Page 81 of Naive in Love

As soon aswe all walk into my apartment, Paige starts throwing out a million questions in a single breath. I am taken aback and unsure what to answer first. Everyone takes a seat around the living room and turns their attention to me, waiting for answers.

"Hmmm…well…y’all pretty much know everything. And some I need for me. But to answer a couple, yes, Ethan and I are together. There was so much miscommunication. Well, not so much miscommunication, but just not communicating…at all. Fear took over us. Different reasons, of course. And the rest is for him and me. But I do want to thank y’all."

"For?" Paige asks quickly just as Bree says, "Why?"

"For being my friends through the mess.” My lips turn down into a disgusted frown. "I even turned into the girl I always said I would never be. The one that lived the life of drama." I drop my head into my hands, embarrassed to admit it.

"Oh, please, we all get sucked into drama because of guys." Paige quips. "The key is learning not to stay in it." She gives me a genuine smile when I peek my head up.

21

Ethanand I enjoy a lazy Sunday morning with our friends at our apartment—eating, lounging, and watching TV. The ease and comfort that we feel around each other comes naturally. This is what it has always been like when we are together.

Once the afternoon comes around, everyone begins to leave for their drives home. Lena goes to the library to meet a study group, and Ethan goes home to pick up clothes and his backpack for tomorrow's classes. I am sitting in the middle of my bed, organizing everything I need for a paper I have yet to start and is due soon. A knock at the door surprises me. I wonder how Ethan made it back so quickly.

I swing the door open saying, "That was—" Caleb is in front of me with a scowl.

"Expecting someone else?" he sneers.

I’m dazed, frozen in place. "What are you doing here?" I manage to croak out.

"We have to talk." He states matter-of-factly, pushing me aside and stepping into the living room. I turn around, watching him make his way in and comfortably take a seat on the couch.

"Are you gonna close the door?"

I am at a loss for words, dumbfounded by his extreme arrogance thinking he can waltz in and command me.

"We don't have anything to talk about. I was in the middle of a paper. So please leave?" I continue standing at the open door.

"I told you last night we had to talk. You’re avoiding me, and that's not fair to me. You haven't even given me a chance to explain what happened. I deserve more than that. We had something really good," he responds, his demeanor softening.

It’s getting cold standing in the open doorway, so I hesitantly close it. I walk to the side chair and lean against the armrest, not able to relax with him in my living room.

I have nothing to say to him, so I spur him to continue. "You want to talk? I'm waiting."

"Aren't you going to sit down?" He pats the sofa next to him.

I shake my head back and forth, frowning.

"Why not? We’re talking." His frustration is growing, but he’s controlling it, which makes me anxious. I sit on the edge of the chair, leaning my elbows on my thighs, hoping it will calm the situation. If Caleb's mood starts swinging back and forth quickly, it would not be good. I glance at the clock in the kitchen, dreading yet hoping that Ethan will be back soon.

"Look, Caleb. I'm listening. If you have something to say, then I'm all ears. If we are just going to watch each other silently, then I have a paper to get to." I want him to begin so I can hurry and tell him we are still over, and he can leave before Ethan returns.

"What's the hurry?" he stalls.

"I told you already. I’m in the middle of a paper," I huff.

"Fine. What do you want to hear? That I’m sorry. I am… I really am. I’ve told you a million times already. I wouldn't be here if I didn't give a shit about us. If she meant anything to me, I would be with her. But I'm not. I'm here begging you to listen to me. I’m begging you. I love you." His tone is so full of emotion, I could almost believe him.

"I don't know what you want to hear from me. I can't go through that again. My mind hasn't changed," I respond carefully.

"But… you wouldn't go through that again. I would never do that to you again. It was just that once, and I was confused. Emily had been after me for so long, and I fell for it. But I know now. Hurting us is not worth a sloppy piece of ass.”

Not that I feel sorry for her, but the degrading way he speaks of Emily is just…wrong.

“I can’t. I can’t trust you. What I saw is burned into my brain.”

“But as time passes, you’ll see that I’m being honest.” He gets up and moves closer, sitting on the coffee table in front of me. He reaches for my hands, which are clasped together on my knees. I pull them close to my body, sitting up straight and pushing myself back into the chair, putting space between us. He lifts a brow as he narrows his eyes at me.

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