Page 82 of Naive in Love

“I can’t even hold your hands. Really? What the hell, Sof. You aren’t even giving us a chance. You’re doing this to us.” His voice remains level, but the strain in the muscles of his neck tells a different story.

“I’m doing this to us?” I point at myself. “Are you serious? I wasn’t the one in bed fucking Emily!” My frustration boils over when he tries to manipulate the situation again. I try to stand, but he grabs my shoulders and forcefully pushes me back down in the chair.

“Why can’t we talk? Why are you so adamant on send me packing? What about forgiveness? I would think Miss Catholic School Girl would want to forgive someone important to her.” Fear courses through my body. He glares at me, placing his hands on the armrest, closing me in. “You said you loved me.”

I said those words, and at the time I believed them, but I know better now. So much has happened and changed. I made mistakes, but I also learned a lot of lessons. I scramble for something to say that will defuse and end this conversation.

"I know I did. And at the time I meant it…but…I can't go back. I need to move on from that night." I shake my head, frowning. I keep the discussion focused on us.

He sits back down on the table in front of me, giving me space.

"Please understand, I need to move on. Right now…I need space."

He drops his head into his hands, just as someone begins opening the door.

Panic grips me. I watch as the door opens, not able to do anything but wait for fireworks. Lena pauses at the open door when she sees Caleb sitting in front of me. He has not bothered to look up, so she gives me a silentWhat's going on. I return it with a silent plea forhelp.

"Sooo…" Lena begins, and Caleb looks up. "I think it's about time for you to go home. Thanks for stopping by." She plasters on a fake smile.

Caleb glares at her but gets up and walks to the open door she is holding. He stops and turns around. “We’re not over. I’ll prove to you that we belong together.”

Lena closes the door behind him, then turns and raises her eyebrows at me.

“I don’t know. He just came over. A knock on the door, I opened it, and there he was. He wouldn’t leave. I asked, and he kept trying to get me to forgive him. To get back together with him. It’s absurd. I don’t understand what game he’s playing.” I spill it all in one breath.

The tension of the past few minutes begins to melt, and my eyes begin to water. I am able to identify the fear I usually felt with Caleb. The worry I constantly carried because of his reactions to situations was not healthy.

“Wha…Uh…wait.” She stumbles over words. “He wants to get back together?”

I nod my head. “Yup. Freaking insane.”

The front door opens, and Ethan walks in asking, “Was that Caleb driving off?”

I nod, not able to speak because the tears have started to flow.

“Baby girl.” He comes to me and sits on the coffee table. The urge to be safely tucked in his arms is overwhelming. I stand up and sit in his lap, wrapping my arms around him and tucking my head in the crook of his neck. He holds me for a few seconds, then stands up with me in his arms and walks us into my room.

He places me down on the edge of the bed then closes my computer and collects all the papers I have scattered. He places everything neatly on my desk before positioning himself on the bed, sitting against the wall. I watch him, knowing I need to tell him exactly what happened while he was gone, but before I can organize my thoughts to begin, he asks, "Is there anything I should be worried about?"

His question pierces me. He still doubts us and where we stand. I crawl over to him, straddling his legs and holding his face in both of my hands, "You have absolutely nothing to be worried about. I meant what I said last night. It’s you and me."

His lips pull out slightly as relief spreads through his rigid body. My hands slide back to tangle in his hair as I place my forehead to his.

He brushes his lips against mine ever so gently. "Then why was Caleb leaving?"

“He came over wanting to get back together.”

“He wants you back?” he asks.

“That’s what he said. I don’t know why?”

“Maybe because he just realized what he gave up. Because he’s a jackass. Because…shit, I don’t know. But I’m not giving you up. You know that right?”

I meet his lips with my own. He slides his tongue slowly, sensually across my lips, and I open, letting our tongues dance. I need him more than I need my next breath. I feel his erection growing through his jeans and my tight yoga pants. He tightens his hold on me, crushing my chest to his, one hand cupping my ass and the other holding my neck. The feel of him under me is intoxicating. A moan escapes my lips as I rock my hips, grinding into him. Suddenly, he releases me and pushes me back, separating us.

“I’m sorry,” he says through heavy breaths.

“What did I do?” I panic and want to hide.

---