Page 124 of His Reckless Freshman

“I love being your boyfriend. Even though it’s only been a little minute, I love it.”

Her smile grows a mile wide, and I know it’s time now.

It’s time to stop hiding this.

“We need to tell people.” My voice is soft and husky, because I know she’s about to tense up. “I want to introduce you to my roommates… and we need to let Caroline know.”

“Yeah.” She whimpers, resting her forehead on my chest. “She’s not gonna like it.”

“Well, she’s just gonna have to get over herself.”

Turning her head, Jolie nestles her cheek against my chest, and I run the pads of my fingers up and down her spine. We don’t say anything, a sweet silence enveloping us. I’m nearly drifting off to sleep when there’s a loud bang downstairs.

It’s the front door.

Jolie jolts off my chest, her eyes rounding as she stares down at me.

“We don’t have to meet them until the morning. You can stay the night if you want.”

Her nose wrinkles as she thinks it through, but then she shakes her head and looks down at me. “I think I want to get this over with now. If it’s awful, you can hold me while I cry myself to sleep.”

I laugh, sitting up and nudging my nose into her cheek. “They don’t hate you anymore, Jo. You wrote that amazing article, and Charli even told me when I got home that she thinks you’re cool.”

“Really?” She pings away from me. “No, she does not.”

“It’s what she said.” I pull the covers off us and get out of bed, hunting the floor for my clothes and ignoring the nerves scattering through me.

They better be nice to her.

39

JOLIE

Okay, so I’m mildly freaking out as I trail Ben down the stairs. He’s holding my hand and I’m gripping that thing like a lifeline, adjusting his massive hoodie, which is a dress on me. I didn’t even need to put my pants back on, and it’s so obvious what we’ve been up to in his room, but he said no one will mind.

Something about “no judgment” and “just relax.”

Relax? Yeah, right.

The last time I saw half of these people, I was being told to leave them alone.

And now I’m dating one of them and⁠—

“Hey, guys.” Ben draws their attention when we step into the kitchen area.

It’s all open plan, the kitchen blending into the dining room that then morphs into a living area with the… Oh my gosh, that’s the biggest TV I’ve ever seen.

I gape at it, probably because it’s safer to look that way than have to make eye contact with these tall, completely intimidating basketball players.

They’re currently gathered around the main island, making bowls of cereal and talking loudly. Two of them are arguing about some girl from Offside. It’s friendly, competitive banter.

“She would have gone home with me, dude. She was eyeing me up like candy.”

“Yet she didn’t go home with either of you.” Charli steps between them with a pointed look. “So get over yourselves.”

“I still say she wanted me more than you.” The taller guy smirks while Mr. Wild Curls shakes his head and tells him he’s delusional.

“Hey, guys!” Ben tries again, a little louder this time. “I want to introduce you to my girlfriend, Jolie.”