Page 14 of I Don't Need Your Romance

“It won’t start.”

He asks me to try again, and then makes this alarmed face when he hears that awful sound. When he turns around and walks away, my heart sinks. I guess I thought he would offer to help or something? I suppose he figures this isn’t his problem.

But my eyes widen when he opens the hood of the car and checks it out. Wait a sec. Does he know anything about cars? I mean, it’s kind of cliché when a bad boy is good with cars, but lots of romance books feature that anyway. And I have to say, it would come in mighty handy right now if he could fix whatever’s wrong with my car.

Raven would remind me for the millionth time that real life is not a book. I would direct her to exhibit A—Bad Boy Damian checking on my car.

I get out and move closer to him. “Do you know what’s wrong?”

He studies it for a few more seconds before shaking his head. “You’ll have to take it to the shop.”

“Darn it.” I rub my forehead. Forget the cost of repairs and the headache—how am I going to get to the bookstore now?

Damian watches me for a moment. “Is there somewhere you need to be?”

“Yes, the bookstore. And it’s going to close soon.” I grab my phone and scan the time again. Ugh, there’s no way I’ll make it in time. This is such a disaster.

His brows rise slightly. “That’s the emergency? The bookstore?”

“Dude, do you know how many books were released this past week? I’ve been waiting for days to pick them up. One is an awesome romantasy with raving reviews, another is this detective mystery book that looks so good! I normally don’t go for those kinds of books, but I read online that the romance subplot is supposed to be, like, the best thing that has ever graced our planet. I can’t wait to dive into that one. Oh, and there’s this really cute contemporary sweet YA romance that’s been on my TBR forever. I would have gone to the store yesterday, but they were closed. What a crime, right?”

He doesn’t say anything, just watches me.

I shift in my spot, realizing I just babbled to a guy who most likely cringes at one who babbles. “What? I love books.”

“That’s very evident.”

I give him a look. “Do you have an issue with a person who loves to read?”

“Absolutely not. Follow me.”

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“Just follow me.” He walks away.

Um…a strange(ish) guy telling a girl to “follow him” to some unknown location is a big red flag. I don’t know him and have no idea if he plans to kidnap me or something. I mean, he does know I’m basically stranded without my ride. Which I know sounds ridiculous because I’m on school grounds, but a girl can never be too careful about her safety, right?

After he strides a few feet without me, he turns around and gives me a confused face. Like why am I just standing?Uh, because I don’t know you, Bad Boy Dude?

“Sophie?”

I go still for a second. Wow, I’ve never heard my name on his lips before. It sounds…oddly sexy.

Seriously? Where is my brain going right now?

Besides, I don’t even like bad boys.

He raises his brows again.

I’m being ridiculous. He wouldn’t hurt me in the middle of the student parking lot. And a part of me—okay, a big part—is curious where he’s taking me. So, I follow him to wherever.

We pass many of the super wealthy cars on the way. I don’t care for them one way or the other, but I sense some negative vibes from Damian. Like just seeing them triggers something within him. I’m bursting to ask what it is, but I doubt he would appreciate me being all in his business.

He leads me all the way to an area in the lot that doesn’t have that many cars. My friends and I park our cars in an empty area, too, as though our average cars are not allowed to mix in with the fancy ones, but his is all the way on the other side. He keeps walking until he eventually stops before a…motorcycle.

“Hop on,” he says as he reaches for his helmet.

“Hop…where?”