Page 128 of Rebound

Oh and I most definitely got my sex room up and running. We put in a hidden door that blends perfectly with the rest of the wall so nobody ventures in there. In the month since we officially moved in, Patrick and I have used the room a lot. It’s a really good thing I know how to design and soundproof rooms, because we’ve been loud.

I look around the garden and smile at the number of people here. We’ve set up a buffet on one side and a long bar on another, where most of the guys are congregating. Elias and his friends are laughing at something on one of their phones; Nihal, his wife and Patrick’s teammates are standing near the food and talking while serving themselves; Nina’s standing with Kaia as they eat and chat. After all of her scandals, Kaia’s finally gotten her feet under her. She’s still one of the most incredible cricketers I’ve ever seen and I’m glad Patrick invited her to join their coaching staff; kids will be so lucky to learn from her. My aunts, uncles, cousins, Patrick’s family; everyone’s mingling and talking like they’ve known each other forever. And maybe they do. One of the perks of being Syrian Christian Malayalis is we’re all connected in some way or the other.

That’s when I notice my husband is nowhere in sight. I excuse myself from my friends and go in search of him, smiling when I find him leaning against the custard apple tree at the back. He’s twisting his wedding ring while sipping on his drink and is truly the most beautiful sight. Like our baby shower, we picked each other’s clothes and I put him in light blue trousers and a thin striped shirt. His hair is pulled back in a knot and his beard is lush and groomed. His lips are curved in a small smile as he watches everyone gathered and I feel so much love for him, my heart presses hard against my ribs.

“Hey, Trick.”

His smile widens when he sees me. “Hey, Lotus.”

I walk towards him, smoothing my hands over the black pants hugging my wide hips. He picked this black lace bustier with a sweetheart neckline for me and I have to admit I look incredible. His eyes trace the shape of my body and he whistles as I reach his side.

“You are a vision.”

“Takes one to know one.”

He slides an arm around my waist and squeezes my hip. “Thank you for letting us host the party here.”

“It’s your house too or did you forget?”

“Just say ‘you’re welcome, Daddy’, Lo.”

I laugh and tip my head back. “You’re welcome, Daddy. Besides, I wanted to show off my husband to the world too.”

He chuckles and tugs me closer. I can see something else in his eyes and I grip his chin to keep his attention on me. “Thinking about the Cup, aren’t you?”

“How do you know me so well?”

“I’m a Patrick Joseph expert, didn’t you know?”

He shakes his head. “I’m really excited about it and can’t wait to bring home another trophy before I walk away. But it’s also nerve-racking since I’ve possibly set myself up for failure.”

“The man I know, the man I married, would never go into something thinking about failure,” I say and he rolls his eyes. “Is this stressful? Yes. But you’ve done this before. You know at the end of it all, you’re officially done. So give it your all. And if you don’t win, you can walk away knowing you did your best.”

“But I wanna win,” he says with a pout.

“Then go win. What’s stopping you?”

“Absolutely nothing, my love.”

“Exactly. And for the record, my collection is looking a little bleak. So I need that medal.”

He laughs and kisses me, a hand cupping the back of my head as I lean into him. Despite my words, we don’t put his trophies and medals on display. We built a safe in our bedroom to store everything and nobody but Patrick and I know the code. I’m pretty sure he’s the only one who ever remembers it.

The sound of Susannah squealing gets our attention and I look over to see Varun grinning at her, his girlfriend by his side.

“Come on, I need some cuddles,” Patrick says, kissing the side of my head. “And maybe later, Daddy can get some too?”

I poke his stomach and he laughs, taking my hand to lead me into the melee. My eyes roam across the garden and my heart expands. I’ve never lacked people who love me or family who cares about me. I’ve always belonged somewhere. But with all these people here, it finally feels like I’m where I’m meant to be. Where everything makes sense.

The Love League continues…