The Man of My Dreams

Chapter Seven: Confessions and Concerns

Mia hadn't seen Neal in a while. Between her whirlwind romance with Ethan and the increasing tension that lurked beneath the surface, she had let their regular catch-ups fall by the wayside. But the nagging feeling in her gut had become impossible to ignore, prompting her to reach out.

When they met at their favorite café, the warm scent of coffee enveloped them, and Mia felt a sense of comfort wash over her. Neal was already seated, concern etched on his face as he waved her over.

"Hey, it's good to see you!" he said, pulling her into a warm hug. "I've missed you."

"Me too," she replied, settling into her chair, trying to shake off the unease. "I really needed to talk."

Neal's brow furrowed as he took a sip of his coffee. "About Ethan?"

Mia nodded, her heart racing as she prepared to voice her worries. "It's just... things have been feeling a bit off lately, but I think it's just because I'm overthinking."

"Tell me everything," he encouraged, leaning in closer.

With a deep breath, Mia dove in. "At first, everything was amazing. I mean, he makes me feel like I'm on cloud nine! But lately, he's been commenting on my clothes."

"Your clothes?" Neal raised an eyebrow, concern thickening his voice. "What did he say?"

Mia hesitated, feeling a flush of embarrassment. "Last week, I wore this cute sundress—nothing too revealing, just something I felt confident in. He looked at me and said, 'Don't you think that's a little much for a lunch date?'"

Neal's expression darkened. "That doesn't sound like him looking out for you. It sounds possessive."

Mia brushed it off, waving her hand dismissively. "Oh, come on! He was probably just trying to be protective. I mean, he cares about me!"

Neal frowned but pressed on. "But is it really his place to dictate how you dress?"

Mia's heart raced as she felt defensive. "I know, but I love how he makes me feel! He just wants the best for me."

As they continued to talk, Mia couldn't shake the feeling of denial that crept in. Sure, Ethan's comments about her clothes felt controlling, but she convinced herself it was just his way of caring.

"And it's not just that," Mia added, her voice lowering. "He's been pushing me to end my friendship with you."

"Me?" Neal's eyes widened in disbelief. "What did he say?"

"Last week, we were talking about plans, and he just dropped it casually—'I don't like how close you are with Neal. He seems too invested in your life,'" she recounted, feeling a mixture of frustration and confusion. "But I think he just wants to make sure I'm focusing on our relationship."

Neal shook his head, his expression troubled. "Mia, that's really concerning. He's trying to separate you from your support system. That's a huge red flag."

Mia felt a wave of anxiety wash over her but couldn't help the warmth that filled her when she thought of Ethan's smile. "I mean, I care about you too, but Ethan is special. He makes me feel like I'm the only one that matters."

Neal took a deep breath, his voice firm. "You're not seeing the bigger picture. You deserve to feel safe and valued in a relationship, not scrutinized and controlled."

As they walked out of the café, Neal placed a hand on her shoulder. "Mia, I'm here for you. Just know that you don't have to face any of this alone."

"Thanks, Neal. I really appreciate it," she said, trying to sound confident, though doubt lingered in her mind. "I just need to figure out how to address these feelings with Ethan without pushing him away."

When Mia returned home, her thoughts swirling around her conversation with Neal. She felt torn between the love she had for Ethan and the growing discomfort she felt in their relationship.

As she prepared for bed, she recalled Ethan's comments from earlier that day. He had frowned when she chose a fitted blouse, making an offhand remark about it being "too distracting."

 Suddenly, the memories flooded back—how he would show up unexpectedly at places he knew she would be, how he would subtly steer conversations away from her friendships, especially with Neal. 

Each time she tried to brush off her discomfort, she felt a flicker of hope, hoping it was just a phase of love and not something more insidious."Maybe I'm just being paranoid," she whispered to herself, pulling the blanket tighter around her. "Ethan loves me. He just wants the best for us."

But as she drifted off to sleep, that familiar gut feeling stirred again, echoing Neal's warning. Love shouldn't feel like a cage, and deep down, she knew that denying her instincts wouldn't make the truth disappear. Yet, she held on to the hope that if she could just help Ethan understand her perspective, everything would be okay.