“Are you going to tell me why you’re so mad?” I ask as calmly as possible, not wanting to attract attention.
“You have to ask?”
“Yes. Why are you mad?”
“What the fuck is this about?” He pulls his phone from his pocket, opens up the photos, and shows me a picture of Ethan and I dancing at Leslie’s party. My mouth drops at the sight of the picture. Ethan and I look like a couple, his hands grasping my hips securely, my hands on his chest, as we stare at each other. I remember the feeling when we were dancing, like there was no one around. The picture captured the moment exactly as I felt it.
Confused, I ask, “Where did you get that picture?”
“Really, Sophia, you are going to ask where I got the picture, not explain the damn thing? It’s over. I willnotbe made a fool of!” His voice increases with each word. He turns around and begins walking away.
I move quickly to stop him, panicking, “Please stop! Let me explain. Nothing happened between us. We were at a party dancing. That’s it. I didn’t do anything.” Caleb stops walking, standing in place with his back to me as I hold his hand. “Please look at me,” I plead. “Ethan is a friend. That’s it. Nothing except dancing happened between us.” The thought of losing Caleb is freaking me out.
He slowly turns around to face me, his jaw clenched, and neck muscles strained.
“He is a friend. I swear. We were only dancing.”
He loosens the hand I’m holding. “I feel like a jackass. I’m here, and my girl is all over another guy at a party.”
“I’m with you. How many times do I need to remind you? I’m. With. You. I love you.” I place my hands on his strong chest, sliding them up to his shoulders, waiting to see if he will respond.
He takes a deep breath in, holding it a second before releasing it, long and slow. He finally looks down at me, his eyes softer. “I love you too. That’s why I’m so mad. I was hurt you were with someone else, especially when you know I don’t like you to be with other guys.”
“I’m sorry. I really am. We were only dancing, and they caught us at a weird moment, I guess.”
“Where were you?”
“A friend of mine had a party on her parents’ land.”
“Who did you go with?”
“Paige and Briana.”
“So why are people asking if you are with Ethan?” I look at him confused. I still don’t know where the picture came from. How could he know that Ethan and I were the talk this weekend?
“I really don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Someone posted this and asked if you and Ethan are the new couple.”
What the hell! I can’t believe people are so fucking interested in my relationship with Ethan.
“It seems like a lot of girls are interested in him, and since he was hanging out with Paige, Briana, and me at the party, and I danced with him, girls got jealous.” I think that covers it sufficiently to keep Caleb from disliking him. “I left my phone at home this morning. I was running late and ran out the door. I haven’t seen the post. I’m sorry.”
He doesn’t say anything, just wraps his arms around me, pulling me close and kissing the top of my head. “Looks like you missed class, baby. How about we go back to your place, just you and, me and spend some time together?”
“I’d like that.” I pull his shirt bringing him closer to place a soft kiss on his lips.
After Caleb leaves,I look to see what was posted. Sure enough, there is the picture of Ethan and I with the question,Is Sophia Ethan’s new hook up?This was from an anonymous rumor mill account that I never in a million years thought would be interested in me. Thankfully Paige saw it early this morning and posted,We are all friends with Ethan. And?I adore her boldness, and everyone who knows her knows you don’t mess with her. Which is probably why hers is the only comment. I am glad she posted before anyone else could.
Ethan texted me apologizing for the picture, especially if it had caused a fight between me and Caleb.
* * *
Ethan answersthe door in workout shorts and a black muscle shirt, barefoot with his signature perfect five o’clock shadow. He has a couple of tattoos covering his right upper arm—a large tribal-looking band around his bicep and vines strangling a heart. There is also another on his left chest and shoulder area, but his shirt is covering the majority of it.
“Come on in. It’s cold out there,” he tells Lena and I. “The pizza just got here.”
We step inside, and I am in awe of his house. This is not the typical run-down college house or even a bachelor pad. It is clean, decorated nicely in shades of tan and mocha with splashes of color in the accessories. His drummer, Mike, and lead singer, Jake, are in the living room with plates, pizza boxes, and drinks scattered across the coffee table.