Page 67 of Game on, Love
Because once your name is known, once you allow it to be out there in the world, it’s not yours anymore. You can never take it back. Never enjoy the feeling of what it’s like being just another person.
I’d never known what that felt like, never knew it meant something more than being Oliver King.
But in that moment, I’d realised it was never about who said it, buthowthey said it.
Because the way someone says your name can show you exactly what you mean to them.
“Oliver.”
It sounded like a prayer and raised the hair on the back of my neck, but I couldn’t help but notice the frail edge in her brown eyes that stopped my train of thought. She was already anxious about what was going on in her head, me pulling over and then… this definitely didn’t help.
“Raina.”
Her eyes darted to the cars passing by around us before meeting mine. “This is silly.”
I frowned, “Why do you say that?”
“Because now, when I tell you what’s bothering me, you’d realise that you pulled over for something that is barely anything.”
“That’s still something.”
She stared at me for a beat before sighing. “You’re exhaustingly good at this, you know?”
“Exhaustingly?”
“Yes,exhaustingly.Makes everything so difficult.”
“Well, I’m about to make it more difficult because I’m not moving until you tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Really regretting saying yes to this ride back home,” She muttered.
My hands moved instinctively, locking at the doors; even though I knew she wouldn’t try to get out in the middle of traffic, I wasn’t taking a chance. “This is worse than commuting during rush hour?”
She paused, her face scrunched slightly, making me chuckle as she spoke. “Okay, maybe not.”
We sat in silence for a minute. It wasn’t awkward, but the unsaid request still lingered in the air. She tugged on her sleeve again, and my hands itched to reach across and hold hers.
It was another minute before she spoke. “I just got scared.”
“Of what?”
“You.”
My chest tightened as I took her words in, but I didn’t let it show. Instead, I set my hand on the console between us, palm open in the air, inviting her as I spoke. “I’m scared, too.”
“You are?” She hesitated as she stared at my palm but eventually placed her hand in mine, and I clasped my fingers around it.
“Yes. Though I think we have different reasons.”
“What’s your reason?”
I rubbed my thumb over the back of her hand. “I’m scared that I’ve been dreaming of you.”
“Me?”
“Yes.” I exhaled, my eyes trailing over her face. Her eyes were focused on me, almost expecting to add more to it, but I knew that she wasn’t ready for me to explain that in a short while. I’d come to know her; it felt like she was perfect in every waythat mattered to me. But I knew that saying it out loud would overwhelm her, and I’d already done enough of that. “Why are you scared of me?”
“Notyouper say. More like… how you make me feel,” She took a breath, almost like it would help her steady herself. “I’m worried that each day we spend together, I build us in my head and one day it will end badly. There’s already so much going on with my brothers, and I can barely cope with that. Plus, if Rihaan finds out about whatever… this is and doesn’t react well? It’ll be like repeating history, and I definitely know I won’t be able to handle that. I’ve already experienced what it’s like losing everyone at the same time, and I’m so tired of fighting with that voice in my head that keeps on warning me to be cautious. At least, when I don’t take a chance, it stays quiet. And it’s a kind of peace that is hard to work against.”