Ryan encouraged me to apply for an undergraduate research assistant position working for Professor Zhu, who studied electrochemical energy recovery systems. Being just a freshman, I originally thought I wouldn’t bother even trying, but Ryan pressed me to give it a shot, reminding me of my past accomplishments even if they were in high school.

The research position was the only one available in the Environmental Engineering department for next semester, and Professor Zhu was also the only female faculty member in the entire department. Being her research assistant would mean I’d get to benefit from her mentorship. 

The science, technology, engineering, and math industries were still plagued by low female participation. I'd heard she was a tough cookie to get where she was, and I desperately wanted guidance on how to maneuver in the male-dominated field of Environmental Engineering. Also, as the head of the Women in STEM initiative for LSU, Professor Zhu would be a valuable resource to have in my career.

Ryan had stayed up late with me helping me tweak my application. He gave me handy advice since he’d gone through the same process when he applied for a student research assistant position his sophomore year.

When I clicked submit, turning in my application, we did a quiet victory dance together in the Memorial Hill stacks. I loved how Ryan could be just as goofy as I was.

Afterwards, Ryan took me for a celebration drive-thru run at Steak Shack. I reminded him that I hadn’t even gotten the position yet, but Ryan wanted to celebrate the accomplishment of just applying. With our milkshakes in hand, Ryan drove us to the Baton Rouge Pier. We slurped our shakes as we looked out at the water.

I gazed at the Mississippi River Bridge, lit up in bright white lights while Ryan snuggled behind me, his arms wrapped around me. “Thanks for helping me with my application.” I brought my straw to my lips. “And thanks for this milkshake. Cookies and Cream is just what I needed.”

He turned me around, and looked into my eyes. “I’m happy to help you with anything you ever need.” He kissed me gently. I could taste strawberry ice cream on his tongue. 

Every day I kissed Ryan brought me closer and closer to wanting to go all the way with him. He hadn’t pressured me at all, making it easier for me to relax around him.

When he dropped me back off at my dorm, it was two in the morning. It was late but worth it. Kissing him right on the water was magical, right down to the milkshakes and all.

The next day, after cheerleading practice, I needed a little pick me up before I met Ryan at Hill Memorial Library for our regular study session. Helena, Naomi, and Gloria came along with me to The Night Owl. I’d just discovered their Flat White coffee drink and was really craving one right then.

We sat at our usual table up front near the big windows. All the girls ordered a Flat White curious about my obsession. I took a sip of my drink, closing my eyes and savoring the velvety taste in my mouth.

Helena remarked, “You were right, Kassie. Flat White is my new drink!”

Gloria tasted hers. “Lattes are so last year. This is amazing.”

Naomi, who always ordered mochas, even concluded, "I thought I'd hate it because of the no chocolate thing, but it's pretty good. I'll work it into my mocha rotation."

I beamed at my teammates. I loved cheering for the LSU Tigers because of the girls sitting in front of me. We spent loads of time together, and I’d lucked out being on a squad with girls who always had each other’s backs.

Glancing at my watch, I noted the time. “I’m meeting Ryan in an hour at Memorial Hill.”

Helena’s face darkened. “Ryan Romero?” She grabbed my hand in concern. “Are you hanging out with him?”

I looked down at the table. “I am.” A prickle of heat climbed up my neck.

My teammates groaned. Gloria shook her head and whispered, “Kassie, I’ve heard the absolute worst things about that guy.”

I pulled my hand away from Helena’s. “I know you guys are worried about me, but he’s not the guy he used to be. He might have been a player before, but he’s different with me.”

Looking around the table, I could see my teammates' faces were racked with worry. I had to explain how I felt. "I can't help it. I tried to ignore him, but Ryan was just so sweet to me that I had to give him a chance. He's been the perfect gentleman to me so far." I paused before adding, "And I'm beginning to really develop feelings for him."

Helena muttered, “That’s how it always begins. Guys like that always lay it on thick at first.”

Gloria weighed in. “Let’s say he is the perfect gentleman you say he is now. He’s a senior. He’s probably going to play for some team in some other city. Can you be sure that he’s not going to cheat on you?”

“How do you know Dean isn’t cheating on you while he’s in San Diego?” I wasn’t being cruel. I genuinely wanted to know.

Gloria shrugged. “Well, I know Dean. We had been together for three years before he left for med school. He’d never do that to me. I trust him.”

Carefully, Naomi asked, “Do you trust Ryan?”

I sighed. “I think I do. He hasn’t shown me anything to prove he’s the guy you all say he is.” I turned the question back on Naomi. “Do you trust Steve?”

Naomi looked hurt. “I think I can. I’m not going to lie. It worries me, but I just have to hope he will stay true to me.” She searched our faces. “How do you really know someone?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Ryan may have done terrible things in his past, but he hasn’t been that way with me.”

Helena bit her lip in thought. “You may not know this. God knows everyone else does, but I thought the same thing about a guy on the football team. People warned me about him.” She glanced at Gloria, who nodded in agreement. “But, I was convinced he was different with me. He told me he was a changed man.” She crossed her arms, looking out the window, her dark hair fell into her blue eyes that were brimming with tears.

Gloria put an arm around her. “Oh, Helena!”

Helena wiped her eyes. “I was humiliated. I don’t want the same thing to happen to you.”

Naomi absently pulled on her curly ponytail. “How can we figure out if Ryan is for real or not?”

Looking down into my Flat White, I admitted sadly, “I don’t know.”

Naomi twirled a curl in her finger. “I wish there was some way, where you could test guys to figure out if they’re being genuine.”

Gloria shrugged. “Hook him up to a lie detector test?”

Naomi blew a raspberry. “We could hire a fortune teller?”

Helena sat up, her eyes glinting in thought as she scanned the ceiling. She then looked at me with a serious look on her face. “We could test him, in a challenge of sorts. If he fails, then we know what kind of guy he is.”

"What do you mean? How?" I was curious about what Helena had in mind.

Gloria’s eyes lit up. “Like a sting operation?”

Helena nodded her head slowly, smiling at Gloria. “Yes!” She tapped her finger on the table. “Delta Pi is having a frat party tomorrow night. Is Ryan planning on taking you?”

I shook my head. “No. He hasn’t mentioned it.”

Helena shook her head with a dramatic eye roll. “He hasn’t even mentioned it to you? It’s Delta Pi’s Toga party. It’s the party of the Fall semester.”

I shrugged. “We don’t really go out much. We watch movies.”

Gloria’s eyes opened in surprise. “Sorry, but that sounds like a red flag to me.”

Helena vehemently agreed, “Total red flag.” She shook her head in disdain, “As soon as we find out the true Ryan Romero, he will be out of your life and you can move on to a nice guy, who will take you out places, like the biggest party of Fall term.”

Was it really a red flag? I was more of a homebody anyway. I liked that Ryan and I didn’t go out to parties together. And who said he didn’t take me out places? He had just taken me to the pier the night before.

Helena leaned in. “If Ryan asks you to go, say you’re too sick and stay at home. Leave the rest to me.”

Gloria persisted, “We don’t want you wasting a single minute on this guy if he’s really a douchebag.”

I looked to Naomi, whose eyebrows were crinkled with distress. “We don’t want you to get hurt.”

Helena sighed deeply. “That’s the last thing I want to happen to you. Take it from me, it’s devastating to trust someone that will just turn around and betray you.”

I thought about Ryan and all the nights where we just cuddled on the couch. Was it too good to be true? Was he really a bad boy underneath all of his perfect gentleman exterior?

Looking at Helena, I said, “Okay. I’m game.”

My feelings for Ryan were growing. If he failed Helena’s test, I still had time to salvage what was left of my heart. I hoped she was wrong, but like my teammates said, how do you really know someone?