Page 108 of His Reckless Freshman

He chuckles. “Let’s try to focus on the lesson, shall we?”

The class all laughs, and I feel like a moron as I slump even farther down in my seat and think about Ben and what I just realized.

I want him.

I’m not like those other girls who have rejected him.

I want him, and I wouldn’t flick him off or tell him it’s not going anywhere. I wouldn’t try and avoid him and then not tell him massive, life-changing news.

I’m not like those other girls.

But maybe he’s assuming I am.

Maybe if he understands how I feel, then he wouldn’t want to push me away. Maybe he was only pushing me away because he’s trying to protect himself from getting burned yet again.

But I wouldn’t burn him.

I’m all in!

He might not want you. It might be that.

But what if it’s not?

If there’s even the slightest chance that he’s into me but is only pulling away because he doesn’t want to get hurt, then I have to take that chance.

Yes, it’s terrifying.

I could approach him and put him in that position where he has to let me down easy and admit that he’s just not that into me.

But what if…?

What if he is into me and he’s in protection mode?

What if I can tell him that he doesn’t need to worry because I’m not out to hurt him, to leave him? I would never reject him because I’m… falling in love with him.

Oh my gosh, is that true?

I sit in thought for a second, trying to figure it out.

I’ve never really been in love before. I don’t think.

I’ve been in crush plenty of times, but love…

Letting my mind dwell on every encounter I’ve had with Ben, I try to analyze it from a logical place, but I keep coming around to the same conclusion.

Yes, I’m falling for Ben Evers!

I’m falling for his intelligent brain and his sweet smile, his thoughtful care, his kindness, his soft chuckle, his big, magical hands. I’m falling for the way his lips feel on mine and the way he plays Scrabble. I’m falling for the fact that he loves Legally Blonde and has a great relationship with his sisters. Every time I picture him binge-watching Bridgerton with them, my heart starts to melt.

There are so many things I like about him, and there are so many more things I want to learn about him. If he’ll just let me.

And maybe he will if he knows how I feel.

I swallow, nerves skittering through me as I wonder if I should tell him.

Should I tell him?

Yes! You most definitely should!