Page 101 of His Reckless Freshman

“Okay, yes!” Her arms flick wide. “I got drunk at a party once, and Ben and I slept together. Then he scoured the campus looking for me, but I wasn’t into him that way. So…” She squirms. “I avoided him, and when we did finally catch up, I was already with Casey.” She crosses her arms again, her face flushing, like she’s completely embarrassed by her behavior.

But I can’t focus on that right now.

All that’s flashing at me from her little spiel is…

“He slept with you, then scoured the campus looking for you?”

“I didn’t ask him to,” she practically whines.

I swallow, stepping back to create even more distance between us. “So, you had one epic hookup, and it took him weeks to get over you…” My jaw works to the side as my throat starts to burn. “But he teaches me all about sex, and then after we finally go all the way together, he tells me we’re done? He wanted you enough to scour campus and he doesn’t want me at all, even though I’d happily throw myself at him.”

“What?” Casey balks, his voice pitching. “You guys were… what?”

“Jolie,” Caroline whispers, blinking at me and shaking her head. “It’s… I never said he didn’t want you. I don’t think it’s⁠—”

“Yes, you did,” I snap. “You said he got what he wanted, and now he’s out. But you gave it to him one time!” I hold up my finger, which is now shaking. “One time, and he was obsessed with you. But he doesn’t want me.” I poke the center of my chest, my voice starting to wobble. “Which is always the way, right?” My voice rises to a shout. “No one ever wants me!”

I storm toward the door, growling at Casey to get out of my way. He jumps like I just prodded him with a hot poker.

Caroline moves to try and chase me. “Jolie, come on, it’s not⁠—”

“No, don’t!” I glare at her over my shoulder. “Just leave me alone.”

Walking away, I storm past the main house and hit the country road. I have no idea how I’m supposed to get back to my dorm; it’ll take my freaking hours to walk. My sneakers scuff against the edge of the road, kicking small stones out of the way as I storm back toward town.

Ugh. I’m going to be dead by the time I get back.

And about two seconds after thinking that, Casey’s Jeep pulls up. Caroline’s not with him, just a sad-looking Casey and his sweet dog.

I stop walking for a second and bark, “I won’t get in unless you promise not to talk to me.”

“Not a word,” he assures me, then thankfully sticks to his promise.

We drive back to my dorm in complete silence, Fezzik sitting on my knee looking out the window and me fighting my tears the entire way.

32

BEN

One of the many privileges of being a Nolan U athlete is that you get to eat in the Athletes Hall. The food is amazing—nutritious and delicious. I don’t take it for granted. And I usually use it to its full advantage. But not today. Today, my stomach is in knots, which is why I’m bailing halfway through lunch and heading to my next class early.

I rub my aching gut. I’ve been feeling off ever since Jolie fled my room, and I’ve failed to check up on her.

I’ve wanted to, a million times over, but I didn’t want to be tempted again, and clean breaks are always less painful, right?

So why the hell does it hurt?

And why am I constantly scanning campus, hoping to catch a glimpse of her?

And why am I constantly checking my phone, just in case she texted me?

Because you miss her, you idiot!

But why? It’s not like we were dating. It’s not like we’ve broken up.

But you were falling for her.

I reject that idea the second it pops into my head, but then I can’t seem to shake it. It grows and swells until it’s ingrained itself into every neural pathway.