36. Roman

36

ROMAN

W hen Quinn, her parents, and her history professor had all left, my uncle sat back in his seat, his gaze fixed on the headmaster.

"I'd like to discuss the matter of having Roman's record expunged."

The headmaster exchanged glances with Professor Donnelly. "I'm afraid we cannot possibly?—"

"I've recently come into possession of a Bugatti Veyron." Arlo paused meaningfully. "A Sang Noir. As I'm sure you're aware, only twelve were ever made. I could be persuaded to part with it for an extremely reasonable price."

The headmaster's eyes gleamed. "A Sang Noir, you say?"

I'd heard that Arlo was the best at negotiating deals—part of the reason his company, Alstone Holdings, had grown so rapidly and successfully. Seeing him in action, cutting straight to the point and having clearly researched the one thing the headmaster couldn't refuse, I couldn't help but admire him. His status as one of the elite wasn't only based on his name. He had power, money, and status because he worked fucking hard for it, and he was the best at what he did.

"Indeed. I purchased it at auction at Sotheby's. It's a beautiful piece of machinery. W-16 engine and, of course, the stunning red interior." Arlo produced a tablet from his briefcase, turning it on. He slid it across the table to the headmaster, who flipped through a series of images of the car.

I caught Professor Donnelly's gaze, and he rolled his eyes at me. Yeah, we were both fully aware of what was about to happen.

"I think we can work out a satisfactory deal…" the headmaster began, and my uncle smiled.

Later, after the negotiations were over, I walked to the visitors' car park with my uncle. "Not a bad day's work. It'll be a shame to be parted from the Bugatti, but it's all for a good cause."

"Thanks. Really. Not just for today, but for, y'know. Everything. I don't know how I can repay you. Even before now. The arson, that time you stopped me from getting expelled with the flood, the times I was expelled, and you got me into a different school, the—fuck, every time I managed to get into trouble." My voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't know why you'd do that."

"Don't even mention it. You're family, and that's what we do. I'm here for you, as are your cousins." He clapped me on the shoulder. "Just stay out of trouble, okay? You don't have much time left here."

We came to a stop next to his car. "I will, and I know. I'm ready to get out of here."

"You know, if you're thinking about university, Alstone College isn't a bad place. You'd be accepted there straightaway, as long as you get the grades."

"Alstone, huh? Is that your way of saying you want to keep a closer eye on me?"

Fishing his car key from his pocket, he shot me a grin. "It couldn't hurt, could it?"

"I'll think about it." It was a weird feeling, being wanted by family. Weird, but really fucking good. "My girlfriend's applied for Alstone College, you know."

"I know. History, isn't it? The history department may be small, but it's prestigious."

"Yeah. She's applied for a few different unis, and I just want her to go wherever she'll be happiest."

My uncle stared at me, and then he smiled. "I know your parents would…well, I can't speak for them. But I can speak for myself, as your uncle, and say that I'm proud of you, Roman. You're a good man."

I swallowed around the stupid fucking lump in my throat. "Thanks."

"How did it go with your parents?" I settled back on my elbows on the wooden dock, swirling my feet in the water.

Quinn pushed her sunglasses up on top of her head and then turned to face me. Her lips curved into a gorgeous smile that I had to kiss, because how could I resist my girl when she was so fucking happy and all mine? When I finally managed to drag myself away from her mouth, she smiled even wider. "It went well. They apologised to me. I think…no, I know we've got a lot of work to do, but it felt like a step in the right direction. And I think…maybe, they'll come around about you, too."

"Yeah?"

She nodded before shifting closer to me and resting against my side with her head on my shoulder. "I love you."

I kissed her head. "I love you, too."

We sat in silence for a while, just lazing in the sun, our feet dipping into our lake, no one else around except for the birds and the insects.

It was peaceful, but my mind wouldn't stop working. I straightened up, curling my arm around Quinn's waist. "I'm sorry for saying you should take the journals from the library. I added to everything you had to deal with it."

"That wasn't your fault, Roman. No one forced me to take them. Whatever you'd said to me, I wouldn't have taken them if I hadn't wanted to. It was wrong, and I shouldn't have done it, and that's all on me. Not you. I don't blame you for it."

This girl was way too fucking good for me.

I had to do something to help make things right. "Now all this shit is over with, let's make a plan for me to win your parents over."

Quinn huffed out a laugh. "How are we going to do that?"

"I'll wow them with my natural charm. Wait. I don't have natural charm. Fuck. Maybe I should take some lessons from Tristan."

"Please don't." Tapping her nails against the wood, she thought for a minute. "You could probably charm my mum with compliments. My dad…I don't know. He used to play lacrosse at school, so maybe talk to him about that? Um…maybe future plans?" She grimaced. "Honestly, I just want them to like you for you. Because you're amazing, and I love you."

"Baby. You're so fucking sweet, did you know that?" I kissed her cheek. "Okay. I have an idea. We'll invite them to my next lacrosse game. We're playing Cheltenham, so it should be an easy win. I'll impress them during the match, and after that, we'll take them for lunch at Nottswood Golf & Country Club. Knox and Tristan are members—I'll get them to make us a reservation."

"You're not a member?"

"Fuck no. I don't like golf, and I don't like snobby rich people. I swim when Knox and Tristan go there."

She laughed. "Fair enough. My parents are members of a different country club—my dad's not much of a golfer, either, but I'm sure they'll enjoy the surroundings. I remember going there with P-Penelope's family once. It's a good choice."

"Speaking of Penelope…did you hear what her punishment was?"

"No, what was it?" Straightening up, she turned to me. "I haven't heard anything."

"Tristan found out. Head boy privileges and his ability to sweet-talk the staff. He said he was gonna resign from his head boy position, by the way."

"He is? Why?"

I shrugged. "Dunno. I think he's over all that shit, and I think he feels a bit responsible that he was the head boy and Penelope was the head girl, and he never had any idea that she was behind it all. Will and Katy are gonna be the new head boy and girl for the rest of the term, not that there's much left of it."

"He shouldn't feel responsible. None of us knew. I was her friend. Or I thought I was." She gave me a sad smile.

"Baby, come here." I pulled her into my arms, and she let her body relax into mine with a sigh. "Nothing's ever going to make up for what she did, but I guarantee she'll regret it for the rest of her life. She's been expelled. I could've pressed for criminal charges separately for the spiking incident, but as it is, the plagiarism, tampering with staff equipment, impersonating two other students—all of that shit is enough to make sure she not only gets expelled, but she has no chance at getting into any of the unis she applied for. Even if they don't do a criminal check or whatever, someone might've uploaded the footage from the ball and emailed a link to all the admissions officers at those unis."

"Someone?" I could hear the humour in her voice.

"What are you implying, Quinn?"

"Nothing at all."

I smiled into her hair. "I'd do anything for you. One of the reasons I didn't want to press charges was because I didn't want to drag this shit out. We need to finish this term and then go somewhere far away. Somewhere you can fucking shine without another person trying to bring you down."

"Somewhere with you."

"Yeah. You and me."

I couldn't imagine anything better.