Page 61 of Notorious Man on Campus

Nyla says, “And I leave with you consoling me.”

“What about Jimmy?” Roman says.

“He never comes back.” Dooley says, grinning like a fat happy cat who just lapped up a big bowl of cream. “Then for the finale, I swoop in to console Willow while she’s waiting. Mostly I’m babysitting her so she won’t cause anymore trouble. And if I can manage it, I slip her phone from her purse and turn it into campus lost and found.”

“You have to be shitting me.” Dylan says the words I’m thinking.

“Which part don’t you like?” Nyla says, aiming her question at me.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were thinking something.”

“I like all of it.” I lower my head and whisper close to her ear, “especially the part where I take you home to console you. How much liberty do I have with the script?” She shivers.

“You can write in whatever you want, adlib, go with whatever feels right.”

“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” I wonder briefly if there are any strings, but I give a mental shrug because I know the only strings there ever were are the ones I put there, the ones my heart installed from the first time Nyla walked into our house and smiled her blinding sunny smile at me. I was too stupid to grab onto the hope she offered at the time, but I’m learning now.

“Jimmy and Willow incoming at ten-o’clock,” Dooley says like he’s in a spy move rather than a romantic drama. “Time for me to go into action.” I slap him on the back.

“Break a leg.”

Dooley’s performance is flawless and all the actors and stars line up in their roles exactly as planned until I find myself sitting in the parking lot in my Mustang with Nyla spying on Willow pacing the front of the building with Dooley watching. She’s waiting for Jimmy to come back.

But we already said our good-byes and he’s already on the highway heading southwest to PA with my promise to get home, to wrangle a day off from coach next week for a visit. My urgency to see dad is like a low hum of need underneath everything.

My louder more pressing need is sitting in the seat next to me right now.

“Let’s go. I’m beat. All the tension’s drained me,” Nyla says.

“You were perfect. Thank you.”

“Who are you and what did you do with my beautiful Brick.” I laugh and we stare into each others eyes in one of those cheesy Hollywood moments befitting the staged events of the night, except it doesn’t feel cheesy right now. Not tonight. My emotions are front and center and not swirling in confusion. What I feel is loud and clear. I want this girl, for more than a bedmate.

“Spend the night with me,” I say. She opens her mouth and her eyes go glassy and dark. I remember this look and my cock remembers too. Very well and at full tilt. “Is that a yes?” I let the corner of my mouth twitch.

“Yes,” she breathes and leans into me. I know she’s going to take my face in her hands because she’s done it before and I love when she does it, feeling like the only man in the world being chosen by the most caring, giving woman in the world, the girl who gives all of herself at great emotional risk.

“You’re such a brave girl. Did I ever tell you that?”

“Why? What do you have in mind? You have some secret closet in your room filled with—”

“No,” I say half laughing. “I meant because you risk your heart with every breath, with every word and hold nothing back in spite of all the potential for pain.”

“I can’t take credit for it. I was born this way.” She smiles. “And I consider it my duty to help others in this endeavor.”

“What kind of help?” I’m hopeful in spite of the risk of getting my hopes up that her help involves getting naked.

“It’s called sex therapy. Maybe you’ve heard of it. It’s where you get naked and it symbolizes baring your soul.” I laugh, pulling her face close to mine.

“I’m in. when do we start?”

“How long will it take you to drive us back to BMOC House?”

“Let’s see if I can break the record.”

Chapter 28