Their Loving Solitude

Chapter 10 Talking With Her

Mia's POV

I walk straight to Naomi. She has her hands on her hips, still glaring past me. I glance back to see it's Caleb that her glares are directed at, as he is walking past us. He smirks over at me, and he winks before walking up the stairs and into his room. When I see him shut his door, I look back at Naomi.

She looks irritated beyond belief, but she always looks at me like this when I start seeing anyone new. "So what? You and him are a thing, now?" She snaps at me as I quickly reply. "Do you really think that's what we should be talking about right now?" I snap thus right back at her as she huffs out, looking like she feels bad.

"No, its not.. I just don't want to see you get hurt again by another stupid guy." She says so sweetly, but I'm still hurt from her. "So you're the only one allowed to hurt me?" I spat at her getting her attention. "Mia.. please don't make me beg.. but I will if I have to." I stare at her staying silent as I cross my arms over my chest.. She huffs out with her eyes brimming with tears.

"Mia, I'm so sorry.. I was just trying to help you.. yes, I liked it for sure.. who wouldn't, but I was doing it to help you out, that's it.. You said it made you feel better and thats all I wanted.. I wasn't trying to hurt you.. you know you mean more to me than that.. I love you, Mia.. I would do anything to keep you in my life.. please believe me." her voice cracks ad the tears fall and she pleads for me to believe her, and I do.. I know she loves me, and I know she doesn't want to hurt me.

"I believe you." I say to her as she looks shocked wiping the tears away. "You do?! So you're not leaving?" She asks me as I shake my head. "No, Nay.. I love you, and I don't want to have a life without you in it.." She jumps up in excitement about ready to attack me with a bear hug. I throw my hands up while leaning away from her and this gets her attention.

"But.. if anything even remotely close to this happens again, then I'm gone and never talking to you again.. this needs to stop.. I won't be drinking anymore, and if I do, it will only be a little bit.. I love you, but as of right now, I don't trust you with me when I'm inebriated." I claim setting my boundaries, and this is her last chance, so if she crossed the line I laid down, then that's her fault, not mine.

"I'm so sorry, Mia.. but thank you for giving me another chance! thank you!" she yelps out in excitememt before colliding her body with mine. Her arms are wrapped so tightly around me that I almost couldn't breathe.

"I love you too! But I need to take a shower before our shift.. oh, and if our coworkers start talking about me in my bikini.. just ignore them." I state to her walking back to our room.

"Why would they say something?" She asks curiously, so I quickly reply. "Caleb took me to our work to eat, without knowing it was our work, and everyone was making comments.. so just brace yourself."

She laughs as she nods, understanding this until we see the police pulling up right behind us.

They get out and quickly walk past us, up the stairs, and straight to Caleb's room. I find myself running without even realizing it.

I get up the stairs and straight to his apartment as I call out for him. "Caleb?" Naomi opens our door, grabbing my arm.. come on, Mia, let the police do their job and stay out of the way." I shake my head, trying to get on my toes to see him around the men since they are obviously not going to let me through.. and I do see him as he makes his way through multiple police officers, reassuring them that he knows me.

"Caleb, are you ok?" I ask him with panic in my tone, which causes him to smile as he looks behind me and I do the same, seeing Naomi glaring at him. "It's so nice to see how concerned BOTH of you are for me.. It's sweet.. And Mia.. I love your genuine concern for me.. I really do.. Thank you for that.. it shows your true colors in a time of need." He cups my cheek into his large hand and uses it to bring me closer. I just go along with it, feeling like I'm in a trance with his gentle touch and gorgeous brown eyes staring down at me. He slowly leans in as I anticipate his lips to touch mine but they gently brush over my cheek before pressing down against it. Making me ache for more and maybe that's the point.

"But try to not worry about me, Mia.. I'm just happy you two are ok.. and especially Naomi, who was here all alone when this happened to my apartment and it seems that no one else's places were effected.. I'm happy these people didn't go to your place next. You could have really been hurt.. because I think either someone broke in or they were sending me a message to me.. My place is ransacked, but I was looking for anything missing, and I haven't found anything yet.. but I figured I would report it anyway.. just in case the person who did this tried to do it again." He says, pulling me into him to hug me and making me feel better.

With my hand placed on his chest I can feel his heart palpalating as he holds me protectively into his side. This makes Naomi look absolutely livid. "Yeah, we're so happy they destroyed your stuff while you weren't home because if you had been home, then you might have been badly hurt.. And thanks for your worry for me.. But man.. you don't have to worry about me at all.. I know how to take care of myself.. But who knows what you can really do.. Are you a dangerous man that can be scary to have as a neightbor and around my best friend?" He huffs out at Naomi's accusations as he shakes his head. "I think she would be safer with me than you."

She glares at him as she spats right back. "Oh and you think she would be safe with someone who is being sent a message, by someone obviously dangerous.. does that mean that you pissed the wrong people off? because I don't think Mia would be smart to get involved with someone like that." Naomi states in a threatening tone. His grip tightens around me as I see that the two of them are glaring back and forth. "Nay, what's going on with you? this is not you." I state as she completely ignores me while continuing to glare at Caleb.

"Guys please stop.. I know everything started off on the wrong foot this morning but that doesn't mean it can't get on the right foot.. You're both good people and I want you both in my life.. Is that too much to ask?" I snap at the both of them as they freeze still staring at one another. "There is no reason to be at each other's throats over this.. things are hard enough as it is.. let's please get past this.. or I just won't be around either one of you." I spat trying to step away as I feel Caleb's grip tighten around me, pressing my closer into his side. I have never felt as wanted as I do right in this moment. Yes they are fighting but they are fighting for me. I havr never had that before.

I look up at him as he states through clenched teeth.. "You're right, Mia.. and I want to be with you.. so.. Naomi.. My name is Caleb, and it's nice to formally meet you." He extends his hand out to her as I watch Naomi's jaw clenching and she reluctantly shakes his hand but not saying anything in response. "Thank you." I sigh out in relief as the police officer comes over to us.

"So you ladies are the neighbors? did you see anything to help us find out who did this?" One officer asks us, but before I can even answer, Caleb is answering for me. "Officer, Mia was with me the entire time.. but maybe Naomi knows something that might help." He states as I look to Naomi. She just shrugs her shoulders. "I didn't see or hear a thing.. sorry."

"Ok, well, if you ladies think of anything that could help, make sure to give us a call. the officer states, holding out his card. I reach out and take it so he turns away leaving us again because Caleb and Naomi are too busy glaring at one another to even care about his card.. I don't know if they know each other other than with me or what because the tension building is undeniable and almost suffocating.

"What about your work?" I ask Caleb as he states. "I called my supervisor and told her I was going to be late and why.. luckily, she is understanding.. she is just happy I wasn't hurt." he explains as I vigorously nod my head. "Yeah, I am too." He smiles down at me staring at me as if he thinks I'm the most beautiful woman and it feels good.

"Don't worry about me, beautiful.. I will be fine.. It will take a lot more than that to spook me.. now I don't want you to be late to work, especially for me.. so you better get going, and I'll talk with the officers as I keep searching in here for any clues as to who did this." He explains as I nod before I feel hisbhand slowly letting me go. So I smile up at him before leaving his side. I look at Naomi who is still glaring daggers at him but he doesn't look phased by those looks at all.

We walk in as I keep smiling out the doorway at Caleb. He winks again as Naomi groans out before she shuts the door behind me breaking our line of sight. "I don't like him." She spats as I roll my eyes. "You say that about any man I'm interested in." I declare as she huffs out rolling her eyes. "Did you not hear your little boy toy?" She snaps at me as I shake my head. "No what are you talking about?" I ask her as she gasps in shock.

"Caleb, was out there accusing me of breaking into his place!" she explains as I shake my head. "No he didnt.. he just talked about what happened.. he never once said he thought you did it." I declare as she scoffs loudly. "Mia I love you, but you can be so naive sometimes.. he was implying it was me.. that's why he was holding you.. it's not cause he actually wants you, he is trying to make me mad.. and admit it to him."

My eyebrows touch as I blatantly ask her, "admit what to him?" She huffs out throwing her hands in the air. "He wants me to admit I did that to his apartment Mia.. he is trying to pin this on me because he knows I will keep you from seeing him.. he is trying to get me out of the picture!" she snaps this at me as I shake my head.

"No he wouldn't do that.. He is the one who listened to me and introduced himself first to you, just to try to help make peace.. he is really nice and sweet and.." She interrupts me to say. "and conniving and doing what he can to use you.. he doesn't like you Mia.. he is using you.. and now he is trying to take me down for it.. You can't see him after this.. if you do he is going to keep coming at me and what if the police believe him?" I shake my head hating this entire conversation.

"Why would they believe him if there is no evidence? They are not just going to go by heresy, and if you even remotely spent time with him, you would know that he is sweet and wouldn't do that.. besides, I can see who I want Nay. Don't tell me what to do.. I just barely forgave you, but if you keep this up, I will just leave." I spat at her as she huffs out in frustration, not liking that answer at all.

"I have to go get ready for work." I state to her, ending this conversation before it turns into a yelling match. I turn around leaving the room and getting ready for work.