Page 28 of I Don't Need Your Love

As we continue to dance, I can’t stop smiling. It’ll be amazing to be part of a team again. Sure, it’s not like the football team back home, but we’ll work hard and be a family and support each other. Those are some of the things I loved most about being on the football team.

As I’m shaking my body to the fast-paced song, the only thing that fills my brain is Carly. I wonder if she tried to get me off the team, but the coach refused? Nah, Carly wouldn’t risk having a bad team just because she can’t stand me.

Or maybe…does she secretly want me on the team, but won’t admit it?

The twins complain that I’m distracted and not fun to be around. I don’t really know what’s wrong with me, but they’re right. I don’t want to be here right now, even though this is a lot of fun.

I manage to get a ride back to school with some other kids and find myself heading to somewhere a guy shouldn’t be heading to at this hour. But I can’t help it. I need to talk to her.

The guard outside the girls’ dorm scans me from top to bottom, lifting an eyebrow.

“Uh…” I clear my throat. “Permission to enter?”

He lifts his head and stares at the space before him. “Boys are not allowed in the girls’ dorm after 9 PM.”

“I know, but I really need to talk to Carly Simmons.”

“It can wait until morning.”

Maybe it can, but I feel like it won’t be the same in the morning. Besides, what if she changes her mind and kicks me off the team? If I talk to her and she sees how excited I am, maybe she’ll feel bad and won’t kick me off. As much as she hates me, she’s got to have some sort of sympathy for me in that heart of hers.

And anyway, I just have this need to talk to her. To see her, I guess. And I don’t know why. Maybe because a small part of me thinks I’m dreaming and I didn’t make the team? Like maybe I need confirmation from her or something.

“No entrance for boys after hours,” the guard says.

“Please?”

“I’m afraid not.”

I puff some air from my cheeks. “Is there anything I can do to change your mind? What if I promise not to do anything inappropriate?”

His eyes turn hard as his lips press together. I think I just made things worse.

“Please. I’ll do anything. I just really need to talk to her.”

“No.”

I sigh heavily. “So there’s nothing I can do?”

He shakes his head. “Rules are rules.”

“But what if there’s an emergency? What if I need to tell her something private? Are you going to deny that from her?”

He gives me a hard glare.

I’m about to say something, but the door opens and Carly peeks out. She takes one look at me and her eyes bulge.

“So you really are out here,” she says. “A girl told me she heard a commotion outside and that a guy’s looking for me. I didn’t know it was you.”

I bow. “Sorry to bother you at this hour, m’lady, but I really need to talk to you. But your royal guard wouldn’t let me.”

The guard glares at me again. I just smile.

Carly lifts a brow. “What are you doing here, Ryder? Aren’t you supposed to be at a party?”

I motion for her to follow me to the side, away from the glaring guard. “Sorry, I just wanted to talk to you.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. She’s wearing a robe over her pajamas. “About what?”