Page 53 of His Reckless Freshman

No big deal.

“What are you blushing about?” Caroline points her ice cream spoon at me, and I ping straight, forcing my brain back to the present.

“Nothing.” I shake my head and dig my spoon back into my mound of chocolate gelato, keeping my head down so they can’t scrutinize me and my red face.

“Maybe she’s thinking about that guy she has a crush on,” Caroline’s friend Mikayla teases me.

I wrinkle my nose at her, and she just laughs while Caroline tries to weasel out the truth yet again.

“Seriously, who is this guy?”

“It’s no one.” I say it, yet again, because I do not have a crush on Ben Evers. I’m blushing because of what I’ve asked him to do for me.

It’s really sweet that he agreed.

When you think about it from his point of view…

Ugh, it’s the strangest request ever. Which is of course why I’m the one who made it, because I’m a little weirdo.

None of these girls will get it because they’re all cool and have boyfriends. Even Tammy, the new lady who’s staying at Ponderosa, is getting it on with Baxter. The girls were laughing about it and teasing one another over drinks. Actually, Mikayla and Caroline got smashed—like giggly, silly drunk—and my mom would seriously be horrified.

She loves her niece, but I think she’s been worried about Caroline since she left for college. The girl’s become quite worldly in her eyes, and even though she trusts her to keep an eye on me, she’s no doubt paranoid that my cousin will lead me astray.

Well, I don’t need my cousin for that.

Oh my gosh, if my parents knew I wasn’t a virgin anymore…

And the fact that I lost it to someone on a first date!

Kill me now.

They can never know.

And they can never find out what I’ve asked Ben to do for me either.

Which means I will not breathe a word to my cousin or her playful friend who’s grinning at me and wiggling her eyebrows.

“Seriously, you guys.” I try to laugh off this interrogation. “There’s no one. I don’t have a crush on a guy. I only blush when you guys start talking about sexy times because, you know… I’m still…”

“A virgin.” Caroline gives me a tender smile, reaching across the table to squeeze my arm. “I love that about you. I love the way you just do you and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.”

That’s not true! I constantly worry about what people think. I’m sitting here right now lying to you because I’m afraid of your judgment!

“That’s right. You keep those legs of yours crossed until you’re good and ready.” Now Mikayla’s pointing her spoon at me. “Sex isn’t cheap and shouldn’t be thrown around like it is.”

Caroline smirks. “But when you are ready… it’s so fun!”

I force out a laugh, which Caroline doesn’t notice because Mikayla’s too busy calling her a nympho.

“I am not. I just happen to be dating the hottest guy in Nolan, and he just happens to be a freaking stallion in bed.”

“Ew, I don’t want to picture Casey and you in bed.” Mikayla sticks out her tongue, and I sit here quietly watching them hassle each other.

Great, now we’re hearing about what a rock star Ethan is. Are they seriously competing over which boyfriend can give them a better orgasm?

Okay. I’m so not down for this.

But the looks on their faces.