It's not always Black and White

Love lessons

Bea's POV

The evening air was filled with the buzz of laughter and conversation as we all gathered at my place for dinner. Luca and Melanie, the unlikely pair, seemed to be hitting it off. I watched them from across the table, a small smile tugging at my lips. Who would have thought that matchmaking would be in my future?

Amidst the chatter, I felt Josh's hand on my thigh, his warm touch a comforting reminder of his presence. It was strange how things had turned out. I glanced at him, catching his eye, and he winked at me playfully. It seemed like even after all the twists and turns, we were finding our way back to each other.

But then, a cloud seemed to drift over the lively atmosphere. Luca turned to Melanie, curiosity dancing in his eyes. "So, how have your past relationships been?"

Melanie's response was unexpected, and it sent a ripple through the conversation. "I'm normally the girl on the side. I don't like to do commitment."

Luca's head tilted, an intrigued smile forming. "Then why do you want to be with me?"

Before Melanie could answer, Josh leaned forward, his expression shifting from lighthearted to serious. "Alright, everyone, let's pause for a moment."

The table fell silent, all eyes on Josh. Melanie looked perplexed, while Luca seemed a tad uncomfortable. I knew that this was about to take an interesting turn.

Josh cleared his throat, his gaze fixed on Melanie. "Melanie, I think it's only fair to tell you that being with Luca might not be the best idea."

Melanie frowned, her eyebrows knitting together. "And why's that?"

I knew Josh well enough to anticipate his next words. "Because he's right. You're not looking for commitment, and that's fine. But Luca here is a genuinely good guy. He's not looking for a casual fling. He's looking for something real."

Luca nodded, his expression serious. "I'm not interested in just having fun. I'm looking for something meaningful."

Melanie's lips curled into a half-smile. "Well, Josh, thanks for your concern, but I can handle myself."

Josh leaned in, his tone gentle yet firm. "Melanie, listen. You might think you're in control, but it's not just about you. Luca's heart is on the line here. And you, you have a history of playing with people's feelings."

Melanie's gaze hardened, and she shot back, "And what about you, Josh? You didn't have to get in bed with me every time you guys had a fight."

A collective gasp went around the table, and I felt my face heat up. Well, this had taken an unexpected turn. Josh's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing.

"I admit my mistakes," Josh said, his voice quieter now. "But I've also learned from them. I won't let Luca fall into the same trap I did."

Luca raised an eyebrow, glancing between Josh and Melanie. "Alright, this is getting a bit uncomfortable. Maybe I should just leave."

Before anyone could react, Melanie stood up. "No, wait. I think I need to leave. This isn't the kind of energy I signed up for."

As Melanie made her way to the door, Josh's gaze softened. "I'm not trying to be a jerk, Melanie. I just want you to realise that people's feelings are at stake here."

Melanie paused at the door, looking back at us. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I should take a step back and think about the impact of my actions. But maybe you should explain to your girlfriend why fucking me is easier than just talking to her?"

As the door closed behind Melanie, there was a moment of silence. Then, Luca turned to me with a smile. "Well, that was certainly unexpected."

I chuckled, relieved that the tension had lifted. "You never know what's going to happen when we're all together."