Page 102 of Naive in Love

The next coupleof days go by as normal as they can with Ethan and his friends on high alert. True to his word, Ethan stays at my place at night, Lena and I accommodating him into our daily routines. I especially reveled in having him in my bed each night and waking tangled up with him. Not sure this is exactly what my parents had in mind when they agreed Ethan would walk me to class.

I haven’t had much luck with meeting with a university employee to talk about stalking. This did not bode well with either my dad or Ethan, both knowing his guilt. The problem is, I’m unable to prove it. I learned I need to save everything he does from texts to voicemails.

I’m waitingin the crowded University Center as Mike buys us a couple of coffees while we wait for Ethan to finish his last class. My phone vibrates in my hand. I assume it’s Ethan and smile to myself as I swipe the screen without looking at it.

You look good today. But I don’t think red is your color. You look tense. Meet me later and I can help you relax.

Mike turns around to hand me my coffee and asks, “Are you okay?”

I spin around looking for Caleb. It is not a number I recognize, but I know it’s him. I just can’t prove it. My phone vibrates again, and I look down to see another message.

Looking for me, babe? Lose your bodyguard and come to me. I’m waiting.

He is here and messing with me. He is playing a game I no longer want to be a part of. Once again, the fear of not having control over my life makes my chest tighten.

“Sof? What happened?” Mike crouches to look me in the eyes and secure my attention.

I need to be where Caleb can no longer see me. I grab his hand and pull him toward the front of the building. Mike allows me to lead him without questions until we reach the shuttle area.

“Sof, I have my car. I can take you home if you want.” I hear him, but his words aren’t registering in my mind.

Too many thoughts crowd my brain, not allowing the simplest of phrases to make sense. He takes my hand and begins walking toward one of the parking garages. I see him texting but am too overwhelmed to think much about it.

He gets me back to the apartment, and I walk into my room.

“I’ll be here if you need anything,” Mike calls out to me.

I should answer, but nothing comes out.

I’m staring at the ceiling when I hear the front door open and Mike greeting Ethan.

“What happened?” Ethan’s voice cuts through my thoughts of gloom.

“Don’t know. She was fine. We stopped for coffee at the UC while we waited for you. I turn around to hand her the cup, and she’s ghostly white. She pulled me out of the building, so I brought her home. She’s been in there since.”

“Baby?” Ethan says, walking into the room and sitting on the edge of the bed. “Talk to me. What happened?”

I still have the phone in my hand, and it has vibrated a couple more times, but I chose not to look at it. I hold out the phone to him. His brows come together, but he takes the phone from me.

“Motherfucker!” His exclamation jars me out of my stupor, and I sit up. “I’m gonna fucking kill that motherfucking bastard.”

At Ethan’s outburst, Mike comes into my room and stands at the open door.

“What did he do?”

“He was there watching y’all. He texted her. He’s fucking playing with her.”

I am still having trouble participating in the conversation about me.

“Let him.” Mike says matter-of-factly, shrugging his shoulders. “That’s why he did it. He’s pissed I was with her. You think that asshole would have stayed away from her if I wasn’t there? Fuck no. He would have tried to bully her to talk to him or tried to pull her away again. He’s not going to mess with her if we’re around. He knows better. She’s safe, dude.”

Mike’s right. He would have come up to me if I was alone. He just sent the text because I was with Mike. But what about when I am alone? I can’t have them with me twenty-four seven. Caleb is going to find a way to catch me alone. Thinking about this makes my breathing labored.

I let out a moan of frustration, and they turn to look at me. “I’m going to have to face him at some point. I can’t keep doing this. He’s going to find me.” Panic grips me, and the need to run is overwhelming.

“No, you don’t. He’ll get tired or bored and stay away after a while. This isn’t forever. Just for now. This was the exact reason why we’ve been with you,” Ethan says confidently. I can see the anger he is holding, but his calm, gentle reaction to my statement settles me.

“But I can’t ask y’all to keep escorting me everywhere,” I respond, defeated.

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