Page 154 of His Reckless Freshman

She nods, her glassy gaze filling with relief under the parking lot lights. “Thank you,” she mouths, and I lean down to kiss her.

Immediately rising to her toes, Jolie turns the kiss into more than the light peck I intended, clinging to me desperately and drinking from what strength I can offer. I hold her gently, not wanting to hurt her, and don’t pull away until Casey mutters, “How the fuck are we supposed to get used to this?”

Jolie whips her head to look at them, quietly croaking, “I don’t give a shit if you never get used to it.”

I can’t help a snorting laugh as Caroline gasps.

“Oh my gosh, did you just swear? What is happening to you?” She then points an accusing finger at me. “You’re a bad influence on her.”

Jolie giggles, resting her cheek against my chest. “He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

I kiss the top of her head, rubbing a line from the base of her spine up to her neck and lightly squeezing her back. “She means that she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Caroline’s lips twitch, and she continues to fight her smile as she shakes her head, then snaps at me, “You better look after her.”

“Yeah, you tell him, Cherry Girl.” Ethan’s girlfriend snorts.

“Shut up, Mick! I’m trying to be intimidating here!” Caroline growls, and this just makes the girl laugh harder.

Ethan grins, swinging his arm around his girl and tipping his head. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Caroline keeps glaring up at me, and I raise my eyebrows, giving her a “Come on, you know I will” look. Is she gonna make me say it out loud too?

But after a beat, she sighs and mumbles, “Yeah, okay. Fine.”

Casey snickers, capturing her wrist and pulling her after Ethan and Mick. “Come on, Cherry Girl. You’re spending the day in my bed.”

She groans. “I’m too tired for sexy times.”

“Who said anything about sex? I just want to sleep.”

Mick snorts again and whips around to tease them some more. “You two will totally end up having sex.”

Ethan laughs. “Two little nymphos!”

I watch them walk away, then turn back to my crew. “Thank you guys for coming.”

“Yeah, of course, man.” Sawyer nods. “Like Dee said, you’re family.”

I smile at them and nod my thanks before softly murmuring, “Can you take us the fuck home now?”

Mac laughs while Darian grins at me, slapping my back and leading us to his car. We pile into two vehicles, and Jolie rests her head on my arm, closing her eyes as we drive back to Basketball Base.

Shit, I did not just call it that.

I close my eyes, letting out a soft sigh. I really must be tired.

Exhaustion keeps tugging at me, even though I don’t know how I’m gonna sleep. My brain is running on repeat as Jolie’s desperate screams bounce off the walls of my skull.

I shudder, threading my fingers between hers and reassuring myself that she’s gonna be okay.

Fuck. It could have been so much worse.

But it wasn’t. So just hold her close and be grateful, man.

56

JOLIE