The Sophomore (College Years 2)

“Caleb. You sound crazy right now,” I tell him, not holding back. “So down on our friends’ relationships.”

“You’re usually down on them too.” He reaches over and nudges me in the shoulder.

“Where did you go? I want my friend back.”

“It’s still early. Plus I’m tired,” I admit.

His grin returns. “Right. Banging your secret hottie. Give me deets when you’re ready to reveal. You know I’ll be sitting here waiting impatiently to hear what’s going on and with who.”

Yeah. Not going to happen for a while. Once they find out I’m messing around with Ellie, the shit is going to hit the fan.

And splatter everywhere.

I go about the rest of my day in somewhat of a fog. Tired from lack of sleep. Confused over what I did with Ellie. Confused more by my feelings for her.

As in, I’m not sure how to feel. Where to go next with this. And why can’t I stop thinking about her?

By the time we’re wrapping up practice and in the locker rooms, I’m moving slow, going through the motions, and not talking much. I’m eager to get out of here, go straight home and collapse into bed.

But I can only take a nap, because I still need to pick up Ellie after she gets off work. Not that I’ve confirmed this with her. Like a complete shithead, I haven’t texted her all day. And she hasn’t said anything to me either. Haven’t seen her around on campus, though I never really do, unless we all plan to meet up, which hasn’t happened since school started.

Does this make me an asshole for not contacting her? I am the one who slipped out of her room in the early morning hours without a word or a note or a text. She’s probably pissed at me.

What else is new?

“Wanna go grab dinner?” Diego asks us as he slips a shirt on over his head.

“Don’t you have to run home to wifey?” Caleb asks, taunting him as usual.

“Jocelyn and Gigi are with her mom and sister. They’re shopping, having dinner, whatever. Addie got her braces off today so they’re celebrating,” Diego explains. Addie is Jocelyn’s little sister.

“So you’re a free man for the night?” Caleb offers up his hand and Diego slaps it. “Let’s go.”

“I’m fucking starving, so I’m down,” Eli says, his gaze cutting to mine. “How about you?”

I should say no. I’m tired. I could go back to our apartment and get a few hours of sleep under my belt before I have to go pick up Ellie.

But my friends are watching me with hope in their eyes. They want me to go with them, and I can’t resist these fuckers.

“Sure,” I say easily. “I’m hungry.”

“Let’s go to Doghouse Grill,” Eli says, and they all nod in agreement.

Except for me. Shit. I don’t want to go there. Not tonight. Really don’t want the first time I see Ellie after what happened last night to be witnessed by my friends.

They’ll give us endless shit, especially if Ellie reacts negatively toward me, which she has the potential to do. I am the asshole who hasn’t reached out to her after I reached between her legs.

If she’s m

ad and acts rude toward me, they’ll ask what I did to piss her off, and what can I say?

No big deal. We kissed. I took her to her bed. Stripped her naked. Touched her everywhere. Fingered her until she came. Held her close and slept with her for a few hours until I snuck out of her bed without a word. And that was it. Big mistake, am I right?

That I even thought of the words big mistake makes me feel like a complete dick.

Everyone else agrees that we’re going to Doghouse Grill, so I have to agree, too. Which I do with a barely there shrug. Eli catches my gaze, frowning in question, and I just shake my head.

“You’re riding with me,” he says, pointing his finger at me.