Alex and Ethan tried to settle back into their routine after that night’s conversation. But the tension lingered, hovering like a storm cloud just waiting to break. Every time Ethan’s phone buzzed or he mentioned plans with friends, Alex felt the same stab of insecurity. He kept it to himself, telling himself he was overreacting, that he needed to trust Ethan.
But one evening, Ethan invited Alex to join him for a gathering with his friends, and Alex noticed the name from Ethan’s earlier text—Adam—was in the group chat. Despite his best efforts, Alex’s mind raced with questions and doubts. Who was Adam to Ethan? Was he more than just a friend? He fought to keep calm, reminding himself of their promise to rebuild trust.
When they arrived, Alex observed Adam closely. He was charming, laughing with Ethan, his hand occasionally brushing Ethan’s shoulder. Every touch and every smile ignited a flicker of jealousy in Alex. He felt trapped, torn between wanting to keep his promise to trust Ethan and the insecurity that gnawed at him.
Later that night, after they left the gathering, Alex’s emotions boiled over. “Who is Adam to you?” he asked, his voice sharper than he’d intended.
Ethan’s expression shifted, a hint of frustration in his eyes. “He’s a friend, Alex. That’s all. I invited you so you could meet him yourself. But it feels like no matter what I do, it’s never enough to make you trust me.”
Alex took a deep breath, realizing that he was losing control of his emotions. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, feeling ashamed. “I know I should trust you. I just... I don’t want to lose you again. The thought terrifies me.”
Ethan softened, his eyes filled with understanding. He reached out, taking Alex’s hand. “I get it. I really do. But if we’re going to make this work, you have to let go of the fear. Otherwise, it’ll destroy us.”
The honesty in Ethan’s voice hit Alex hard. He realized that he was letting his fear sabotage the very thing he wanted to protect. He closed his eyes, steadying himself, then met Ethan’s gaze.
“I’ll try,” Alex said, his voice barely a whisper. “I’ll keep trying. I don’t want to let fear ruin this.”
Ethan smiled, pulling him into a gentle embrace. “That’s all I ask. We’re in this together.”
As they held each other, Alex felt a weight lift from his chest. He knew it wouldn’t be easy—old wounds didn’t heal overnight. But in that moment, he felt hope, a spark of reassurance that they could face their fears together and keep building something real.
