Page 86 of His Reckless Freshman

It feels like I’m hanging out with one of my sisters, and that is a really good thing, because if I can think of Jolie that way, then we can put these sex lessons behind us, and I can get on with my year.

She’s a damn good Scrabble player, and between us, we get 703 points.

“Impressive.” I offer her the last spring roll as I compliment her game.

“No, you have it. I’m so full.” She pats her belly and I take the last spring roll, pleased the guy recommended them to me. They are seriously delicious.

Tucking her foot underneath her butt, Jolie leans back on the chaise and smiles at me. “That was fun.”

“Yeah, you’re good. Which is no surprise considering you want to be a journalist.”

She laughs. “Yeah, the pressure to perform well in word games is pretty high.”

The look on her face is just plain adorable, and I grin at her, reminding myself yet again that this really needs to be the last time I hang out with her, because even sharing a meal and playing a board game suddenly feels like quicksand.

I can’t get sucked down again this year.

I refuse to be shafted by another woman. And even though Jolie is sweet and lovely, she still has the ability to annihilate me. I remind myself yet again that she was only ever in this for the orgasms. I’m not some guy she’s about to fall for. I’m just her sex tutor.

So I’m not going to catch any feelings. Not for her. Not for anyone.

27

JOLIE

So, last night was an emotional roller coaster. I went from the high of epic orgasms to the low of being told they’ll never happen with Ben again, to the fun of a Scrabble game, then back down to the depression of saying goodbye to him.

I wanted to hug him one last time, but that’s awkward to do in a car, and since I let him drop me back at Buckley Hall, I couldn’t really lean over the console and embrace him the way I wanted to.

I barely slept a wink last night, and I’m feeling a little worse for wear.

It’s almost like dealing with a breakup, even though it’s really not.

I mean, I’ve never really had a breakup, so I don’t know what they feel like, but this isn’t great. I woke up all sad and heavy, really having to force my butt out of bed. Nylah seemed to be in a good mood, and I didn’t want to bring her down with my morose energy, so I left early and skipped breakfast.

The rest of the day, I’ve just been kind of wafting around campus, going from one class to the next without soaking anything in. Honestly, I’m acting like a zombie, which is ridiculous. I should be on cloud nine. I’ve now had two orgasms, really amazing ones, and I should be able to do that for myself now. Even though I’d much rather have Ben do it, I need to ignore this ache in my chest and just get on with my life.

Tutoring sessions are over.

He made that clear in a really sweet way.

We can be friends, but the benefits part? That’s done.

And he made it abundantly clear that sex is off the table too, so I’ll just… Argh, I don’t want to accept that part.

I mean, I know I shouldn’t be having sex, but I really like what Ben and I did together in that hotel room, and I want more. I don’t care what I’ve been taught to believe. With the right person, I think sex could be a good, wonderful thing—married or not.

And I think Ben is the right person to test that theory with.

But how do I convince him of that?

With a sigh, I rub my forehead and head toward the Nolan U Star office. I don’t know why I’m going there, really. It’s not like I have a staff meeting or anything, but what else am I supposed to do with the rest of my day?

Classes are over, because I finish early on Thursdays. I should probably go to the library and start my big assignment, or maybe I should head back to my dorm, but⁠—

My scattered thoughts come to a complete halt when I round the corner of the building and nearly collide with a girl who is pressed against the wall, mopping tears off her face.

“Oh my gosh, are you okay?” I touch this stranger’s shoulder and she doesn’t even flinch, whimpering into her hand.