💌 HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN TEN HATE-TEXTS

CHAPTER 11: THE GHOSTING

 PART 4: THE FINAL SHOWDOWN

Rule #6: No feelings. (Failed.)

I didn’t go to school on Friday.

Or answer my phone.

Or change out of my sweatpants.

My best friend, Lena, broke into my house with a bag of tacos and a glare. "Okay, drama queen. Talk."

I pulled my blanket over my head. "Go away."

"Nope." She yanked the covers off. "Asher’s been blowing up my phone. The guy’s panicking."

"Good."

"June." She sat on my bed. "Do you like him?"

I groaned into my pillow. "I don’t know."

Liar.

The truth? That kiss ruined me. The way his hands cradled my face like I was something precious. The soft noise he made when I bit his lip. The way he smelled—like mint and stupid, expensive cologne.

Ugh.

Lena tossed me my boots. "Get up. We’re going to the dance."

"Hell no."

"Hell yes." She smirked. "If you’re gonna dump his ass, do it publicly."

...

Fine.

CHAPTER 12: THE SHOWDOWN

The gym was a winter wonderland nightmare.

Fake snow. Twinkly lights. A giant ice sculpture that looked suspiciously like a middle finger.

And Asher, standing near the DJ booth, scanning the crowd like a man possessed.

I turned to leave—

"Juniper Vega."

His voice cracked across the room. People stared. My traitorous heart stuttered.

He looked wrecked. Hair messy. Tie loose. Dark circles under his eyes.

Good.

"We need to talk," he said, stepping closer.

"Nothing to talk about." I crossed my arms. "Bet’s over. You won."

"I lost," he growled. "The second you walked away."

The music faded. The crowd melted. It was just us, standing in the middle of a disaster we created.

"You lied," I whispered.

"So did you." His hand brushed mine. "Tell me you didn’t feel anything in that closet."

I swallowed. "It was part of the game."

"Bullshit." He stepped closer. "You kissed me like you meant it."

"I kiss everyone like that."

He laughed—sharp and disbelieving. "Liar."

Then he cupped my face and kissed me.

For real this time.

No audience. No dare. Just Asher Cole, kissing me like I was oxygen and he’d been drowning.

And God help me—I kissed him back.

The gym erupted. Whistles. Cheers. Someone yelled, "ABOUT DAMN TIME!"

I pulled away, gasping. "You’re such an idiot."

He rested his forehead against mine. "Your idiot."

Ugh.

I was so screwed.

CHAPTER 13: THE TRUTH

We hid on the rooftop—away from prying eyes.

"So," I said, kicking a pebble. "When did you know?"

"Know what?"

"That you... you know."

He smirked. "When you threatened to duct-tape me to a bus. Kinky."

I shoved him. "Be serious."

"Fine." He caught my hand. "That day in the cafeteria. When you bit the fry."

"That’s it?"

"You looked feral." He grinned. "I was obsessed."

I rolled my eyes. "You’re ridiculous."

"And you’re stuck with me." He pressed a kiss to my knuckles. "Deal?"

I sighed. "Deal."

 Part 1 of this story

Other Stories from cleenTeenStories

 Fake Date, Real Trouble

📌 Synopsis 

When Callie Reyes gets caught in a lie about dating her school's golden boy, she’s forced to ask him to play along—or risk total social doom. But fake dating Miles Carter comes with one condition: no real feelings, and definitely no kissing. Too bad her heart didn’t get the memo.

Chapter 1

Or Read 

 Married by 9, Divorced by 5

🔥 SYNOPSIS:

When feminist assistant Lila Iyer is forced into a fake marriage with her billionaire boss Bentley Ryder to save his reputation, they agree: no feelings, no drama, just business. But when exes, secrets, and unexpected kisses get in the way, their pretend marriage starts feeling a little too real.

💘 TROPES:
✔ Fake Marriage
✔ Billionaire Boss x Assistant
✔ Enemies-to-Lovers (kind of)
✔ Slow Burn Romance

📌 Think: The Proposal meets Crazy Rich Asians — with a spicy dash of feminist sass and billionaire charm.

 

 

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