Page 48 of Game on, Love
OVER THE NEXT FEWdays,we found a new rhythm between us. Oliver and Rihaan—who was still avoiding me—usually left for their training early in the morning and didn’t return until later in the day. I had been mostly working from home, avoiding the office where possible and spending my evenings with Oliver going over more cricket jargon and basics.
But today, I was spending my day out and about for a change. This was my last weekend off before the last leg of the race calendar began. And although I only had two more races to attend, it was pretty much all back to back.
The autumn chill seeped into my skin, but for a change, the sun made a full and unapologetic appearance, covering the busy streets of Covent Garden.
I pulled my phone out, waiting for Leah to come out of the shop. We’d spend the morning doing retail therapy, and the evidence of it was placed between my feet. I was still slowly building my closet back to what it was before the leak, but my focus was mostly on work clothes, seemingly content with lounging around the house in some yoga pants and borrowed hoodies from Oliver and Vedant.
The store door buzzed next to me, and I slipped my phone back into my coat.
“Got everything?” I asked, picking my bags up before looking at Leah, who gave me a nod.
Leah frowned, before a slow grin spread across her face. “Well, well. Look who it is.”
I followed her gaze, and blinked in surprise.
Of course, out of all the places, he was here. London was big enough for people to be lost—but somehow, each day, I realised that when you notice someone in your life, you found the true meaning of‘What a small world’.
Oliver stood by one of the coffee trailers, looking like he’d just finished a cover photo shoot for a magazine: smart trousers, a light blue sweater over a white collar t-shirt. A soft breeze ruffled his hair which held his sunglasses as he chatted with the barista like they were old mates.
As though sensing my gaze, Oliver looked sideways and his eyes locked into mine. The grin he had been wearing turned wide, as he finished his conversation without looking away.
“Maybe it is myluckyday,” Leah sighed happily, and an involuntary groan slipped my lips at the reminder. It had completely slipped my mind, or rather, I’d erased it from my short-term memory. One of the stops we’d made as we hopped around between stores was a little tarot stall in the Piazza. Truthfully, I hadn’t much wanted to do it. Over the last couple of weeks, I was very much aware of inexplicable things happening around me, and I didn’t want to pay someone to tell me that something big was coming. But Leah had insisted, and well, her’s was that today would turn out to be a lucky day for her, whereas for me, it said. “And, look, your love life is already starting to blossom.”
Yep. Definitely didn’t want to pay someone to tell me that.
I shot her a look as Oliver stepped in our direction. “Shut. Up.”
“Hey, Gorgeous. Fancy seeing you here,” Oliver said, giving me a small wink, and I didn’t need to look at Leah’s face to see the sly grin that had already formed on her face.
I opened my mouth to reply, but Leah beat me to it. “Well, isn’t it cool how the universe works sometimes.”
“It sure is,” Oliver replied, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’m Oliver, by the way. Nice to meet you.”
“Leah, and trust me, the pleasure ismine.”
“I suppose I should be thanking you?” His tone was light, but the teasing undercurrent was evident like he knew exactly what he was doing, and I rolled my eyes.
God, talk about two peas in a pod.
“Me?” Leah’s gaze bounced between me and Oliver, thoroughly confused. “What did I do?”
“I’m not quite sure either, but clearly, whatever you said at brunch worked.”
“Really?”Leah’s reaction threw me off completely. I’d never seen her this flustered before, and if I hadn’t been so caught off guard myself, I would’ve taken a picture of her face. She must’ve seen it in my reaction, though because she quickly composed herself before giving me a smile. “You took the job?”
“I did,” I replied, tugging on my lower lip nervously.
“I’m proud of you,” She replied, and I felt my blood rush to my face before she turned to Oliver. “And you better not make me regret it.”
His grin deepened as he gave her a nod. “I won’t.”
But before any of us could say something, he leaned down in my direction—close enough to catch the familiar scent of him and the faintest trace of coffee.
“I thought I was doing better at providing the data for your predict-o-meter, love.”
I felt my heart skip a beat at the way he used the nickname today like it meant something more. “It’s nearly not enough to tip the scales in your favour.”
His grin widened, but before he could reply, Leah, who was clearly delighted by the situation, beat him to it. “Should I give you two a minute?”