He pulls a face, clearly offended by the thought. “If I come across as someone who writes love letters, I need to reevaluate my shit.” He tips his chin to the envelope. “Open it.”

I unceremoniously tear through the flap, ripping the top. My head tilts, eyebrows slanting at the card inside. “What…?”

“It might be a little early, but you mentioned it the other day. I didn’t want you to think I didn’t hear you.”

A greeting card.

“I’m outta here.” I read the sparkly font on the front, arching over a black graduation cap and matching tassel sitting side by side in a convertible and driving into the sunset.

My throat tightens, lashes violently trying to stop the burning in my eyes. The well of emotions is something I immediately want to escape. I fight to shove them down so I don’t fall prey to any others they may unleash.

“Congrats, graduate.” Roman rubs my cheek with the backs of his knuckles, and I swallow, battling still. He plucks the card from my hand and returns it to the envelope. “Read the rest later. When I’m not there.”

I laugh through the threat of tears. “So it is a love letter then if you don’t want me to read it in front of you.”

He holds it up between two fingers for me to take with a look, and I cut the defense mechanism, giving a halfhearted smile.

“Thank you.” I tuck it in my bag as my phone goes off. One quick pulse that makes my eyes clamp shut for a second.

Not needing me to say anything, Roman sobers. The air in the car tenses along with him. “You need to go?”

I check the message from Daniel, ordering me to the house. “Yep. The king’s holding court tonight.”

The reminder of dinner tonight writhes in my stomach. I’ll wear a dress chosen by him, my performance required to uphold all the smoke and mirrors. Sit, eat, and if I can’t speak without being a “disrespectful cunt,” remain silent.

I almost never talk.

“Do you want to run away with me?” I ask Roman, cocking my head.

“Tempting.” He lightens up enough one side of his mouth hooks. Not my favorite smile, but I like this one too. “But if you stopped showing up to classes now, I’d have to take the card back.”

Fair enough.

The sun’s starting to set when he drops me off to walk the last two blocks. I’m already over it, considering a revisit to the abduction strat again. But conflict swims in Roman’s eyes, so I grab the door handle.

“Promise I’ll see you soon?”

“Yeah,” he says, solemn, resigned. “See you soon, Remington.”

Slipping my strap over my shoulder, I walk to the sidewalk. I draw out the trek by stopping to fish my earbuds from the bottom of my bag.