Page 43 of I Don't Need Your Romance

Handing Addie back her phone, I continue to add more food to my plate. “I think I need a little more than a guy who returns pens.”

Addie places her hands on her hips. “Are you purposely trying to sabotage this challenge? You promised Damian you would really try to have a real relationship with a guy. It would be cheating to not put the proper effort and then declare that you failed.”

I give her a look. “Do you know me at all, Addie? I would never cheat. I believe in winning fair and square. Which I will, by the way. There’s no way in heck any guy at this school could ever compete with William King. Heck, no guy or man in the entire world could measure up to him.”

Carly’s brows furrow. “William King?”

“The love interest in the mystery book I’ve been gushing about the last few days? Were you living under a rock?”

“Nope, I remember. I was just messing with you.” She playfully jabs her elbow into my ribs.

“I believe you’ll put enough effort into this challenge,” Raven tells me as we walk away from the buffet tables with our overflowing plates of food. “And I also think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you experience.”

I stop for a second as I glance at her. “What does that mean?”

“Raven thinks you’ll meet someone!” Addie nearly bounces on the heels of her feet.

“Not necessarily,” Raven explains. “I hope that shewillfind what she’s looking for, but if she doesn’t, I think she can learn a lot from this experience. About herself, about guys, about romance. It’ll prepare you for when you experience the real thing.”

I’m about to say something, but then I notice Harold Fitzpatrick sitting alone at a table. I normally wouldn’t pay him any attention, but he’s on Addie’s list.

“Doesn’t Harold always sit with his friends?” I ask.

They stop walking and turn to face his table.

“I’m sure they’ll join him soon,” Raven says. “He never eats alone.”

I shift from one foot to the other as my hands tighten on my tray. “Should I join him before his friends do? Maybe he and I could…talk.”

Addie’s eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. “Yes! Yes, you totally should. He’s number three on my list.”

“I noticed,” I mutter. “Why exactly is he on the list?”

“He’s on the quiet side and has never done anything to any one of us,” Addie informs me. “I think he deserves a chance.”

“The threshold is really high,” I say sarcastically.

Addie lifts her shoulders. “I had to work with what I have.” She nods to another guy sitting with a girl at another table. “There’s Richie Farmer. He’s a scholarship student like us. Prime material.”

“Except, he wants to fit in with the rich kids and looks down on us,” I point out.

“Maybe you can show him he’s chasing the wrong people?” she asks innocently.

I frown. This will not be easy.

With a sigh and my shoulders dropping a little, I grumble, “I’m going to try my luck with Harold before his friends come. Wish me luck.”

Addie throws one arm around me, nearly dropping her tray. “Good luck, good luck, good luck! I’m so excited to see how this turns out.”

“Hopefully without my pouring my drink over his head.”

“Have fun,” Carly says. “But not too much fun.” She winks.

I give her a look.

“You have a good head on your shoulders and good instincts,” Raven tells me. “Be careful, okay? I know Damian has good intentions, but there’s always a chance you can get hurt. Matters of the heart are never easy.”

“Talking from experience?” Carly asks her. She’s referring to the guy Raven once loved—well, we think she might still be in love with him. It was at summer camp before tenth grade, and she apparently had this whole epic thing with him. Although, it’s kind of hard to know the details because she doesn’t like talking about it.