Page 28 of His Reckless Freshman

“Thanks, man. I’ve been experimenting with cream cheese.” His grin is nothing but triumphant, and I look down at my plate, hoping the experiment pays off, because I’m starving.

Sawyer’s loading up his plate with salad while Darian starts telling us about this chick he hooked up with in the library.

I watch his face, wondering how much of it is actually true. The guy talks a big game, but⁠—

“Ugh! I know!” Charli sticks out her tongue. “And coming around the corner to find my brother with his hand up some girl’s skirt is not what I should be seeing in a public library. You’re such a slut.”

Darian grins like that’s a compliment.

I take a bite of enchilada and damn… it’s so good.

Sawyer laughs. “Was it that chick from your corporate finance class?”

“You know it.” Darian raises his chin, lifting his fork like it’s a sword. “To easy women and⁠—”

“Shut up.” Charli throws a cherry tomato at him. It bounces off his nose, and he quickly bends down to grab it off the floor.

He chucks it right back at her, but Sawyer does a fast intercept, catching it before it hits her face and popping it into his mouth.

Charli gives him a side-eye. “I can catch my own tomatoes, bro.”

“I know.” He shrugs, loading up his fork with a monster mouthful.

“How was your day, Ben? Please tell me you didn’t hook up with any girls in the library.” Charli makes a pointed effort to change the subject, because she knows I’m not that kind of guy.

“Nope. Just your usual, run-of-the-mill day.” I give her a closed-mouth smile.

Liar. You had an interview with an overly excited, quirky freshman and did exactly what your teammates told you not to do.

I can’t say anything about that yet, though. I want to wait until the article is out and prove to them that talking to her was not a mistake.

Yes, I initially agreed because I felt sorry for her, but it turned out better than I thought it would. Her questions were insightful, and I honestly believe she wants to make us look good. My answers will ensure that happens. I’m just helping us out. That’s all.

Her sparkling gray eyes dance through my brain as I poke at my food. They’ll be smiling at someone else right now. Some guy she was giddy to go out with.

I hope he’s taking care of her.

“Jim Jim. How about you, man?” Sawyer grins. “Do anything to make Basketball Base proud today?”

I roll my eyes, still hating that Sawyer insists we call our house Basketball Base. Honestly, it’s so lame.

Jimmy gives him a closed-mouth smile. “No library hookups.” He puts another forkful of enchilada into his mouth so he doesn’t have to say more.

I dip my chin to hide my smile. The guy is the definition of a closed book. I’m sure if you got him alone and on a good day, he’d open up and maybe even be chatty, but not at a table surrounded by the likes of Darian and Sawyer. Plus, Charli’s sitting right next to him, and I think Jimmy’s afraid of girls.

Not that Charli’s really a girl.

I mean, she is, but she’s also just one of the guys.

“So, any idea why Coach canceled practice yesterday?” Darian asks the group.

I shrug, not that surprised. I noticed a small shift in Coach Wiggins last year. He just seemed to be a little less enthused about his job than he was the year before, and it showed. He didn’t work us that hard at practices, he canceled, he cut sessions short, and it looks like this year will be more of the same.

We’re not complaining. It makes for an easier schedule than what the football and hockey guys have to put up with. Although, I’m surprised he gets away with it.

“We’re gonna lose again this year,” Darian grumbles.

“Maybe not.” Sawyer pokes at his food. “You never know, there might be a team out there that’s worse than us.”