Page 77 of Naive in Love

“Stay the fuck away from her!” Preston roars. I bury my head in Josh’s neck, feeling his arms tighten around me. Caleb’s voice brings back so many bad memories.

“Back the fuck up. Take care of your own fucking girlfriend and let me talk to mine.” Caleb says coolly, with a superior, confident quality.

His girlfriend? I’m not his.

“Let’s go,” Bree says.

Josh lets me go and pushes me back so he can stand.

I refuse to turn around until I hear Ethan’s voice. “I’m going to say this once, so it would behoove you to listen carefully.” He says it evenly, with confidence but also venom.

Caleb stands a few steps away from where I am, and Ethan is on the opposite side of the table, near Preston. The girls are at the end of the table closest to me.

“Leave Sophia alone. Plain and simple,” Ethan finishes.

“And again, pretty boy, she’s not yours. She’s mine. And this has nothing to do with you.” He faces me. “Let’s go. Now.”

I feel Josh move behind me, and this makes me snap, scared something more severe will happen. I move forward, placing my hands on Caleb’s chest, pushing him backward away from Josh. I watch as a smug, smirk appears on his face. He thinks I am going with him, the cocky son of a bitch.

“Leave! Now!”

His smirk instantly turns angry, and he grabs my upper arm to drag me away.

“We’re talking now.” Caleb grips my arm tighter.

I turn to look at my friends and see Ethan take large strides toward us. I tense, trying to pull away, not knowing how this is going to turn out.

Ethan stops in front of Caleb. “Let. Her. Go,” he says through clenched teeth.

Caleb releases my arm and turns to face Ethan. They size each other up.

Without looking at me, Ethan says, “Go with Lena.” I’m watching them nervously, blaming myself, and unable to move. “Now. Please.”

I walk backward, not taking my eyes off them, guiding myself along the table until I feel the corner.

“I suggest you walk out of here,” Ethan commands.

“Nah, I’m thirsty. I need a drink. I knew my girl would be here, and I need to watch over her,” Caleb taunts, nodding in my direction.

“You don’t have a girl here. Get the fuck out.” Ethan’s jaw muscles twitch from the pressure.

“I’m staying.” I wonder what game Caleb is playing. “I need to make sure my girl stops whoring herself out to get back at me.” He looks at me and winks with a smirk.

So many things happen simultaneously, but all of them seem to happen in slow motion. My stomach revolts at the thought of him thinking he has control over me. Preston and Josh make their way to Caleb and Ethan. Ethan’s fist comes up and makes contact with Caleb’s face. Caleb’s head sways to the side, making him lose his balance, but he catches himself on the wall.

“Don’t ever call Sophia that again!” The hardened rage that is consuming Ethan at this moment is terrifying. Preston and Josh get to Ethan and stand at his side.

Caleb stands up straight, looks at the guys, clearly outnumbered, and storms away. Ethan continues to watch him until he walks out.

Something about this moment, Ethan always being there when I need him the most, has the pieces falling into place. He cares. From the moment I met him, he has been trying to protect me. All he has ever been is protective. I don’t understand why he chose to walk away, but now I intend to find out.

Ethan turns around and looks at me with a haunted, worried expression marring his face. I immediately go to him, scared to death he may reject me but needing him. I wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his chest. How blind and self-absorbed I have been. I feel his arms tighten around me. One hand lands on the small of my back and the other under my hair, clutching my neck. He lays his head on top of mine.

“I’m sorry for causing a scene,” he whispers.

I should be the one apologizing. I brought the jerk into our lives. I try and pull back to look at him, but his grip on me tightens, so I mumble, “I’m the one who should be sorry. Not you.”

He loosens his grip, and he pulls back, looking down at me.

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