Page 68 of Didn't See That Coming

I give a cry of frustration, burying my face in both hands. There is no way out. I would give everything to be able to have a heart-to-heart with Liam in person, but I know he’s going to be furious, and I can’t stomach the thought of it. First things first: I need to end things with Jonas. Then I can focus on Liam. But before that, I need to buy myself some time. I can’t have Liam telling me his feelings in person, not before I get rid of Jonas.

I lean forward, my hands hovering above the keyboard. After a shaky breath, I start typing, and each letter fights back, as though my keyboard were battling this message. I will myself to keep going despite the anguish that every click brings.

Dudebro10:Yeah bro, I don’t think you should bring it up with her

Sourdawg:Yeah. I think I just got a bit carried away there

Dudebro10:Yeah, and if she were into you, I think she’d say. Sorry, just being real

Sourdawg:You think so? We’ve been having rly great conversations, though

Dudebro10:Well, they were probably great because she sees you as a friend

Sourdawg:Huh. I guess so…

Sourdawg:Good thing I got you to talk some sense into me, huh? Lol! I would’ve made such a fool of myself

Dudebro10:Haha, np

For a few moments, I can’t type because tears have blurred my vision. I swipe an arm across my face savagely, wiping them off, before typing out a quick “GTG, TTYL!” I slam my laptop screen shut and flop onto my bed, burying my face in my duvet. I wish I could burn the events of the day from my memory. One thing is clear: I need to break things off with Jonas, and I need to do it fast.

“Looking good as usual, my queen,” Jonas says as I slide inside his Aston Martin on Monday morning.

“Do you just memorize cheesy pickup lines from rappers or something?”

He grins at me and puts the car into gear. “I’m just saying, you’re looking fine.”

I close my eyes for a second. Deep breaths, Kiki. Stay calm. “Anyway, I don’t think things are working out between us.”

Jonas doesn’t even spare me a glance as he joins the traffic.

“Did you hear me, Jonas? I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

He gives me a look.

“What?” I feel strangely defensive. Jonas just has that effect on me.

“I don’t think you’ve given us a fair chance. I’ve been nothing but nice to you. I even invited you to my yacht!”

Oh lord. I resist the almost overwhelming urge to roll my eyes. Can this dude be any more obnoxious? I mean, seriously, his big plea to show his sincerity is the fact that he let my peasant ass on his ridiculous yacht? It’s a fight to keep my voice even as I respond. “Well, I really appreciate that, Jonas, but I just don’t feel any chemistry between us, do you?” Before he can answer, I quickly add, “And there are so many better candidates than me who are just dying to date you.”

Jonas groans. “Yeah, that’s exactly the problem. They’re dying to get with me. Do you know how tiresome that is?”

Poor little rich boy,I want to snap, but by some superhuman effort, I manage to keep my mouth shut.

“The last girl I dated had about as much personality as Siri.” He snorts, turning the wheel and going around a corner. “I would be, like, ‘Where do you wanna go for dinner?’ and she’d be, like, ‘I want to go wherever you want to go.’ I’d ask, ‘What do you wanna do on Saturday?’ and she’d go, ‘Whatever you want to do.’ ” He rolls his eyes.

I sigh. “Okay, that does sound tiring. But you realize it was probably because she liked you so much that she wanted to please you?”

“Yeah, but it’s boring. They’re all like that.”

I bristle at that. “Yes, yes, all girls are the same. There is no space for individualism in your misogynistic perception of the female species.” I should stop talking; none of this is going to get through to him.

“No, it’s just that the ones I keep dating seem to only want to be with me because of my money or my family name.”

“Yeah, because that’s all you offer!” I snap.

Jonas’s mouth parts slightly, but he doesn’t say anything. He looks stunned.

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