My heart rattles in my chest as I sink into the implications of his words. There’s so much that could go wrong, so many ways I could disappoint and hurt them, but he’s right. I’ve put this off for far too long, and I could’ve spared everyone so much grief if only I’d let down my walls.
I peer up at Elijah through tear-soaked lashes and whisper words I’ve been avoiding for far too long.
“I have to tell my parents.”
CHAPTER
FIFTY-SEVEN
HearingAdhira say the words that’ll set us all free was a feeling unlike anything else. I stared at her in disbelief for an uncomfortable beat before crushing her to my chest, relief pouring out of me.
She’s spent the last several minutes psyching herself up for this phone call, and now that her phone is in her hand, I’m nervous with anticipation.
“I can go to my room if you want some privacy,” I tell her, ready to walk away if she needs me to, but desperate for her to ask me to stay.
She shakes her head. “No, please…” Her glossy eyes catch on mine, pleading with me to know what she needs. “I just…” She averts her gaze. “I want you with me for this, Elijah.”
“You need me?”
“No. I don'tneedyou. I want you with me. You ground me. Your presence is like a soothing balm, quieting some of my racing thoughts. But I don't need you, Elijah. I justwantyou."
My heart gallops out of my chest, my brows climbing high on my forehead before I can stop them, but the elation swirling deep in my belly wins out over the part of my brain that knows I shouldn’t be this excited at the prospect of her wanting me.
Everyonealwaysneeds me, but the one person who never seemed to want to is now telling me she doesn't just need me, shewantsme around, and it’s got my heart and mind in a tizzy.
“Okay,” I say on a rough exhale, ungluing my tongue from the roof of my mouth. “I’m right here.”
I take a seat beside her on the sofa, my belly warming as her shoulders relax with my quick agreement and, justmaybe,at my proximity to her.
Things have changed so gradually between us that if I hadn’t spent every day cataloguing each of her movements, the little bits of herself she’s offered to me, and all of her favourite things, I wouldn’t have realised thatI’ve become one of them,and that fact alone is enough to have me flying high.
Our thighs press together despite there being more than enough room for both of us, but the simple fact that she now welcomes my touch has my bones turning to liquid.
“I’m not video calling them because if I see their faces, I’ll fall apart,” she explains.
“Beta!” her mum, Deepti, calls joyfully over the line. “How is our darling daughter doing?”
Adhira sucks in a deep breath, her teeth biting down on the smooth flesh of her lower lip as she glances up at me. I reach out, squeezing her thigh—something I find comforting, but which I think she only tolerates because it makesmefeel better. I can’t be sure.
“Mummy, is Papa there?” she asks, her chin trembling.
“Haa, maari laali. I’m right here. Is everything okay?”
She glances my way, fear-stricken, because the truth isno. Everything isnotokay. And we can't be sure of the next time it will be.
“I—I don’t think it is. I have something I need to talk to you about, but I can’t…” She clenches her eyes shut, tears trailing down her cheeks, and I open and close my fists at my sides to stop myself from reaching out to wipe them away.
She needs to do this without any interference or coddling from me. I’ll be here when she’s ready to fall apart andwantsme to help her pick up the pieces, but until she asks for my help, I have to let her do this her way.
“You can’t what?” her mum asks, her voice growing shrill with worry.
“We need to talk in person. I’m sorry for the trouble, but?—”
“It’s no trouble,” her dad cuts her off. “We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“Elijah?” Deepti asks, and Adhira’s brows wrinkle, deep brown eyes flicking to my face. She nods at me with her chin, silently asking,“What are you waiting for? Answer her.”
“Yes, Deepti. I’m here.”
