You say:

>Somehow, word got to Deron that Rico and Jessica used to be
>friends with benefits back in college, which is 8 years ago at
>this point. He doesn't get much detail, but hears that they
>were never a couple, just that they had sex a few times.

Then say:
She completely downplays it, basically saying "that
>was so long ago, and we were just friends then, it wasn't even
>intimate."