Page 135 of I Don't Need Your Romance

I grab my coat and Queen Rose and follow Damian out of the girls’ dorm and to the parking lot, where his bike is parked. We reach the bookstore in record time and enter, immediately making our way to the new releases.

“Looking for anything in particular?” Damian asks me.

“I’m not sure. I haven’t had a chance to check out the latest new releases.”

He playfully touches his heart. “How can that be?”

“I was busy sneaking around with my forbidden boyfriend,” I say.

He laughs softly. “That explains it.”

We browse through the books, reading the blurbs and placing them into piles. Considering I can only buy five, this is going to be an extremely hard decision.

Damian gets really into it as he helps me decide. He even goes online to check out the tropes. Seriously, how perfect is he? Just a few months ago, I thought I would never find the right guy. I didn’t think I would ever experience romance. Heck, I didn’t think I needed real romance. I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world.

“These are my two options,” he says as he lays the books before me. “This one is a romantasy with sea monsters and mermaids. The tropes are enemies-to-lovers, love triangle, hidden powers, warring kingdoms, and your new favorite: forbidden romance. Now, this one…” He pushes it aside and places another book in its place. “It’s not technically referred to as a romantasy, but it does have a huge romantic subplot, somost people online say it can count as a romantasy. The tropes in this book are fated mates, she falls first but he falls harder, strong heroine, slow burn, and it’s also a forbidden romance. If you can’t decide which one to buy, I can buy the other one for you.”

Before I can stop myself, I fling my arms around him.

“What’s this for?” he asks with a laugh.

“Because you’re so darn cute.”

“Cute?” His brows furrow. “Is that a compliment?”

“Of course! You’re so cute trying to help me choose the perfect book. Damian, you’re like a romantic hero come to life.”

“Does that mean you no longer need the romance books?” he teases.

“Never.”

In the end, I decide on four books, just to show my parents I’m being overly responsible. Maybe I’ll ask my parents to send over some of themanybooks back at home that I haven’t read. That’ll for sure show them that I’m taking the rules very seriously.

Instead of heading back to school, Damian makes a pit stop at a large park. He sits down on the grass against a tree with me in his arms, and together, we read the romantasy book I decided to buy. The one with the sea monsters and mermaids.

“This is nice,” he says as I turn the page. “I love reading with you.”

“There’s something I’ve been wondering,” I admit. “But I didn’t want to bring it up because I wasn’t sure if you’d like it.”

“Don’t be worried about offending me,” he says. “I want you to feel completely comfortable with me.”

“Okay, thanks. Remember that time I was flipping through your sketchpad and I saw a drawing of myself?”

For a second, I worry he will be offended despite his promise, but he laughs. “I remember that. I was embarrassed because I thought you’d think I was a creep or something.”

“Why would I think you’re a creep? I thought that was super sweet. I mean, I couldn’t help but wonder why you drew me. I was hoping you liked me.”

“Ididlike you. I liked you a lot. Remind me to show it to you when we get back to school.”

I turn around on his lap and wrap my fingers around the back of his neck, staring into his eyes. “I’m so happy, Damian. So happy I think I might burst.”

“Not if I burst first.” He wraps his hands around my waist and squeezes gently. “For the first time since my dad died, I’m looking forward to the future. A future with you. If you would have told me a few weeks ago that I would feel this way, I would have laughed in your face. But you’ve changed my life. You reminded me to dream again. To hope again. Thanks so much for being you, Sophie.”

“And you taught me what it means to experience a real romance and not a fake one,” I tell him. “Because real romance will always be better than book romance. If not for you, I might have never experienced how beautiful and wonderful it can be. Thanks so much for being you, Damian. And for putting up with me.”

“You’re the one who put up with me.”

“Well, I had to,” I tell him, “How else could I have gotten free books and an awesomePower Rangershelmet?”