Page 47 of Game on, Love

Raina’s expression softened as she studied me. “You really love it, don’t you?”

“I do,” I admitted, my voice softer. “It’s been my whole life, but there’s nothing like the feeling of stepping on that field and just playing the best game I know I can.”

She took my words in, nodding slowly and I saw it. The moment when her own view of it shifted, and this time when our eyes connected, I saw a similar spark she had when she talked about Formula One, but I knew it had everything to do with my love for the sport instead of hers.

“Alright then,” she said finally. “Show me more.”

We spent the next couple of hours focusing on building on her basic knowledge—field positions, how the squad decided on the order for sending out players, the types of batting styles and bowling styles and how bowlers tried to outwit batters. I couldn’t help but admire each time she asked questions, the way she was letting me see how her brain worked and how quickly she picked up on things.

“Okay, I think that’s enough for today,” I replied, leaning back as she focused on her notepad, writing the last of her notes.

“You’re a Top-Order Batsman, right?”

“Yep.”

“Is Rihaan one too, or…?”

The question caught me off guard, but thankfully, she wasn’t looking in my direction, so I was able to recover quickly. “Uh.. No.”

She looked up, her lips pulled in one corner as she waited for me to continue.

“He’s an all-rounder who specialises in bowling, so he’s more reliable as a middle-order batter and can use his skills to build on the momentum of the players before him.”

She nodded, her gaze flicking to somewhere distant for a second, before she blinked. “Have you told him about…this?”

I hesitated. “I wanted to leave that up to you.”

“Why?” She frowned.

“It wasn’t my place to tell him.”

“You’re his best friend.”

“I am, and I may not know the whole story, but I know that you both have a tricky relationship.” I paused, watching her carefully. “But this… is about you.”

“Me?”

I nodded, staying quiet at the sudden growing tension. Her shoulders were pulled back, the easy vibe we had between us crashing like a tide.

“Finish your thought.”

“I did.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Raina,” I sighed, but the alarms in my head were blaring. Loudly. “Look, all I’m saying is, I get it. You don’t have the best relationship, but it’s clear that your not caring about cricket had nothing to do with him, or you would’ve asked for his help. But you didn’t. So, clearly, you want to tell him on your terms or not at all, and I don’t want to take that choice from you.”

It wasn’t the whole truth, but I didn’t lie either. But I didn’t want to tell her that a part of me wanted to keep this between us for as long as possible because even though I had barely a clue about what really went down between the two, I knew it was messy and big enough that Rihaan, who liked to spend his free time in the gaming room, had spent a total of three nights at the house in the past two weeks. Two of those were when she wasn’t home.

When I saw him at training, he was closed off and quiet in a way I’d never seen before. I didn’t want to hide this from him, but I also wanted Raina and me to have something real before I brought it up to him. I wanted to make sure that whatever his reaction may be, we would be able to take it. Because Rihaan had done so much for me, and I valued our friendship so much, but I also couldn’t deny that now that I knew her, the only way I was letting her go from my life was if she would ask me to.

Because when I said to her, that I was up for anything.

I meantanything.

14

Raina