Page 66 of Right Where I Belong

Sabrina’s eyes softened, but her tone was resolute as she replied, “I’ll be happy to serve you dinner in your room, but Ahaan will be eating with Aditya and me.”

The other woman’s lips pressed into a thin line. A flush of anger crept over her face before she returned in the direction she had come from. A door closed behind her with a loud snap.

Sabrina exhaled a heavy breath. Aditya caught her hand in his. “Thank you for choosing me.”

She caressed his jaw. “You make it impossible not to. This last week has been so hard without you.”

“I’m glad you’re finally accepting it.”

“I haven’t stopped thinking about you since you came to my office. I wondered what you would do next. What would I do when it boiled down to it? And then suddenly, here you were. I saw you and, in that moment, I knew I wanted this. I wanted you. So, here we are.”

He lifted her hand and kissed it. “Here we are.”

She had chosen him, openly, in her own home. And that meant a lot. Now, he knew with utter certainty that they could have a future together.

Aditya looked in the direction her mother-in-law had gone. “Rithwik always said she was difficult to please. Now I understand his frustration.”

Sabrina shot him a look that was half reproach, half amusement. “She’s old, and quite set in her ways.”

“And you’re always too kind to her.”

At the surprise on her face, he said, “Not my words. Aisha’s.”

“Rithwik and Aisha talk too much,” Sabrina muttered.

“They confide in me,” Aditya explained with a smile.

“Please take a seat at the dining table,” Sabrina said. “We can have the wine later, once Ahaan’s asleep. For now, it’s his dinner time.”

Aditya nodded and lowered himself into a chair, his gaze checking out the kitchen. It was open to the living space, separated only by a narrow counter. Through the wide windows, the evening breeze flowed in, carrying the faint sounds of traffic. Pots simmered on the stove, steam curling upward, filling the air with warmth and spice.

“Ahaan!” she called.

The boy came rolling in on his new roller blades, beaming, his dog following him. “Mom, I can’t wait to wear these to my skating class.”

Sabrina’s lips curved into a smile as he twirled around her. “Take them off for now, and wash your hands. Dinner’s ready.”

“Okay!” Ahaan said cheerfully, clattering toward his room, once again the puppy tailing behind him.

“Maya follows him everywhere,” Aditya said.

“Yes, they are inseparable.”

Soon, Ahaan slid into the chair opposite him, while Maya sat at the boy’s feet.

For a moment, there was an awkward silence as the boy gazed up at him. Then Aditya leaned forward with a smile. “Your mom and I became very good friends when we were in Singapore together. I hope you don’t mind me joining you for dinner. Your mom is a great cook.”

“She is.” Ahaan looked at his mother, then at him. “Do you visit Singapore often?”

“I do. I work there several weeks a year.”

“I’d like to visit one day,” Ahaan said. “I just went to Dubai and London with Aish and Uncle Rithwik’s family, and I had so much fun. I loved it. I want to travel the whole world one day.”

Sabrina neared them. She ruffled her son’s hair. “One day you will, darling.”

Ahaan looked up at her, his expression full of warmth and trust. The quiet exchange between them made something stir in Aditya’s chest. The urge to get this little boy to like him and accept him beat harder inside him.

“So, Ahaan, what’s your favorite sport?”