He leaves to make dinner, once again making everyone’s needs a priority, but this time, it doesn’t feel like they outweigh his own.
CHAPTER
SIXTY
“Showus one of Elijah’s games,chiki,” Deepti calls to us, sliding into Adhira’s usual seat on the sofa.
My cheeks heat at the idea of being here while they watch me play a sport that is so ingrained into my very being. It feels too intimate, but I’ll welcome it over the hours of tension we’ve endured so far.
“They’re called matches in rugby, Mummy, and you don’t even like sports,” Adhira says, grabbing the remote and flicking the telly on.
“If your mother wants to watch sports, we will watch sports,” Shaurya says with a nod, plopping down beside Deepti.
Adhira nods towards the kitchen, and I follow after her, leaning against the counter as she does the same. It’s nothing really, but this silent communication settles deep in my chest.
“Would you be uncomfortable with us watching one of your matches?” she asks in a hushed tone meant only for me. Her gentle care feels like a warm blanket, and I’m desperate to crawl beneath it.
“I have thousands of people watching my matches at any given time. What’s two more?” I tease, rewarded with an eyeroll and a small, pretty smile.
“You say that as if your face wasn’t as red as a tomato just moments ago.” She repositions herself so her front is pressed against mine. My body coils at the contact, desire flooding me with the simple touch, but my confusion wears off as she reaches over to turn the knob on the stove, removing the kettle that was seconds from screaming. Taking a step back, she adds, “It’s okay if you’re uncomfortable with it.”
“Areyouuncomfortable with it?” I ask, brows raised.
She shakes her head. “Not at all.”
“Then their wish is my command.”
We spend the next few minutes making tea, passing around the colourful artisan mugs Adhira purchased at a market we stumbled upon, and I intend to teach her how to make them herself. Once everyone has a steaming mug in hand, I unfold a few blankets and lay them out for Adhira, lowering myself to the ground and stretching my legs out in front of me.
She takes her seat with a knowing smile painted on her lips, her shoulders still drawn back, spine straight, though her posture has relaxed with every passing hour since the big conversation. It might not have gone perfectly, but it could have been far worse, and I’m just grateful that those who need to know now do.
Adhira reaches for the remote, flipping through old, recorded games, and picks out a match I remember all too well. I have it to thank for Coach Auclair’s interest in me, after all.
“National Conference League? I thought Elijah was in the pros?” Shaurya asks.
Adhira peers up at me, her eyes remaining on me the entire time she answers. “He does, but this is the match that brought him to me.”
To say my heartsoarswould be the understatement of the bloody century. My blood hums with electricity, chest constricting as warmth washes over me. I avert my gaze, ducking my chin, and praying my face cools before anyone but Adhira notices.
“Isn’t that the sweetest?” Deepti coos.
Shaurya and Deepti lean into each other, speaking in hushed tones. Gujarati or Hindi, I’m not sure which, flows between them as Adhira turns back to the telly, starting the recording. She shuffles closer, pressing her side to mine and lifts her legs, settling them over my knees. The more she touches me, the more I realise just how touch-deprived I’ve been. I wrap my hands around her calves, kneading her slight muscles.
Her parents ask questions throughout, and I explain it all in what Adhira might consider excruciating detail, but she doesn’t complain, smirking when I go too far down a rabbit hole. At one point, she even curls her pinkie around mine, squeezing when we get to the final play that changed the entire trajectory of my life in ways I wouldn’t have thought possible.
My phone rings just as we finish cleaning up, folding the blankets and resetting the living room. I scramble to answer it, sliding the green button on the screen, and I’m greeted by three wide smiles.
“Hello, Mum, little ladies,” I say, moving towards my room. I cover the speaker and direct my attention to Adhira’s parents. “Sorry, I didn’t realise how late it’s gotten. I’ve got my bedtime call with my mum and sisters,” I explain.
“Oh! Let us meet them!” Deepti insists.
“Oh my goodness, are Adhira’s parents there, love? Brain fog, I swear it. I’d meant to text earlier to make sure they landed safely,” Mum says. Lyla and Ellie chatter something nonsensical between the two of them, and Deepti pats the seat beside her for me to take.
I catch Adhira leaning a hip against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed and a lopsided smirk on her face. She seems pleased about this turn of events.
Deepti takes my phone, introducing herself, waving it around. I’m not even sure she has the camera facing the right way, but her expression is so much brighter than it’s been since she arrived that I have no plans to stop her.
“Beta, come here,” Deepti says, and since there’s no room left, Adhira takes a seat on my thigh, her knees wobbling with the effort of avoiding putting her full weight on me.
