Page 113 of His Reckless Freshman

My stomach bottoms out, and all I can squeak is “Me too.” Grabbing my pink Skechers, I shove them on and head for the door, pausing just before I leave to turn and give Nylah an edgy smile.

After what she’s just witnessed, she’s probably having major doubts about rooming with me.

“I promise I’m not a crazy person.” I kind of laugh out the words. “I know I’ve been acting weird lately. I’m just going through a bit of a thing right now, and I’m…” I hold my breath, my eyes bugging out as I imagine what she’ll think of me if I ever tell her the truth.

“It’s okay.” She smiles, her brown eyes all warm and friendly. “I promise I’m a nice person, so if you ever need a friend”—she points to herself—“I make a really good one.”

Wow, really?

She wants to be my friend?

I so was not expecting her to say that.

She’s so cool and I’m so not, and⁠—

I smile, brushing my teeth over my bottom lip. “Thanks, Nylah. Hope you have a good night.”

“Hope we both have good nights.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me, and I can’t help another giggle, which quickly turns into a whimper before I shoot out the door.

No more delaying this thing.

It’s time to put myself out there and hope for the best.

Please let it be the best.

Please let him see how genuine I am about how I feel.

Please let him feel the same way about me!

36

BEN

Resting my arm behind my head, I stare up at the ceiling, trying to think about practice and Coach Paxton. I can’t decide how I feel about him. Going from a coach who pretty much let us do whatever we wanted to one who made us run drills until our legs gave out… it’s a shift.

I should really start reading that book he emailed to us. He’s expecting us to read at least one chapter a night until we’re done. We’re going to be discussing it at practices from now on, and I don’t want to be the guy who’s behind everyone else.

But… I don’t think I can concentrate right now.

My mind keeps wandering to Jolie, an image of her flashing through my brain before I can force it back into hiding.

“Just read the damn book already,” I huff, grabbing my phone and opening the book.

I make it through the foreword before my mind starts to drift and I’m picturing Caroline, her eyes flashing hot, then turning icy cold at the realization that I had been messing around with her cousin. Life can be cruel sometimes. Although, I guess it doesn’t matter because it’s not like Jolie and I are a thing, right?

Letting out a heavy sigh, I feel that weight crushing down on me. I don’t even know why it’s there. Jolie and I were never going to be a thing. I said no women, and now I have the added reason of her being related to a girl who sucker-punched me without even meaning to. I can’t go there.

I won’t.

Picking up my phone again, I tap the screen and try to get through the first chapter of Mind Gym when I’m interrupted by a soft tap on my door.

“Ben?”

Jolting upright, I gape at my door for a second.

Was that Jolie’s voice?

“Ben. It’s me. It’s… Jolie. Can I come in?”