Page 57 of Maxwell

“Did I misread the type of person you are? I had a certain idea of you, and now I’m wondering...” Her voice trailed off.

“What are you talking about?” Nicholas asked irritably.

“In the car, you implied that dinner was a transaction. Maybe you didn’t mean to come across that way, but that’s the way the words came out.”

“I was frustrated, and people make mistakes when they’re frustrated.”

“Or they say what they really mean when they’re frustrated.”

“You’d rather put out for free? Because that’s fine by me.” The words came out sharp and cutting, and she watched in real time as he realized he had messed up again.

“You really are a jerk, aren’t you?” Though she asked the question, she was simply confirming her own thoughts, and she was disappointed. Why did she have such a hard time reading men? Was it her, or them?

“Jasmine,” Nicholas said in a conciliatory tone, “I didn’t mean to insult or offend you.”

“No worries,” she said in an even voice. “I think we’re both at the point in our relationship where we have to make a decision. Do we want to continue and become exclusive, or end it? We should end it, Nicholas.”

He blinked, gawking at her. “You’re overreacting!”

“No, I’m ending this before it goes any further.”

“Because of a comment I told you I didn’t mean?”

Jasmine adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder. “I’m not angry, I promise I understand. You’re accustomed to things going a certain way, and tonight they didn’t, and the truth came out about your expectations.”

His expression shifted, going from shock to something harder. Anger simmered below the surface, and she genuinely felt sorry for him because the evening hadn’t gone the way he had hoped—nor had their relationship.

“I’m a good man,” he declared. “There are plenty of women who would⁠—”

“I know,” Jasmine interrupted quietly and without malice. “I genuinely hope you find one you can be happy with.”

“So that’s it? You’re dumping me?”

She looked steadily into his eyes. “Yes.”

On paper Nicholas seemed like the right kind of man, but she had found the connection she’d been searching for with someone else. Someone magnetic and exciting and funny and kind.

Maxwell.

She didn’t know if he’d follow through with her challenge, but what she did know was that she couldn’t stay with Nicholas. They weren’t a match. She wasn’t as happy as she knew she could be.

“Unbelievable.” His voice took on an edge. “You know what your problem is? You have no idea what you want.”

She sensed the conversation was about to deteriorate, where one or both of them would say things they might end up regretting. “I do know what I want, but I’m not going to stand here and argue with you. Good night.”

“You’re not all that, and you’re selfish,” he said before she could walk away.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. We’ve been going out for weeks and not once have you offered to pay for a meal. Not once have you bought me something or surprised me. You know what I like. But nah, you think being a pretty woman is enough, so to hell with me and my needs.”

He muttered under his breath and marched off, leaving Jasmine to stare after him with her mouth open.

To her surprise, he doubled back. “One more thing. The sex was mediocre at best. You need to move your hips a little more and make some goddamn noise every once in a while to let a man know if he’s doing a good job or not. Looks can only take you so far, sweetheart. No man wants a cold fish, no matter how pretty she is.”

He left again, but this time he didn’t return.

Jasmine remained frozen in place, heat creeping up her neck as humiliation settled over her—heavy and suffocating. Selfish. Mediocre. The words echoed in her head, each carving a fresh wound.