Page 86 of Our Final Game

“For what?”

“Standing up for yourself, and going after what you want. You could’ve easily lived comfortably … you know, with your dad.”

“Thanks, kitten,” I smile. “I always go after what I want, that’s how I got you.”

“I don’t think that’s what happened, but sure.”

“So, what happened?”

“You lied about not knowing who I was on a game like a weirdo stalker.”

“You’re still on that theory?”

“What do you mean? You admitted it yourself!”

“Rohan, I said I didn’t know until we were talking over voice chat.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t believe you.”

“It doesn’t matter, cause look where you are now.”

He huffs and turns his body fully away from me to stare out the window in silence. He’ll be pissy for a little while before needing to be literally on top of me again. Rohan tries to hide it, but he loves physical contact, and I find it endearing. He’s quiet for a short duration of the drive before I feel his hand land on my thigh, his palm open toward me.

I answer by threading our fingers, a smile spreading across his face as the wind softly tousles his golden hair.

* * *

“You must be, Tyson!” Rohan’s sister is standing on their porch waving at me as I pull the fruit from the backseat.

“Ah, yes, hello.” I swallow. I can’t believe my stomach is flipping like this over meeting my boyfriend’s family.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Daisy!” she says, trying to grab the box from me. “No, it’s fine, it’s kind of heavy,” I chuckle.

“Oh, such a gentleman.”

“Daisy, get the fuck out of the way.”

“Yeah, unlike this one. What the hell do you see in him?” She rolls her eyes, stepping aside to let us both in.

“He’s sweet sometimes, believe it or not.”

“I don’t believe it,” she laughs.

Rohan takes the box away, placing it on the dining room table. His mother comes out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. And they really do look so much alike. She’s beautiful, her hair just as golden as Rohan’s but longer.

“You must be Tyson. How are you? Sit. It’s almost time to eat.” She smiles brightly, “You’re tall.”

I laugh because that’s something my mom would’ve said.

“I’m great, thank you for having me, Mrs. Chandra.”

“Of course. Rohan’s dad is still working, so I don’t know if he’ll be back in time, but make yourself at home.”

“Thank you.”

Rohan and his mom huddle together. They think I can’t hear them, but they’re still close enough to clearly make out. “He’s really handsome, Rohan. Don’t be too mean to this one.”

He doesn’t reply, just rolls his eyes. The whole thing is so warm that it makes me laugh. Later I meet his older sister Nalina, she doesn’t talk as much as Daisy, who spent the entire dinner telling us about her semester and how much she hates school. I’ve never felt so at peace anywhere, though. Seeing Rohan fight with both of them over the last piece of bread his mother apparently makes from scratch. Which Rohan’s mom ends up giving to me in the end.