56. Jolie
JOLIE
It’s been a week since Kieran tried to kill me, and Ben has barely left my side.
He even insisted on coming home with me for Thanksgiving, which I thought would be so awkward, but he was the perfect gentleman, and Caroline played a key role in helping smooth things over.
Thankfully, we only went back to my parents’ place for one night.
They were desperate to see me after the attack, and as much as I didn’t want them to know what happened, I felt like I owed them the truth.
I didn’t give them everything. Between Caroline, Casey, Ben, and me, we came up with the least horrifying story we could and made sure we all had our details straight.
As far as I’m aware, my parents still think I’m a virgin—I couldn’t throw that at them as well, especially after I’d admitted to breaking into an office to steal evidence.
They sat there, pale-faced and in shock.
Thank God Caroline’s parents were there to help ease us through the conversation.
Uncle Ronnie is a master, and I will love him forever after the way he convinced my parents that I was brave and my determination to seek justice should be admired.
I did throw in that I never plan to act so recklessly again.
That helped. And Ben also backed me up, saying he’d never met a more courageous woman in his life.
I love how he keeps calling me a woman.
Not sure my dad loves it, but he’ll get over it.
I did turn nineteen yesterday, and the birthday loving I got from Ben sure made me feel like a woman.
Oh man, can he make my body sing.
I’m still fighting a grin as I make my way back to my dorm.
I haven’t slept there in over a week. Between recovering at Ben’s place and then going home for Thanksgiving, I haven’t had a chance.
Nylah probably thinks I’ve abandoned her.
I have texted her a few times to check in, but I get the impression that she’s been keeping herself busy.
I’ve got a feeling she’s hiding something, and I kind of want to know what it is, even though I have no right to ask since I’ve been hiding a lot from her.
But it’s time to change that.
She’s my roommate, and I want to be friends with her.
I need to stop worrying about how cool she is and start accepting that I’m cool in my own way. Sure, I’m quirky and I talk too much, I can’t always read a room, and… You know what? The point is, I don’t have anything to be ashamed of. I’m me, and me is okay.
More than okay, according to Ben.
I don’t even bother trying to fight my smile as that thought splashes through my brain, so I walk up to my room, grinning like a lovesick fool and no doubt weirding out everybody I pass. Well, I don’t care. I’m in love, and I want the world to know it.
Breezing into my room, I find Nylah sitting on her bed, her laptop perched on her knee.
“Hey, stranger.” She grins at me while I shrug off my jacket and kick off my boots. “So you do exist, then.”
I laugh when she winks, then do a little spin and perch on the end of her bed. “I have to tell you something.” I rest my hand on the duvet next to her leg, my heart starting to thump wildly. “In fact, I have to tell you a whole lot of somethings.”
Her face lights with interest and she slaps her laptop shut, shifting it off her knee and giving me her full attention, like she’s been waiting for this moment ever since she moved in here.
Her brown eyes sparkle as she leans forward and whispers, “I think I need to tell you something too… but you go first.”
So I do.
I tell her everything, though I’m not sure what possesses me to do it.
Maybe it’s her enthusiastic responses or her insightful questions, who knows, but she doesn’t seem to care that I fell for Ben while he was tutoring me in sex.
If anything, she laughed and thought that was brilliant.
She was horrified that the rumors she’d heard from last weekend were true and triple-checked that I was okay.
My bruises have mostly healed now, but I showed her the slight yellowing around my neck. We then started talking about Thanksgiving and parents, and that’s what led into her opening up to me about her secret boyfriend.
His name is Carson and he’s a football player, and she’s too afraid to tell her parents because her dad’s the coach, and he’s expressly forbidden the players from dating his daughter.
“I kind of hate him for doing that, because I’ve fallen so damn hard for Carson.
I want to protect what we’ve got going, but keeping him a secret is only going to get harder and harder.
I’m sure my mom knows I’m lying to her, but if Dad finds out, he’s going to lose it.
” She worries her lip. “I know he’s a bad boy and has made some stupid decisions in his life.
He has a temper and can be unpredictable at times, but I love him.
I think I really love him. And I definitely don’t want to lose him. ”
“Then you have to tell them.”
“But it will end things for sure.”
“Not if you don’t let it. You can’t go on like this forever, Nylah.
If you love the guy, then the world needs to know too.
Including your father. Sometimes keeping stuff hidden can be more hassle than it’s worth.
Sure, sneaking around is fun at first, but it’ll get tiring soon, and it might cause tension between you guys. You don’t want that, right?”
She nods, albeit reluctantly.
I wish I could say more to help her, but she doesn’t need a lecture from me. Reaching for her hand, I give it a squeeze. “You’ll know when the time is right.”
I smile, and she smiles right back at me.
“Thanks, Jolie. Thanks for this.”
My expression crumples. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”
She shrugs. “I’m kind of glad you’re really good at keeping secrets. At least I know mine is safe with you until I’m ready.”
“Oh, it definitely is.”
We smile at each other again, and I’m about to ask if she wants to go out for dinner or something when there’s a knock at my door.
“JoJo?”
I roll my eyes. Caroline. She’s graduated from mother hen to territorial mother bear, and I’ve been trying to accommodate that as much as I can, but we’re gonna need to have words.
Standing up, I brace myself and walk to the door, swinging it open and smiling brightly at my cousin. “I’m fine. You don’t have to check on me every two seconds.”
She groans. “With your parents breathing down my neck the way they are, I most definitely do!” She bulges her eyes and steps into the room, taking off her beanie and scarf before flashing a smile at Nylah.
“Can’t you just tell them you’ve checked on me when you actually haven’t? Seriously, I’m fine.”
“You’re not waking up with nightmares or anything?” She looks me over and I curl my toes, looking at the floor for a second.
“Only a couple of times, and Ben was right there to take care of me. Plus, he’s made me book an appointment with a counselor, which I’m doing tomorrow, and he’s checking in constantly—he’s worse than you.” But I kind of have to smile at that, because I love it.
She tips her head with a droll look. “You are so loved-up right now.”
“Yes, I am.” My smiles grows to full beam.
Caroline lets out a sigh, and I frown, lightly nudging her arm with my finger. “I thought you were okay with this. Ben’s a great guy.”
“He is.” She nods. “He really is. And I am okay with it. I’m just… adjusting.” Her look goes all gooey as she brushes her hand down my arm. “You’re my little cousin and I love you, and I want you to be happy.”
“I am. I’m very happy.”
She relents with a soft snort and starts fidgeting with her beanie, softly admitting, “But you don’t need me anymore.”
I blink. Seriously? That’s what she’s worried about?
“Oh my gosh.” I laugh, pulling her into a hug and giving her a decent squeeze. “Caroline! I do need you. To be my friend. My cousin. I don’t need you to be my mother hen.”
She sniffs and hugs me back. “I just love you so much, Joey.”
“I love you too, Cinnamon.”
Nylah laughs. “You guys are adorable, and now I’m having major hug FOMO.”
“Get in here, then.” Caroline waves her over, and she jumps into the hug.
And we laugh it out before pulling apart and discussing whether it’s too cold to go for ice cream.
“I’m gunning for a hot chocolate with lots of cream and cinnamon.”
“Sign me up.” Nylah turns to grab her stuff, and I put my jacket and boots back on.
This is good.
This is finally what I imagined college life to be.
A roommate who can become my friend.
A great relationship with my cousin.
And a boyfriend waiting for me at the end of the day.