The Freshman (College Years 1)

I didn’t like it. Vowed I wouldn’t let it happen to me ever again. Who needs a relationship?

That’s why I keep telling myself I don’t want one with Hayden. She may think I’m a nice guy, and I’m not going to deny that I respect women, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to have a strictly casual and purely sexual arrangement with someone. I am up for it.

Game for it.

Ready for it.

I hooked up with a girl at a frat party a few weeks ago, but it was nothing serious. A lot of kissing. A little bit of touching. She was perfectly willing to give me a BJ, but at the last second, she bowed out.

Thank God because within minutes, she was in one of the bathrooms, puking her guts out, her equally drunk friend holding her hair back and sending me death glares, like it was my fault she was puking.

Whatever.

“You all need to get laid,” Eli says, pointing at me and Jackson. “I know it’s been a while for you two.”

Jackson shoots daggers at his friend with his eyes. I say nothing, because Eli is right. It’s definitely been a while.

“And maybe you shouldn’t have sex with that angry blonde,” Eli continues, pointing at me. “She’ll chew you up and spit you out.”

“I think he’d like that,” Caleb says with a chuckle.

“Shut up,” I practically growl, grateful when the doorbell rings.

I go to the door and grab our pizzas from the delivery guy, tipping him before I kick the door shut and bring the boxes into the kitchen. “Dinner is served.”

We crowd around the counter and dig into the boxes, not bothering with plates or napkins. We don’t need any of that stuff. We’re all hungry savages with one thought on our minds.

Feed me.

Once we’ve got a few pieces of pizza in our stomachs, we slow down, eating more leisurely. After taking the time to go to the fridge and grab more beer, I settle onto one of the barstools that lines the counter, sipping on my beer and finish another slice, contemplating life. Hayden. What I should do next.

“You going to pursue her?” Caleb asks me.

I nod, setting my piece on my plate before I turn to look at him. “It’s probably a mistake, but yeah.”

“You’re not an idiot, Sorrento,” Caleb reminds me.

I smile. “Gee thanks.”

“I’m being serious. You don’t make rash decisions, you don’t go after girls unless you’re truly interested in them. I always wondered if you were some sort of robot or whatever,” Caleb says. “You move through life as if nothing ever affects you.”

It’s a defense mechanism, cultivated through years of dealing with the abandonment of my parents. If you act like nothing bothers you, then it can never hurt you, right?

At least that’s what I tell myself.

“I’m just—”

“Particular,” Caleb finishes for me. “I’ll stick my dick in anything, but you take your time. Get it good and juicy first.”

I wince. “Gross, man.”

“Whatever,” he says with a chuckle. “I always thought it was the right move to try and get with as many girls as possible, because you increase your chances in eventually finding the right one, you know?”

“Are you in search of the right one?” I’m kind of shocked he’s even suggesting this.

“Aren’t we all? I’m not a complete heartless asshole,” Caleb says, his expression turning thoughtful. “What I’m trying to say is maybe you’ve had the right idea all along. Instead

of chasing endless tail, I should be more picky like you are. Then maybe I could find someone I really, truly love.”