not interested in hooking up with you.”
She barely faltered and reached for my arm. I stepped back from her touch. “Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said, trying to step around her. “I’m sorry you came all this way, but I’m meeting someone.” I brushed passed her, intending to leave it at that.
“Is it that reporter?” she snarled. “I saw her leaving the building a few minutes ago.”
I stopped, turning back toward her and surveying her face.
