Page 99 of His Reckless Freshman

Plus, maybe a Caroline hug will make me feel better, you know?

Flinging the door back, I don’t even give her a chance to speak before I launch myself at her.

She catches me, wrapping me in a tight hug and rubbing my back. “Hey, are you okay?”

“Yes,” I blubber against her shoulder.

She squeezes me a little tighter. “Sounds like we need ice cream and a box of tissues.”

“Mm-hmm.” I nod, and she takes charge, making me put on my warm, oversized hoodie.

“Just keep your UGG boots on. We’re going to Casey’s place.” Taking my hand, she drags me out of my dorm, and I manage to keep it together through the visit to the store to buy two containers of ice cream and the entire car ride to Ponderosa.

It’s not until we’re nestled inside Casey’s pool house with Fezzik—cutest Shih Zhu in the world—snuggled on my lap that I finally let the tears run free.

They trickle down my face in silent sobs while Caroline grabs two spoons and rips open the ice cream.

Handing me the chocolate chip cookie dough, she takes a seat opposite me, crossing her legs and quietly demanding, “Spill.”

Sucking in a breath, I seriously don’t know how I’m going to do this or even why I should. Will Caroline get it?

Yes! She was raised in the same kind of home as yours. Sure, her parents weren’t quite as insane, but her father’s a minister! She got to college and sowed her wild oats. She’ll get it.

Popping the spoon into her mouth, she gives me a pointed look. “Seriously. What is going on with you?”

“I met a guy,” I blurt.

Her face lights up for just a second. “I knew you had a crush on somebody.” But then her excitement fades when it hits that I’m crying, which means… “What happened?” Her voice turns soft and wispy. “Did he dump you?”

“We never really dated. We just… hung out a few times.” My expression crumples.

“Okay, but you’re seriously heartbroken right now. What happened? I need details.”

So I give them to her. Well, I don’t use names, but I tell her about my awful first date, which she was gutted about.

“You should have called me. I’m so sorry that was your first time. Sweetie, that’s awful.”

“I was too embarrassed to tell you. I don’t even know why,” I quickly explain when she opens her mouth to probably say I can tell her anything.

Well, I’m doing that now, aren’t I?

Then I go on about how I spilled everything to this other guy, even though I didn’t mean to. But it all just slipped out, and then I asked him to help me have my first orgasm.

“You what?” Her eyebrows pop high as I dip the tip of the teaspoon into my melting ice cream but don’t actually eat any of it.

“I know it sounds weird, but he was being so nice to me, and then he agreed to… tutor me.”

“Tutor you.” She frowns.

“Yeah, I’ve been having, like… sex lessons.”

“Sex lessons?”

You know it must be unconventional when the person you’re telling keeps repeating everything you say. My cousin’s blue-green eyes are all big and her freckled nose is starting to wrinkle as she tries to wrap her head around what I’m saying.

“It’s just… you know. He was just… showing me what to do and what feels good and⁠—”

Her fingers rest on my knee as she interrupts me. “Someone has been tutoring you in sex? Are you paying this person?”