The Certainty (Book Four in The Illusion of Certainty Series)

Karma, I Guess

I sat at my desk, my knees drawn up to my chest as I edited the essay that was due in Advanced Comp on Monday. I had my messenger up and was sending Sophie sporadic messages as I worked on my homework. Her last message was I saw the flowers you gave M.

I smiled and sent back. What can I say? I missed her.

Come on. Tell me where you got them.

I think you already know.

Aidan.

You are so perceptive.

What did the card say? Flowers come with cards right?

Has my brother been slacking in his boyfriend duties?

Gee.

Nothing I didn’t already know.

He wants you back.

He wants a lot of things.

You’re not going to give him another chance?

No. I’m with Michael.

I went back to my essay about the historic duchess I was named after when Sophie replied. I clicked back over.

When was the last time you talked to Michael?

I smiled at that one.

Last night.

What does he say about it?

Well considering I’m dating him, what do you think he said?

He asked you to stay away from him?

Bull’s eye.

Are you going to do it?

As much as I can. I didn’t want to be around him before hand.

Can’t you just be friends?

NO.

I set myself to invisible after that and went back to my essay. There was no way I could ever be friends with Aidan again. My brain couldn’t even process the possibility anymore. Not after what happened the night before.

An instant message box popped up in the bottom corner of my screen.

What are you doing?

I looked at the name and rolled my eyes: aidanhanover@ledford.edu.

Leave me alone.

I closed the message box and went back to reading my essay. A new message box popped open. Same sender.

Talk to me, Vertigo.

I ignored the message and just tried to concentrate on my essay. But after five consecutive dings I brought the text box back up.

You can’t ignore me forever.

He’d made the computer bing the rest of the time by sending just punctuation marks.

What the hell do you want, Aidan? I have a nine page essay I have to edit.

I can’t stop thinking about our kiss.

I stared at that message. Ugh, why wouldn’t he just leave me alone?

Try. I sent back.

I have. But it keeps playing in my head.

Try harder.

I’ve done everything I can think of. I even sketched it out. But it’s not going away.