Page 89 of His Reckless Freshman

My cheeks flush at his language, plus the fact that I know Professor Hopkins, and I really like him. He’s one of those sweet, awkward teachers who is so passionate about his subject that he can spend the entire class talking nonstop.

Holding out the sticky note for me, Kieran beckons me forward with a pointed look.

“Oh… uh…” I shuffle a few steps closer to him. My legs are wooden and stiff because I really don’t want to do this!

“Thanks so much, Jolie. I really appreciate it.” He smiles at me. “I’ll expect something on my desk by Monday morning, okay? If you can get some photos, that’d be awesome, or just subtly ask around, see if you can get some usable quotes from people.”

My mouth opens and shuts as I struggle to come up with a decent way to say no.

“I’m not expecting an article, just some proof. We can’t go publishing false information.”

“Uh… I…”

“You do want me to publish something by you again, don’t you, Jolie?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“Great.” His smile is broad. “Then you better get to it.”

He points to the door behind me, and I slip out of it, avoiding Heather’s gaze as I head for the exit and wonder what I’ve just gotten myself into.

28

BEN

This morning, when I woke up, I felt resolved.

I wouldn’t think about Jolie anymore. I wouldn’t relive that cute laugh she made when we were playing Scrabble or that moan she made when she came with my fingers inside her. I would not think about those dimples or the sad, vulnerable look in her big gray eyes when I told her our tutoring sessions were over.

That was my resolve.

I was going to stick to it.

Turns out, I’m full of shit.

Jolie has been plaguing me all day, which is probably why I don’t miss her when she walks across my line of sight. She’s in the distance. She hasn’t noticed me. I should turn the other way so our paths don’t intersect.

But like I said, I’m full of shit… so I pick up my pace and end up running to catch up with her.

What the actual fuck?

She looks upset. That’s how I justify this to myself.

I’m her friend, right?

Maybe she needs someone to talk to.

“Jolie,” I call softly, not wanting to draw attention to us.

She doesn’t hear me at first, so I have to try again.

“Hey, Jolie.”

With a little jolt, she spins and finds me walking toward her. The second our eyes connect, the world around me stills. It’s like a movie or something, the camera spinning around us as we both freeze, this electric current pulsing between us.

I can’t tell what she’s thinking, and I’d do anything to read her mind as I close the gap.

“Hey,” I breathe, trying to figure out why my heart is thundering.