Page 82 of Protect my Heart

“Why?” He laughs lightly. “Will you fight them?”

I laugh evilly. “No, I will pour chili powder in their eyes, kick them in their nuts, and paint their faces black!” I exclaim.

He laughs again. “I like the sound of it.” He says, “But I got my revenge.” He smirks. Before I can ask how, he says, “Now, it’s your turn.”

I fall back on the pillows, letting my eyes drift toward the ceiling. “Well… Gaurav and Kabir made my life hell.”

He frowns. “Your stepbrothers?”

I nod. “I don’t know; everything was a lie, you know.” I look up at him. “I just got to know the reality of my father; it makes sense why he was always siding with those two.”

He pulls me close again, his thumb rubbing small circles on my hip.

“College was… fine. I blended in. Made a few friends who I don’t talk to anymore. Apparently, I’m a bad friend.”

He frowns. “Excuse me? You’re my best friend. Don’t you dare say that. It makes my choice questionable.”

I snort. “Of course you’d make this about yourself.”

“Obviously.”

I nudge his shoulder. “Any relationships?” he asks.

I pause. “Yup. One. Ended in two months. I regret it with every part of my being.”

He stiffens slightly. “Do you want me to take care of him?”

I laugh. “You sound like the mafia.”

“You never know. I might be.”

“Well, even if you are, keep it to yourself, please. I don’t want any involvement in your killings, thank you.”

He chuckles, low and warm. “Duly noted.”

A beat passes. His hand slips under the blanket, and he twines our legs together.

“Did you love him?” he asks quietly.

“No. I thought I did. But it wasn’t love. It was… loneliness. And the idea that someone finally chose me. But he didn’t really see me.”

“I see you,” Aarav says.

I swallow hard. “Yeah… yeah, you do.”

We fall into a comfortable silence again, his lips brushing the side of my forehead. The fan rotates overhead, the moonlight filtering through the window drapes, casting soft silver shadows across the room. It feels sacred. Like something I don’t want to break by speaking too loud or moving too much.

“I’m glad we’re here,” I whisper. “Like this. After everything.”

“Me too,” he replies.

I glance up. “Do you think we’re finally okay now?”

He smiles, brushing a knuckle down my cheek. “We’ve always been a little messed up. But with you beside me? Yeah. I think we’re more than okay.”

I smile, my heart fuller than it’s been in years.

He pulls me closer, tucking my head under his chin. I think we will be fine.