Page 139 of His Reckless Freshman

She doesn’t feel like talking much after Offside, so I’m relieved when she slips into my bed and lets me hold her. That’s all I do, spooning her in my arms until she’s drifted off to sleep.

I wish I could do the same, but my mind is on a constant reel, spinning with ways I want to end Kieran before logic disrupts the cycle and demands that I think of something to bring him down.

Kicking my leg out from under the blanket, I roll onto my back, staring up at the dark ceiling. I don’t want to disturb Jolie with my restlessness, so I end up slipping out of bed and padding downstairs… away from the sexed-up noises coming out of Sawyer’s room. Someone’s having a good time. I wonder if it’s the girl from Offside. All his sweet-talking obviously paid off.

Walking into the kitchen, I nearly jump out of my skin when I find Jimmy at the dining table. He’s sitting there in the dark, except for his face, which is highlighted by his phone screen.

“Geez, man. You scared the shit out of me.”

He softly snickers. “Sorry. Can’t sleep?”

“Nah. Been trying for hours.”

“Me too,” he mumbles. “I just brewed some tea if you want it.”

I walk to the counter and fumble my way in the dark, lifting the lid of the teapot and giving it a sniff. Smells kind of funky.

“It’s supposed to help you relax—chamomile and passionflower.”

I nod, figuring what the hell and pouring myself a cup.

Taking a seat adjacent to the guy, I glance at his tight expression and ask, “You okay?”

“Yeah.” He slaps down his phone with a sigh, plunging us into darkness, although all the curtains are open in the living room and moonlight is streaking through the windows. I can make out his shape but not the details of his face anymore.

“Something’s obviously bothering you.”

“Ditto,” he counters, and I let out a soft laugh.

“Yeah, I know. Got some stuff weighing on me. Makes it impossible to sleep.”

“Anything I can help with?” His voice picks up, like not having to think about his shit will be a welcome relief.

“Just…” I tut, annoyed that I can’t really talk about this. I’m pretty sure Jolie would die of humiliation if I let slip that there’s a video out there of her having sex for the first time. But if we’re wanting to expose the guy, then it’s going to come out anyway, right?

“Whatever you say at this table is just between you and me. If you need to open up, I’m really good at keeping things to myself,” Jimmy assures me, and I smile, because I believe him.

He doesn’t say much period. Not exactly the gossiping type.

And so I let him in. I tell him, in as little detail as possible, that my girl’s in trouble, and I don’t know how to help her.

He listens intently, blowing out breaths and making small noises that indicate he’s actually hearing what I’m saying.

“It’s a shit show, and I don’t know what to do,” I finally finish.

“You’ve got to bring in the authorities.” His voice has a dark, steely edge that I’ve never heard before. “You do whatever it takes to make sure that scum can never do this again.”

“Yeah, I know, but I feel like it’s all about timing. If the police approach this wrong, those girls might all be exposed.”

“You need to find out who these women are. I bet half of them don’t even know they were recorded, and if they did, they’d have something to say about it.” He lets out a breath like he’s disgusted, then lightly sniffs, his voice coming out a touch calmer. “I wonder if Jolie can do some digging and ask around, see who Kieran’s been dating lately.”

“I really don’t want her involved.” I wince. “I need to protect her.”

“I get that, but she might have more luck talking to these women. They have something in common. Something you don’t.”

“True.” I nod. “So, you’re suggesting we get a little ‘Me Too’ movement going on campus, expose him that way?”

“Yeah.”