Page 157 of His Reckless Freshman

This is finally what I imagined college life to be.

A roommate who can become my friend.

A great relationship with my cousin.

And a boyfriend waiting for me at the end of the day.

57

BEN

It’s the biggest crowd we’ve had at a home game in I don’t know how long. I mean, sure, it’s still only half full. But it’s half full!

It surprises us all as we run onto the court and see a bunch of cheering… fans? I gaze up at the stands, finding a definite one. Jolie is decked out in Nolan U colors, wearing my big hoodie and looking all things adorable.

I grin up at her and she laughs, blowing kisses back at me before sitting down beside a tall Black woman. I have no idea who she is, but Jolie is talking animatedly with her while Coach Paxton rounds us up for final instructions.

“You’ve got this, fellas. I believe in each and every one of you.” He eyes up the circle. “Stick with the strategy we discussed, home in on those mental exercises we’ve been working on, and just let yourselves go with it. You’ve got this. You understand me? This game is ours.”

“Cougars on three!” Darian directs the huddle. “One, two, three.”

“Cougars!” we all shout before breaking away and getting ready for game time.

The referee blows his whistle, flicks up the ball for tip-off, and we’re away, running the plays we’ve been practicing all week.

The ball seems to know exactly what we want it to do as we fire it between us, running up and down the court in smooth lines, making quick passes and staying alert throughout the game.

The crowd continues to cheer us on, their enthusiasm growing as the score ping-pongs back and forth between us and the opponents. We’re currently ahead by two, and Coach calls a quick time-out, scribbling on his clipboard with arrows and boxes, telling us exactly what he’s observed and how he wants us to take advantage of their weaknesses.

“You got it?”

“Yeah, Coach,” Sawyer puffs.

“Jimmy, stay on 18. He’s our biggest threat tonight, and if anyone can keep him in line, it’s you.”

Jimmy nods, wiping sweat off his forehead, while Coach doles out a few more instructions, and then we break.

The last ten minutes fly by in record time. It’s a hard-fought battle, but Jimmy stays on 18, eventually breaking him and giving us the chance to really get ahead.

I catch the ball firing my way, quickly checking the court and risking a three-pointer. The ball feels good as it leaves my hands, but I still hold my breath until the net swishes and I hear an enthusiastic scream behind me: “Yes, baby! You’re amazing!”

Glancing over my shoulder, I grin at my girl before running back into play.

Energized by the growing gap on the scoreboard, we play like pros and end up winning by seventeen points.

Seventeen!

By the time that final whistle blows, I am done. I’ve given everything to this game. We all did.

But we won.

We fucking won!

“YES!” Sawyer’s jumping on everyone, celebrating wildly while Jimmy stands to the side, catching his breath and staring up at the scoreboard. I have no idea what he’s thinking, but Mac runs over to pull him into the celebrations.

Coach is jumping along with us.

“I knew you could do it! I knew it! This is our season, fellas. It’s our season!”