Page 37 of Game on, Love

Instead, I was fuelled with something more than just the need to get rid of that crawling sensation.

Today, the plan was simple: train in the mornings, grab lunch with Sean to go over the media activities planned for the next month and then go back home.

Home as inhome.

I wanted to surprise Mum and Dad, but instead, I’d gotten a text from her saying that they were travelling down south for the weekend.

And as much as I wanted to see them both, in a weird way, I was glad I was home.

I’d walked into the house, only to be welcomed with the faint noise of clatter and music from the kitchen, which was alarming because Rihaan and Vedant were terrible cooks, and I liked my house too much for it to be on fire that I headed straight towards it.

The past week had been interesting… not exactly smooth, but not awkward either. There was a newfound rhythm between us all. She came and went, if it wasn’t work, she was in her room. Granted, I think that was partly because of the way Rihaanwasavoiding her, and I could tell that retreating into her room had felt like the only option for her. I understood that it was her way of trying not to intrude on his space, which was why I was surprised to see her.

She hadn’t heard the front door open, hadn’t heard me walk in the kitchen.

Raina was dancing with her cats, belting out the lyrics to the song. I didn’t pay attention to a whisk as though it was a microphone.

Not many things made my heart stop. But I had never seen this side of her, never seen her so free. I felt all the air rush out of my lungs as I watched her. Her smile widened as her lips moved to the lyrics, and something unlocked deep in my chest—like a key finally turning in a lock made just for me.

As the thought echoed in my head, I wasn’t surprised. I’d felt it from the moment I had set my eyes on her, felt it each time I was near her, each time I talked to her. I just hadn’t been able to name it yet.

But what happened after had me completely surprised. She hadn’t pull back on me. I didn’t know what had changed, what was thatclickfor her, but for the first time, she was giving me aninch, and I would take it at a turtle pace if it meant I could see her this way.

Stepping out of the shower, I quickly dressed up into my joggers and a hoodie, dumping myoutside clothesin the wash bag for later before walking back down the stairs.

But as I reached the first floor, I paused. Milo was sitting in the doorway to our theatre room, and I frowned. He liked his space, but he was never too far away from Raina. On the other hand, if he was here alone, I don’t think I could take it as a good sign either.

I stood in the doorway of the theatre room, peering in and expecting it to be empty, but there she was, sitting inmychair, leaning on her side with Lilli curled up at her feet.

Raina’s head was fixed on the screen, though there was nothing playing on it. In that moment, she looked so content; it made my heart warm.

I walked in, and this time, she did hear me come in, but she just gave me a soft look. “Hey, that was quick.”

I shrugged, sitting on the chair next to her. “Got the job done.”

She pressed her lip as though trying not to laugh again.Little shit.

“So, what are we watching?” I asked, leaning towards her slightly, but instead, I nudged her laptop, which was balancing on the armrest between us and waking it up.

“Nothing—”

Nothingin the world could’ve prepared me as the theatre screen lit up. I blinked, double-checking if I was imagining it or not.

The screen reflected her laptop; a video titled‘Cricketing 101: Guide for Beginners’was on pause.

Unsure whether to laugh or call Rihaan, I turned to look at her. Raina had her eyes closed, her palm covering her mouth.But as though she could feel my stare, her eyes snapped open and connected with mine, and I couldn’t help myself. “Trying to impress me, love?”

She rolled her eyes, a sigh leaving her lips. “Only in your dreams, King.”

She has no idea.

“Is someone torturing you then?”

“Pretty much.”

“Wait, what?”

Raina sighed, grabbing the laptop between us and throwing it gently down on the floor next to her. “I’m doing research.”