Page 123 of I Don't Need Your Love

“No, I’m the happiest person on the planet.”

“No, I am.”

“Me.”

He lifts his head and grins. “Are we arguing again?”

I return the smile. “We sure are. I can argue with you all day if it means we get to kiss right after.”

“Bring it on, then,” he says with another smile.

I grab the back of his head and tug his lips back to mine.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Sophie

Raven and I are munching on yummy food as we watch the couples slow dance at the school dance. Addie and Caleb look so darn adorable as they whisper sweet things in each other’s ears as they move slowly with the music. They’ve been together for two months now, but it seems they still have sweet and romantic things to whisper to each other. How awesome was it to experience so many romance book tropes come to life right before my eyes? A bodyguard romance, a forced proximity, one room, one bed, grumpy sunshine, and enemies-to-lovers?

And then there’s Carly and Ryder. I have no idea where they are, but Raven told me that they snuck out a short while ago. They were the epitome of an enemies-to-lovers trope. You know how there are some books where the MMC and the FMC seem like they’ll never get along but then somehow end up falling in love by the end of the book? That’s Ryder and Carly. Although Addie suspected from the start that they would fall for each other. Maybe she’s more of an expert when it comes to love than me.

I don’t realize a sigh escapes my lips until Raven’s head snaps up from where she’s munching on a cream pastry. “What’s up?”

“Just feeling my singlehood,” I admit.

She nods. “I get it. I wonder if I’ll ever know what it feels like to share a slow dance with someone.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Didn’t you have a dance at camp that time when you and that guy—”

She holds up her hands. “How many times do I have to tell you there was no guy?”

“You can’t lie to me, Raven. Not when it comes to romance.”

She sighs as she shoves the rest of the pastry into her mouth. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay. I won’t push. At least you had some experience with love. I’ve experienced nothing.”

It’s never bothered me before. But I guess now that Addie and Carly have such sweet and amazing guys, I can’t help but feel jealous. Even though I’msuperhappy for them.

“Just hold on to what Carly said,” Raven tells me. “You’ll one day experience your own love story, even if it might happen when you least expect it, or if you’ll have to wait longer than you think. You don’t want to miss out on these fun years with your friends just because you want something that might not be the right time for you.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” I take a bite of my brownie and gasp. “Oh my gosh, have you tasted this? It’s the best brownie I’ve ever had in my life.”

“Really?” She perks up. “I didn’t put any on my plate. Be right back.”

“Please get me another one!” I call after her.

As she scurries away, my eyes sweep along the ballroom, and I try not to sigh at all the romantic couples. I know that many of them will most likely not end up together, but at least they have these memories. When will I make my own love memories?

My brows shoot up when I notice an unfamiliar person sitting a few tables away. He has jet black hair that’s on the messy side, and he’s not wearing a suit or nice dress shirt. He’s wearing a tight black T-shirt and jeans, with a leather jacket hanging off the back of his chair. He’s scrolling on his phone, the look on his face telling me that he’d rather be anywhere but here.

Principal Harrington walks over to him and whispers something in his ear. But he pays no attention to her. Is he a new student?

When Raven returns with a plate full of brownies and a huge smile, I ask, “Raven, do you know who that guy is?”

“Who?” She twists around and surveys the room. When her eyes land on him, she studies him for a few seconds and then shrugs. “No idea. He’s too young to be a chaperone. He looks our age. New student?”

“That’s what I was thinking. Based on his clothes, he might be another scholarship kid. Maybe another one of Harrington’s ‘good image’ projects.” Because she sure as heck loves to keep up her family’s reputation.