Page 137 of His Reckless Freshman

Shit. Maybe we can resolve this thing before I have to go.

Maybe we can⁠—

“Wanna dance?” She turns to me. “I’m not very good, but I really like this music.”

I smile at her. I’m not much of a dancer either, but if my girl wants to, then I’m up for it.

Standing tall, I take her hand, and we weave our way to the dance floor, my head floating above the crowd like it always does. I both love and hate how tall I am, depending on the situation. Pulling Jolie against me, I rest my cheek on the top of her head and start to sway. Thank God a slow song started when we reached the edge of the space. Her head nestled against my chest is bliss, and when the lyrics turn super sentimental and sappy, she pulls away to look up at me.

Her grin is adorable, her eyes sparkling and loved-up. I’m so relieved we haven’t let our disagreement come between us, and that we can stop thinking about this shit, for just a moment.

So stop thinking about it, then!

Leaning down, I press my lips against hers and try to block out the world around us. I don’t want to think about shitty, perverted guys. I just want to be with my woman, in this moment, and the rest can fuck off.

She pulls out of our kiss, giving me another sweet smile before leaning her head back against my chest. We continue to sway, lost in this perfect moment… until I spot a flash of red hair and a pair of fiery green eyes storming toward us.

Oh shit.

45

JOLIE

“What the hell do you think you’re doing!” Caroline’s barking voice breaks through my bliss bubble, and my eyes pop open.

Lifting my head off Ben’s chest, I turn in time to see my irate cousin stop beside us, glaring up at Ben, then narrowing her gaze on me.

“I thought you said this wasn’t a thing.”

“Uh…”

“I just saw you kissing from the other side of the room!” She’s still barking, yapping at us and destroying what little peace I’d found in Ben’s arms. I was starting to forget all about my harrowing day, and now she’s ruining it.

Pointing up at Ben, she snarls, “You told me I didn’t have to worry about this! You told me it was over! Are you seriously still tutoring her?”

“No.” Ben gives her a dry look. “And can you please stop yelling? If you want to get all shitty, let’s take this outside and stop drawing everyone’s attention.”

Caroline’s eyes flash and she drops her voice, but she’s still obviously annoyed. “You deserve to be yelled at. You told me it was over.”

“I was wrong. Things shifted, and now we’re a couple.” His voice is so calm, his expression so unaffected, and it gives me the courage to insert myself into the conversation.

“We were going to tell you. I was just trying to figure out the best way how. I knew you wouldn’t love this development, and I⁠—”

“Of course I don’t love it.” She flicks her hands wide. “You shouldn’t be dating this guy.”

“Why not?” My face puckers into a sharp frown. “Because it’s weird for you? Because you don’t want to be faced with the guilt of what you did to him?”

Caroline’s mouth pops open, and Ben winces.

What? It’s the truth, isn’t it?

“Jolie,” he softly warns me, resting his hand on my lower back. “Let’s not do this here.”

Caroline glares at him, her eyes narrowed, her nostrils starting to flare.

Oh boy.

“What did you tell her?” She points an accusing finger at him, and I nudge my way into the line of fire, trying to shield my boyfriend from this attack.