Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 238

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Cole was trying to flirt, and I could totally play dumb and Ignore him, but meeting Thorsten couldn't wait.

Still, him texting this late wasn't a great sign. If I replied now, he might use it as an excuse to ask for something else. And if I said no, he could use it as an excuse to back out of our deal to meet his dad. The best move? Do what I did last night and just leave him on read.

I tuned back into my conversation with Lena, who was saying something I'd obviously missed because now she was asking. "So you two made it official and that's it? No next steps?"

"What next steps?" I asked, still half-distracted by Cole's texts.

"What do you think I mean? The next step in a relationship. Obviously, I'm talking about that," Lena said, her voice dripping with mischief.

I caught en immediately. "Hayden's a gentleman, okay?"

"Gentleman or not, he's still human, isn't he? He's gotta have desires. Or is he just not interested st

population crisis?" Lena shot back. Then she sighed and said, remember, Jace

went silent. She must've realized she'd hit a nerve because she quickly added, "I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to say, when people are in love, there's this rush of dopamine. It boosts adrenaline and makes them crave, um, physical closeness." She was using her knowledge to break down love, adding, "Basically, if a guy really loves you, he'll feel that urge to be with you, physically. If he doesn't, or if he can hold back without a problem, then there's a good chance he's just not that into you." I thought back to all those years with Jace. To everyone else, we were basically a couple, but the closest we ever got was holding hands or those awkward side hugs-except for that one time we made out, right before Tanya called and totally ruined it. It

he was just being respectful, like some kind of modern-day knight or whatever. Sometimes, I'd even

now, after Lena's little analysis, I realized: he just didn't love

once that he wasn't interested in me like that because we

to you? Or does he just not want to let you

we'd stood there at my door, wrapped up in each

course he does. But he's, like, respectful. He keeps things, you know, appropriate," I said, trying

scoffed. "If a guy's really into you, like really loves you, he'd want to merge with you or something, make you a

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walked further into the kitchen, grabbed a glass of

I don't want you to miss out

on my water. "Wait, so you

rolled my eyes, even though she couldn't see it. "Why can't I just have a pure, genuine relationship? Why

saying." Lena said, sighing. "It's just, a guy like Hayden isn't going to stay single forever. If you don't

realized she was so invested in my