Let me love you

Chapter 49

I haven't walked this fast in my life before. I can feel the force of the air against my body as I sharply turn the corner. 

Finally, the lecture is over! That old man was just chatting shit for 3 hours with only one 10-minute break. 

"Ian, can we talk?"

I stand still as I hear his voice, and I thought that this day couldn't get any shittier.

"Jacob, what an unpleasant surprise, " I turn to face him, so not ready for any more bullshit with him.

"Tell me about it, " he lifts an eyebrow.

"Just get this over with, I don't have all day, " I say, shoving my fists in the pockets of my jacket.

"Not here, why don't we go grab a coffee, we have quite a few things to talk about, " he moves closer to me not once breaking eye contact with me.

He's a brave motherfucker, I'll give him that.

I look at the time on my phone, it's already past 3 pm my father would be home by now and expecting me soon. I really want to know though what this asshole has to say to me so fuck it!

"Lead the way, " I say, motioning with my hands.

It doesn't even take us 10 minutes to reach a coffee shop. After we get our drinks, we move to a table in the back corner which is quieter and more private.

"So, I'm listening and make it quick, I don't have much time to waste, " I say before taking a sip of my coffee.

"I do owe you an apology for how I acted that night, so I'm sorry. I was just hurt and upset, it hadn't been long since Chloe left me heartbroken and to then find out that all of a sudden you guys are dating wasn't easy, but you wouldn't know that would you? That with the mixture of alcohol as well wasn't a great combination, " he says, tapping his finger on the table.

"Is that all?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. 

"I was hostile with you from the beginning not because I thought you were competition but because you looked like the type of person that would hurt Chloe. You seemed like an asshole in my eyes. The more though Chloe kept bringing you along the more I got sceptical about what your intentions were with her, and I started feeling threatened. Evidently now, I had a good reason, " he takes another sip of his coffee before pausing.

He looks like he just remembered something important to say. I can almost see the light bulb go on in his head.

"You know, Chloe is not exactly innocent on this either, " he starts saying.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows. 

His words got me completely off guard.

"Even though I'm pretty sure Chloe has known for a long time now that I like her, she never said anything. She never pulled me to the side and tell me there's no chance of anything happening between us and that we're just friends for example. She has been giving me mixed signals instead, " he leans forward, placing both elbows on the table.

"She never once pushed me away from sitting next to her and putting an arm around her. She never complained about dancing a little bit too close on nights out. She never had a problem kissing me in a game. She never once said she felt uncomfortable snuggling up to me on movie nights. She's even still wearing the bracelet I gave her for Christmas. The cherry on top of course is the double kiss she gave me after she said she didn't like me that way, " he wets his lips before drinking his beverage, letting me take everything in.

I don't know what game Jacob is playing by telling me all this. Chloe didn't mention anything like this when she talked with him yesterday, meaning he didn't share these thoughts with her so, why do it with me?

"Now let me ask you, Ian, why would she kiss me twice right after telling me she doesn't see me the same way I do? Why would she say that if it wasn't for you she might have given me a chance if she didn't like me that way at all?"

I lean back on the chair, letting my hand linger on the semi-empty cup as I try to hide the emotion from my face. I don't want him to feel satisfied.

His questions shock me, honestly.

"I don't know. Why didn't you ask her yesterday? Why tell me these things and not her? They concern her not me, " I shrug my shoulders.

"You see what I think is that Chloe does like me, it's just that she likes you a little bit more and that's why she pushed me away, " he says.

"Look, I can't say I'm happy for Chloe and you for obvious reasons. I won't actively try to get in between you two but know that I do still like her very much. I can't just shut my feelings down. I do wish you guys the best though; I don't want to come off as a complete asshole. I'll even give you some advice, don't rush anything with her if she doesn't know for sure what she's feeling," he smiles and stands up.

"Have a nice day Ian and talk to her, " he says before leaving me sitting there alone.

As much as I hate to say it, some of the things that he said actually made sense. Why didn't she shut him down earlier?

If I go back to the first conversation, we had about Jacob she had said that she'll go out with him if she didn't like anyone else. So, does she like him even just a little bit?

I'm actually glad that I had this talk with him, and I'll speak to Chloe once I get back. I need to know what is it that she's feeling exactly for Jacob and me. 

I just hope that this conversation doesn't end up in an argument because I have enough of those already with my father. I check my phone to see 13 missed calls from him. I should've been home 30 minutes ago, but I'll just say that the bus was late.

I stand up and throw my cup in the bin before exiting the coffee shop and start heading towards the hell hole. 

Let's see how both of these talks will go today.

A/N

Well, I guess he apologised right?

Do you think Chloe fancies Jacob even just a little bit?

Do you think the talk between Chloe and Ian will go well or end up in flames?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Xx

I had my second dose of covid vaccine earlier today and so far so good!

Feel free to comment & vote ❤️

I hope you have a nice day/night! Xx

All the love - M ❤️