“What?” I ask.
“I won another whistle.”
Aditya sighs dramatically. “We’re going home.”
Neel beams proudly. I glance at Aditya. Our eyes meet.
And for a moment the amusement park lights, the crowd, the noise—everything fades a little.
Because suddenly the thought sitting quietly in my chest feels impossible to ignore.
I am already looking forward to that date.
14. BOOKMARKS WITH KISSES
ADITYA
The key turns in the lock with a soft click. I push the door open and step aside so Divya can walk in first. The lights are already on inside, warm and low, the kind that make the room feel smaller than it actually is.
She pauses just past the doorway. Not dramatically. Just a small pause, like her feet forgot what they were doing for a second.
I close the door behind us.
“Okay,” she says slowly, turning in a slow circle. “Either you’re planning to rob this place or this is part of the date.”
I grin. “You caught me.”
She folds her arms, trying very hard to look unimpressed. “I knew it. This is a heist.”
“Relax,” I say, walking past her. “If I were robbing the place I wouldn’t bring you as my accomplice.”
She follows me deeper inside. “That’s offensive,” she mutters.
“It really is not, I am just being realistic.”
“Wow.”
“You would panic immediately.”
“I would not panic.”
“You screamed on a spinning ride, Divya. It wasn't even that fast.” I point out.
“That ride was a crime against humanity.” I laugh and gesture toward the middle of the room.
“Sit.”
Her eyes narrow immediately. "I am not your dog." She scoffs.
I smile and close my eyes, this woman, I sigh, "My beautiful wife, an absoluete angel, the cutest woman I have ever know, will you please do me a favor and sit down?" I bow down to her.
She chuckles and a blush spread on her cheeks, knowing I am the reason makes me feel giddy inside. She walks over slowly, looking around like she’s still trying to figure out what I’m doing but she sits down.
Then she notices the notebook on the table. It’s plain. Just a simple hardbound journal.
She picks it up. “What’s this?”
“A game.”
