"Do you really think this is a good idea?" I asked, my voice coming out more uncertain than I intended.
Caleb had just walked back into the living room, his easy smile disarming as he carried two glasses of wine. This whole night.. this whole thing.. felt way too normal, way too natural for what was supposed to be just an arrangement.
“You’re overthinking it,” Caleb said, handing me the glass. His fingers brushed mine, and even that tiny touch sent a wave of warmth through me.
I was overthinking it, wasn’t I? But how could I not?
“Relax. It’s just us,” he added with a smirk, dropping onto the couch beside me, his presence somehow filling the entire room.
Just us. If only it were that simple.
I took a sip of the wine, letting the rich taste coat my tongue. But it didn’t help ease the tightening in my chest. Nothing about this was simple anymore. What was supposed to be a straightforward deal.. play the part, keep things professional.. was unraveling faster than I could keep up.
I glanced over at him. He was relaxed, too relaxed, like none of this was affecting him the way it was affecting me. His smile was easy, his movements effortless as he leaned back into the cushions. How could he be so calm when my insides felt like a storm was brewing?
I wanted to ask him, wanted to blurt out .. What is this.. and .. Why does it feel so real?.. But the words got stuck in my throat, tangled up with the fear of what his answer might be. Instead, I forced a smile and tried to play along.
"Right...just us." My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.
I watched him sip his wine, his eyes crinkling in the corners as he smiled at something.. something I didn’t catch, because I was too busy watching him. Too busy trying to figure out how the hell I ended up here again, sitting in his apartment like we were a real couple.. it was funny how I could comfortably visit his apartment now..
Like I wasn’t just pretending.
He turned his head, catching me staring. “What?”
I shook my head quickly. “Nothing. Just... tired.”
He frowned a little, setting his glass down on the coffee table. “Maybe we should call it a night. You’ve been running on fumes lately.”
There it was again, that softness in his voice, the one that made my heart do this ridiculous fluttering thing in my chest. I hated it. I hated how much I liked it.
I leaned back into the couch, clutching the glass a little too tightly. “I’m fine,” I said, a bit sharper than I intended. But I couldn’t help it. The way he was looking at me, like he actually cared, like this was more than just a favor.. It was too much.
His eyes searched mine for a second, and for a moment, I thought he might push it. But he didn’t. Instead, he shifted closer, his leg brushing against mine. A simple touch, but it set my nerves on fire.
“You know,” he said, his voice low, “you don’t have to keep everything bottled up, Sam.”
I blinked, taken aback by the sudden intimacy of the statement. My pulse quickened, and I felt my heart hammer against my chest. His words, his tone.. it was all too much.
“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice almost a whisper.
He turned slightly, his face closer now, and I could feel the heat radiating from him. “I mean, you don’t have to pretend with me. Not when it’s just us.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I could feel my breath quickening. His words, his closeness.. it was all too much. And yet, part of me didn’t want to push him away.
“There’s no us, Caleb. Can you stop saying that?” I said, but my words lacked the conviction I wanted them to have. My voice came out small and weak, betraying the flutter of emotions that were threatening to overwhelm me.
His eyes stayed locked on mine, unwavering. “Is that really what you want, Sam?” His voice was quiet, almost tender. “To pretend like there’s nothing between us?”
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on me. “This...” I gestured between us, my hand shaking slightly, “...is just an arrangement, Caleb.”
“Is it?” he countered, his voice low and gravelly. “Because it sure doesn’t feel like just an arrangement, Sam.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but the sound of the front door slamming shut made me freeze.
"Caleb!" A voice echoed through the apartment, sharp and unmistakably furious.
Monica.
The warmth that had been building between us evaporated instantly. My stomach twisted into knots, and I shot up from the couch, every muscle in my body tensing. What the hell was she doing here?
Before I could process it, she was storming into the living room, her eyes locking onto me like I was some kind of threat.
“What the hell is this?” she spat, her gaze flicking between Caleb and me. “I knew something was going on, but I didn’t think you’d be *this* pathetic.”
Her words hit like daggers, but I stood my ground, my hands tightening into fists by my sides. I wasn’t going to let her see how much her words rattled me. Not again.
Caleb stepped in front of me, his posture stiff. “Monica, you need to leave.”
She ignored him, her eyes fixed on me with a mix of disgust and anger. “I should have known you’d be here, pretending to be something you’re not. What’s the plan, huh? Get him to marry you and take all his money?”
I felt the blood drain from my face. I couldn’t even find the words to defend myself. *Gold digger?* Was that really what she thought this was about?
Caleb took a step forward, his voice cold, harder than I’d ever heard it before. “Monica, stop. You don’t get to come in here and insult her like that.”
Monica’s mouth dropped open in shock, and honestly, so did mine. He...he was defending me?
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Caleb continued, his voice sharp. “Samantha isn’t a gold digger, and she isn’t someone you can just push around.”
I swallowed, my heart hammering in my chest. I wasn’t used to people defending me. Not like this. And definitely not someone like Caleb.
Monica’s face twisted with anger, but there was something else there too. Hurt, maybe. “You’ll regret this,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing before she turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
The silence that followed was deafening. My pulse was still racing, and I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until Caleb turned to face me.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer now, the anger gone.
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I was. I wasn’t sure of anything anymore. Not after what just happened. Not after the way he defended me so fiercely, like I meant something to him.
And that scared me more than Monica’s threats ever could.
“Why...why did you defend me like that?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Caleb looked at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine like he was trying to figure out what to say. But instead of answering, he reached out, his hand brushing mine.
It was just a simple touch, but it felt like so much more.