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Chapter Nineteen: The CompetitiON
publish date:
2026-08-29 20:27:42
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BETWEEN THE THREE OF US Chapter Twenty: The Rules of the Game
By Monday morning, Eliana had decided that she was going to put an end to the competition.It had seemed funny at first.Nate bringing her breakfast.Ilyas remembering the exact snack she liked.Nate walking her to class.Ilyas waiting outside afterward.Every time she turned around, one of them was doing something thoughtful.It was sweet.It was flattering.And it was becoming completely exhausting.She stepped into the hallway and found both boys waiting.Nate held out a cup.“Coffee.”Ilyas immediately held out a small paper bag.“Breakfast.”Eliana stared at them.“No.”They both paused.“No?”“No.”She took a deep breath.“We need rules.”Nate smiled.“I like rules.”“You absolutely do not.”“I can learn.”Ilyas laughed quietly.Eliana pointed at both of them.“Listen. I'm not a trophy.”Neither boy smiled now.“I know,” Nate said.“And I'm not going to have you two fighting over me every five seconds.”“We aren't fighting,” Ilyas said.“You argued over who was going to carry my
BETWEEN THE THREE OF US Chapter Nineteen: The CompetitiON
Eliana knew something was wrong the moment she walked into the lobby.Nate and Ilyas were standing on opposite sides of the room.Neither was speaking.That alone was strange.They were always talking.Arguing.Teasing each other.Stealing food from each other's plates.Today, they wouldn't even look at one another.Eliana stopped halfway down the stairs.“Okay…”Neither moved.“What happened?”Nate looked at her.“Nothing.”Ilyas said, “We're fine.”Eliana narrowed her eyes.“You're both terrible liars.”Nate sighed.“Can we talk?”“Sure.”He glanced at Ilyas.“Privately.”Ilyas immediately looked at him.“Why privately?”“Because I need to talk to her.”“You're not the only one.”Eliana blinked.“Wait.”She looked between them.“What is happening?”Nate rubbed the back of his neck.“Ilyas and I need to tell you something.”Her stomach tightened.“Okay.”Ilyas finally looked directly at her.“We both like you.”Silence.Eliana stared at him.Then at Nate.Nate nodded.“What he said.”
BETWEEN THE THREE OF US Chapter Eighteen: A Little Too Close
Monday morning arrived far too soon.Eliana stood in front of her mirror, trying to decide whether she was actually ready to face another week of lectures, assignments, and the endless noise of university life.Her mind kept drifting back to Saturday.The lake.The sunset.Nate's ridiculous attempt to retrieve her phone.Ilyas laughing until he could barely breathe.And, most of all, the moment beneath the tree.Three hands resting together.She couldn't explain why she'd remembered that particular moment so many times since Saturday.It had been completely innocent.At least, it should have been.Her phone buzzed.Nate:You're going to be late.Eliana frowned.She typed back.Eliana:How do you know?Nate:Because I can hear you walking around.She stared at the message.Then looked toward her apartment door.“You have got to be kidding me.”She opened it.Nate was standing across the hallway, holding two cups of coffee.“You're creepy.”“Good morning to you too.”“How long have you
BETWEEN THE THREE OF US Chapter Seventeen: Saturday
Saturday arrived with an unusual amount of anticipation.Eliana had been trying not to wonder what Nate had planned.She failed.Completely.By ten in the morning, she'd already checked her phone six times.Finally, it buzzed.Nate:Ready?She smiled.Eliana:Where are we going?Nate:You ask too many questions.Eliana:That's because you're suspicious.Nate:Come downstairs.Eliana grabbed her bag and headed out.When she reached the lobby, Nate was already waiting.A few seconds later, Ilyas came down the stairs.Eliana looked at both of them.“You're both wearing the same color.”Nate looked at Ilyas's shirt.Then at his own.“That's not intentional.”Ilyas smiled.“Sure.”“Don't start.”Eliana laughed.“So where are we going?”Nate pointed toward the parking lot.“You'll see.”They drove for almost thirty minutes.Eliana sat in the back seat while Nate drove and Ilyas sat beside him.Music played quietly.Every now and then, Nate and Ilyas exchanged comments that made Eliana laugh
BETWEEN THE THREE OF US Chapter Sixteen: The Invitation
By Tuesday morning, Eliana had decided on one thing.She was going to stop overthinking everything.It lasted approximately twenty-seven minutes.“Are you okay?”She looked up from her notebook.Amara was staring at her.“Yes.”“You've been smiling at your phone for five minutes.”Eliana quickly turned it face down.“I wasn't smiling.”“You were.”“I was thinking.”“About which one?”Eliana groaned.“Amara.”“What? I'm just asking.”Before Eliana could answer, her phone vibrated again.She ignored it.Amara smiled knowingly.“You're hopeless.”Across campus, Nate was having a similar problem.Chris dropped into the seat beside him.“What's wrong with you?”“Nothing.”“You've been staring at your phone all morning.”Nate locked the screen.“I was checking the time.”Chris looked at the clock on the wall.“Your phone isn't the only clock on campus.”Nate sighed.“Can you leave me alone?”“No.”Chris grinned.“So it's Eliana.”Nate didn't answer.Chris's grin widened.“I knew it.”“There
BETWEEN THE THREE OF US Chapter Fifteen: The Space Between Us
Monday morning came with an uncomfortable silence.Eliana noticed it almost immediately.Usually, when she stepped into the hallway, Nate would already be making some ridiculous comment.Usually, Ilyas would remind her about something she'd forgotten.Today, nothing.She opened her door.Nate was standing outside his apartment.Their eyes met.“Morning,” he said.“Morning.”A second later, Ilyas stepped out.“Good morning.”“Good morning.”The three stood there.Quietly.Eliana's heart began beating faster.She wondered if they somehow knew.But there was no way.She hadn't told either of them.“Are we going?” Nate finally asked.“Yeah,” Eliana said quickly.They headed toward the elevator.At university, things felt even stranger.Nate was quieter than usual.Ilyas was quieter than Nate.And Eliana couldn't stop thinking about Saturday.Every time she looked at Ilyas, she remembered the kiss.Every time Nate came close, she remembered his arms around her.She felt guilty.But she als
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