Page 127 of I Don't Need Your Romance

“Yeah.”

He laughs. “You always know how to make things brighter. One of the many, many things I love about you. So…we’re really doing this, huh?”

“We’re really doing this.”

We sneak in several kisses because we know it’ll be a long time before we’ll be able to be together again. Then we remain with our arms wrapped around each other until the bell rings. I give him one more kiss before leaving the closet. He’ll wait a few minutes before emerging.

Then we’ll go to class and pretend the other doesn’t exist. It hurts my heart, but I know we’ll see each other again soon.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Sophie

“Aren’t you worried you’ll get caught?” Carly asks me as Raven puts eyeshadow on my face. “I’m sure Harrington has spies all over campus.”

“No doubt she asked all the guards to keep an eye on you guys, too,” Addie says.

“Damian and I are leaving campus separately and will meet at the bookstore,” I tell my friends. “Unless Harrington is super paranoid, we should be good.”

The truth is, sneaking out with my boyfriend after the principalspecificallytold me I can’t date him has me beyond nervous. I’ve always been a good girl and followed the rules. But if following the rules means I can’t have the boy of my dreams, the one person in the world who makes me feel a way I’ve never felt before, what’s the point of any of it? I’ve never considered myself a bad girl, and I hope I won’t turn into one, but I won’t let anyone dictate who I can and can’t love.

Because, yeah. I do love Damian. I love him so much my bones ache. And even though I’m only sixteen, I know deep in my heart that Damian and I are endgame, that we’ll be together forever and live happily ever after. Just like in my books. No, better than in my books. And I won’t letanyonetake that away from me.

“Should we review the plan?” I ask my friends.

“In case Harrington comes to our room and asks where you are, I’ll tell her you’re video calling your parents in the bathroom for privacy,” Raven says. “If she finds that odd or demands an explanation, I’ll use your dead siblings card.”

“She never seems comfortable when death is brought up,” Carly says. “It’s like she avoids any conversation that contains a teaspoon of emotion.”

“Thanks,” I tell them. “I doubt she’ll actually come to our room to look for me, but it’s good to have a plan.” I turn around to face my friends with a smile. “How do I look?” I’m wearing a pretty pink floral shirt with dark dressy pants.

“Beautiful!” they say.

I hug my friends goodbye, they wish me good luck, and I leave the room, grabbing my backpack, where I hid Queen Rose. Since I suspect the guard is watching me like a hawk, I put on a long coat to hide my nice outfit and leave the dorm, heading in the opposite direction of the parking lot. After walking a few feet, I turn around and zigzag behind the buildings, using some of the bushes for cover as I change my course and head to the parking lot.

My heart hammers the entire time because I’ve never done anything like this before. The thrill of it does cause an adrenaline rush, but I make sure to keep my head on straight and pay attention to my surroundings.

Damian will drive in the opposite direction, just in case the guards are indeed keeping their eyes on us. Then he’ll turn around when he’s a good few blocks away and meet me at the bookstore.

Once I get there, I kill the engine and wait in my car, reaching in the backseat for the book I placed there. I’m so engrossed in the story that I don’t realize Damian’s bike is right outside my car until he honks.

With a smile, I put my bookmark in its place and get out of the car with my backpack. Damian barely has a chance to get off his bike before I ram into him and throw my arms around him, burying my face in his chest. “I’ve missed you so much.”

We can’t sit near each other in class or at lunch, I’m no longer his lab partner, nor can I do assignments with him. I certainly can’t talk to him or touch him. His mom confiscated his phone, so I can’t even text him. The only way we communicate is through our friends. They’re like our carrier pigeons.

“Sophie,” he breathes as his lips sweep across my temple and my cheeks. Whatever free spot on my face he can find. “I’ve missed you so much, too.”

I tighten my hold on him, never wanting to let go.

“How have you been?” he asks as his hand rubs circles on my back. From the ache in his tone, I can tell this forced separation hurts him just as much as it hurts me.

“I’ve been terrible,” my muffled voice says. “I just missed you too much.”

“I know,” he murmurs as he sweeps his lips across my cheek again. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” I raise my head to look into his eyes, which I realize are filled with pain and loss. “If this is the only way we can be together, then I’m okay with it.”

With a nod, he leans forward and presses his lips to mine.