All Chapters of BETWEEN THE THREE OF US : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

By Thursday morning, something had changed.Eliana noticed it the moment she stepped onto campus.People were looking at her.Not everyone.But enough.She slowed down.“Amara?”Her friend turned.“What?”“Why is everyone staring?”Amara looked around.Then she sighed.“Oh.”“Oh what?”“You haven't heard?”“Heard what?”Amara hesitated.“Eliana…there are rumors about you.”Eliana's stomach dropped.“What kind of rumors?”Amara lowered her voice.“That you're dating Nate.”Eliana stared at her.“What?”“And apparently Ilyas is jealous.”“What?!”Amara shrugged.“That's what people are saying.”Eliana laughed nervously.“That's ridiculous.”“I know.”“Who started it?”“I don't know.”Eliana looked across the courtyard.And there they were.Nate and Ilyas.Together.As usual.Except this time, Nate was talking to another student while Ilyas stood beside him.Eliana walked over.“Guys.”They both looked at her.“Morning,” Nate said.“Have you heard?”“Heard what?”“The rumors.”Nate frown

Saturday morning arrived quietly.Eliana woke up thinking about the previous night's festival.The lights.The fireworks.The laughter.And two moments she couldn't stop replaying.She didn't know why.Maybe because something about last night had felt different.She got dressed and headed downstairs.Ilyas was already there.He was sitting on the bench outside The Hawthorne, reading something on his phone.When he noticed her, he smiled.“Morning.”“Morning.”She sat beside him.“You're up early.”“So are you.”“I couldn't sleep.”“Why?”Eliana hesitated.“Nothing.”Ilyas studied her face.“You're thinking about something.”She smiled.“Maybe.”He put his phone away.“Want to talk about it?”Eliana looked at him.There was something about the way he asked.No teasing.No pressure.Just genuine concern.She smiled.“It's nothing bad.”“Good.”They sat quietly for a moment.Then Ilyas said,“I had a really good time yesterday.”“Me too.”“With you.”Eliana's heart skipped.“With me?”He

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

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

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