Page 32 of Naive in Love

He leans over, pulling my hands away and holding them. “Don’t be sorry. Seriously, it shook me. I was pissed, so I told her and her mom to leave. I went to a friend’s and got shitfaced. I passed out sometime that evening on his couch. When I woke up, I heard his girlfriend and another one of her friends talking about me. I froze, wanting to know what they were going to say. They started talking about a rumor about the girl hooking me by getting pregnant on purpose. They were jealous because she would be set for life because I was a Hayes.”

My eyes pop wide open. “Oh my god!” shoots out of my mouth. My mind races with all the information, then I ask, “So…you’re…a dad?”

He slowly licks his lips before continuing. “No, she had a miscarriage soon after. I was relieved she lost it, but then felt bad for feeling that way. I hated her. I hated that she made me question everyone’s intentions. That experience changed everything. I was furious at myself for not taking my life or my name seriously. Before that I despised my name and what it represented. Now I want to show my family I am worthy of my inheritance.” He pauses. “But I still want to do it on my terms.”

His cocky smile melts me in ways I cannot describe.

I crawl to him sitting on his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck and whisper in his ear, “You’re a good guy. And you are worthy.”

He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer. I place my head on his shoulder and we stay like this for a couple of minutes before I lean back to look at him. The way he looks at me makes my stomach to tie in knots.

He leans in, and I think he is about to kiss me. My heart races…and he places a quick kiss on my nose.

“What do you want to watch?” he asks.

Sighing as my ego deflates, I answer, “Whatever you want.”

I am so stupid! My mind races with the new information. Of course he wants to hang out with me. I am safe. I am, literally, a friend.

He scrolls through the options before stopping on a horror movie. I sit on the opposite side of the couch from him, but about halfway through the movie, I find myself leaning on him with his arm around me.

I am wokenup by my phone chiming. We fell asleep on the couch, and he is holding me tightly. He stirs behind me when my phone chimes again. I pick it up and am surprised at the time and the fact that my mom is texting me. It is after three in the morning. I send her a quick text.

“We fell asleep. I’m sorry to wake you up, but can you drive me home?” I try to sit up, but he flexes his arm holding me.

“Slow down,” he says in a calm voice. “Yes, of course, I will take you home.” He pulls me closer, holding me for a minute before letting go.

On the drive to my house I say, “I’m sorry for falling asleep and making you drive me home so late.”

“No worries. We both fell asleep. It just shows how comfortable we are with one another. I love being with you.”

* * *

Lenaand I are back at the apartment, sharing stories from our time at home. I tell her about Ethan and all the talk our being together started.

“Duh, have you not seen how gorgeous he is? I’m sure all those skanks wanted a piece of him, and they were pissed that he only has eyes for you.”

I roll my eyes. “He does not have eyes for me. He thinks of me as a friend. Hello, like a little sister. Those skanks can have him.” My shoulders sag. “I may want him, but I will never get him because I’m the friend!” My eyes shoot open at my raw honesty, admitting I want Ethan. “Shit!” I drop my head in my hands mumbling a few more choice words under my breath.

“I knew it. I knew you liked him. Are you just now realizing that you do?” She smirks.

I shake my head and slowly look back up at her. “Yes. No. I don’t know. When I am alone with Caleb, I want him, and everything is great, but then when I am with Ethan, I want Ethan. It’s so easy being with Ethan. No drama. No fights. But the reason we don’t fight is because we’re friends. We’re not romantically involved to fight the way Caleb and I do.”

She frowns. “Because you’re in a relationship, that’s why y’all fight? Really? Most couples have a honeymoon period where it’s all rainbows and unicorns because it’s new and exciting.” She pauses, then adds, “And… Ethan does want you as more than a friend.”

“No, he doesn’t. He has made it perfectly clear that we are friends. And that’s ok. I would rather have him as a friend than not at all.”

“You don’t see the way he looks at you when you aren’t looking. It’s like he’s mesmerized by you. I would bet anything he wants you.” We sit quietly for a couple of minutes before she begins again. “So did you see Preston while you were at home?”

“Yes, I was waiting for you to ask me about him.”

10

Caleb givesme a quick peck before taking his seat in class. He does not talk to me during class, even when I ask him a question. Then when I try to grab his hand, his arm stiffens, and he pulls it away. Class ends, and he waits for me to collect my things before dragging me out of the room and hiding us in an empty corner.

I glare at him, spouting off, “What!?”

“Don’t start with me right now, Sophia! I’m not in the mood for your shit!” He is seething, but the words are quiet.

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