Elena had never been so nervous her entire life. She didn't even know what she was doing or what she was going to say. When she thought she was going to break up with Marcus she had planned out everything she wanted to say but with Gavin, she was a mumbled mess and she hadn't even talked to him yet. Speaking of one of those men and conversations she didn't know how to start, it had been three days since the incident and Marcus had busied every one of her calls. He always texted her with an excuse but she felt nervous and worried about the whole situation. Who knew what Isabel said to him?Thinking about Isabel gave her chills, specifically because she was scared of Isabel but also because Isabel seemed like someone who always got what she wanted, so how far was she willing to go to push Elena out of the picture? And it wasn't like she could talk to Marcus about her fears, mostly because he wasn't picking up her calls and also because she didn't know how to bring it up, "Hey, Marcus,

It was hard to think reasonably when Gavin was kissing her like that, so Elena did not think at all. She didn't stop to consult her conscience when Gavin led her up the stairs to her apartment, and she definitely did not pay heed to her morals when he picked her up and dropped her on her bed. His scent was intoxicating and it was hard to focus on anything else when his hands and his lips were doing wonders to her. She was making noises she never thought she could.Being with Gavin was different from being with Marcus, Marcus was calm and cautious, checking on her every step of the way and he was always pacing himself around her, it was the opposite of how he portrayed himself: cold and vicious. But with Gavin, it was the complete opposite, while Gavin was the calm and cute puppy normally he was different and domineering once he got her permission. Their kiss was rough, everything was hot and heavy and it all went by in a blur, that was why it was hard to realize what was going on unt

An impromptu road trip with a man you partly just confessed your infatuation for was not how Elena expected her day to start but there she was, in the front seat of Marcus's sleek black car, her luggage neatly placed in the back seat, and Marcus humming along to the song playing lowly on the radio. The atmosphere wasn't nearly as tense as their previous encounters but it was still a bit awkward seeing as they had nothing to say to each other. And Elena could not stop pondering on the fact that if Gavin hadn't left, Marcus could have met him there, how exactly would she have explained that situation?Another thing running through her mind was what had Marcus been up to while he had been ghosting her and were they still in a relationship? And if they were, did she need to tell him about her night with Gavin?"You seem to be lost in your thoughts,""What else am I supposed to do?" "This is supposed to be a couples bonding kind of thing.""Right after you ghosted me for a week straight,

Elena was not expecting an answer from Marcus when she asked the question but she was acting hopeful. However, the scowl on Marcus's face indicated the conversation was over and the question would remain unanswered. He got up and packed the plates, "It's getting late. You should head to bed, you've had quite a day.""Marcus—""Thanks for the meal," he said cutting her off and putting the dirty dishes in the sink."Marcus, come on, don't do this.""I shouldn't do the dishes? I didn't take you as someone who contributed to the patriarchy—""You know what I'm talking about. Don't be that Marcus, don't shut me out." She walked closer to him and put a gentle hand on his tense shoulder. Marcus let out a shaky breath, "shutting people out is kind of my thing, sweetheart.""Okay, fine. You don't have to talk about it, just don't be moody Marcus, at least not this weekend." Marcus gave her a small smile then squeezed her hand, "I'll try,""So what's the agenda for tomorrow?""Well it's going

The trip back home was exactly as one would expect — awkward.Marcus had not made a move to talk to Elena and neither had she. She was done with all of it, the mixed signals, shutting her out, everything. She was done with Marcus and she hoped the look on her face was a dead giveaway for that.Marcus could not exactly live with himself after last night. He had slept on the couch after they had gotten home and woke up in the middle of the night to check on Elena only to hear her crying in their room, and it was all his fault.He couldn't apologise, because if he did he would have to tell her about his feelings— all of it— and Eliza might not believe him. That would hurt way more than her slamming the door in his face.When the car came to a slow stop in front of her apartment, Marcus wanted to say something, anything at all that might make Elena hate him less but before he could open his mouth to speak, Elena had gotten out of the car, grabbed her things and then speed walked to her ap