The Sophomore (College Years 2)

“I’ll give them thirty minutes,” he says, as he reluctantly pulls away from me.

“That’s definitely not long enough.” I laugh when he scowls. “Ninety minutes.”

“No fucking way,” he practically growls. “An hour.”

“Perfect. An hour.” Anticipation races through me when I see the dirty gleam in his gaze as he studies me. I know what he’s thinking about.

I’m thinking about it too.

“Countdown is on,” he says, just before he leaps to his feet. “See you in an hour. I need to go make the rounds with my people.”

I giggle, waving at him. Fighting the combination of nerves and excitement that fills me at what we’re about to do. At what epic line we’re going to cross in our relationship.

The moment he’s gone, Gracie says something. And I’d sort of forgotten she was sitting there on the couch.

“What was that all about?” The sly look on her face tells me she already knows.

“Nothing,” I say, trying to infuse my voice with an air of mystery, but Gracie isn’t buying it.

“Uh, huh. Are you two making sex plans for later?” She crosses her arms, waiting for my answer.

I can’t hide it from her. I’m too excited. “Yes,” I say with a giant grin. “We are.”

“Make sure he’s gentle with you.” When I frown, she rolls her eyes, lowering her voice. “You’re a virgin, Ellie. It’s going to hurt.”

I don’t want it to hurt. I want it to feel amazing. I want him to feel amazing too. I’m sure he’s used to being with women who aren’t virgins. Who are adventurous and willing to do anything. I’m definitely willing when it comes to Jackson, and I’m sure I’ll be bold, especially when it has to do with him, but I don’t want to be in pain or cry over it.

“Won’t it hurt no matter how we approach this?” I ask her.

“Yeah. I mean, the intensity level could fluctuate,” she says, her expression thoughtful. “Make sure you’re good and lubricated.”

Ha. I sort of want to die of embarrassment over this.

“I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” I say, trying to keep a straight face.

Just before we both burst into giggles.

I spend the next hour enjoying my time with my friends, soaking up Ava’s bubbly good mood, laughing with her and the rest of the girls as she tells us stories about her time so far in San Diego. The weather is perfect, she spends a lot of free time at the beach and she’s become friends with her dorm roommate.

“But she’ll never replace you,” Ava says to me at one point, which makes me misty eyed.

“She better not,” I say gruffly, just before I pull her into a hug.

I’m hugging on a lot of people toni

ght. It doesn’t help that I’ve had a couple of shots. A giant margarita made by Caleb, who’s on bartending duty tonight. I don’t even ask where the liquor comes from. They just always seem to magically have it, I’m guessing thanks to older friends.

Oh wait. Caleb keeps mentioning his fake ID. That’s where they’re getting it.

“There’s a party at my frat tomorrow night,” Caleb says. “You should all come.”

“Yes!” Ava shouts, smiling at all of us. “I’m there.”

“What if I want to keep you to myself?” Eli asks her as he approaches her from behind, slinging his arms around her waist.

“We can hang out at the party for a while,” she says. “And then you can have me all to yourself.”

A happy sigh leaves me as I watch them, feeling sappy. Gracie sighs too.