Page 21

Twenty. Swoooooon

Elias

I t takes me a while, but I finally close the article and put my phone away. Vera’s right, this asshole doesn’t know how hard it is to play the sport. Or how difficult it is to come back after an injury the way I did.

Instead, I focus on Vera.

I have no fucking clue who Comma Toes are—I thought they were called Comatose until she corrected me—but judging by the way she’s singing along and throwing her hands in the air, she’s very familiar with their music. The minute the band came on, I lost my date to them. But it’s worth it to watch her groove with other patrons, everyone singing into invisible microphones, tossing their hair and bodies around.

When she suggested a secret gig , I was sceptical because I thought it would be us and not the whole fucking world. However, spending an evening with Vera? Even with a bar full of strangers is totally my type of thing. She’s been away from me for most of the evening so far and I don’t hate it. Because she glances over regularly to make sure I’m okay, smiling so wide and fucking beautiful it takes everything in me not to pull her back into my lap and keep her there.

It’s terrifying how quickly I’ve fallen in love with her.

At the same time, it feels right.

When I stepped onto the field in Hyderabad, I was unsettled. I don’t know if anybody noticed it, but I was on edge the whole time. I got us the win we needed and it improved my mood, however, I still didn’t feel comfortable in my skin. While it’s a low hum now, I can’t seem to shake it off. The hardest part is I know what it is and I’m not sure what to do about it.

Being in love with Vera when she doesn’t feel the same way is going to drive me absolutely insane. The right thing to do is to end our arrangement, because the only person getting hurt here is me. It’s been weighing on me since she called me her friend and I loathe the way it prickles under my skin. I thought having her close would quiet the voice, but it’s gotten louder since I walked through her front door.

Talking about it would help, but I don’t know how to bring it up.

The music switches to a ballad and I push my chaotic thoughts away as couples start pairing off. Vera spins in a slow circle, the hand holding her glass swaying over her head. Her eyes are closed and she’s vibing on her own. All night, I’ve caught people admiring her and thankfully none have approached. Because I might turn into the kind of person I hate. Being possessive isn’t attractive. I may have said I can’t share her, but that doesn’t mean I can go in swinging if someone shows interest. Speaking of which…this tall, burly dude is now a foot away from my girl and he’s rubbing his jaw and licking his lips like he’s about to pounce on her. I don’t even realise I’ve moved until she’s grinning up at me.

“My knight in shining armour,” she teases, one arm loosely wrapped around my neck.

“More like possessive asshole, but I prefer the positive spin you put on it.”

She laughs and finishes her drink, setting it on the table closest to us. “I like you being possessive.”

“How would you feel about me punching someone for looking at you like you’re their next meal?”

“I’d hate it. Mostly because you’d hurt yourself again and we can’t have that.” I shake my head as she massages my injured shoulder and pouts up at me. “But also, it might get me really hot and I’d let you fuck me in the bathroom.”

Of course Vera would be into public sex. I have nothing against it, but I’m too famous right now to even consider the possibility. I’d fuck her anywhere, everywhere and all the damn time if I could.

“I’ll keep that in mind for the off season.”

“I’ll remind you,” she replies, hums along with the song. I’m still processing the fact we’re talking about being together even after the ICL is over. There’s a pinch in my chest and I decide she’s not aware of what she’s saying.

The band announces they’re taking a fifteen minute break and the lights come back on. I hurriedly tug my cap lower and keep my head down as I guide Vera back to our table, which thankfully hasn’t been taken over by other patrons. She drops into the chair beside mine, swinging her legs on my lap. One hand tugs at the hair under my cap before she squeezes my neck. Thanks to the brighter than usual lights, I can see how dark her eyes are, the black in her brown orbs taking up all the space available. My dick stirs at her expression and I know if we weren’t in public, she’d mount me and forget about everything else.

Her hand slides to my jaw and she pulls me forward, our mouths crashing in a messy kiss. She giggles before we find the exact angle, her lips parting and tongue darting out to stroke against mine. I grip her legs draped across my lap so all our moving doesn’t unseat the both of us. The kiss deepens, the taste of her rum intoxicating as I suck on her tongue a little harder before we’re breaking away.

She hums, eyes hooded as she rubs her thumb around my mouth. “Sorry for abandoning you. I haven’t seen these guys live since college.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. I had the best seat in the house.”

“Is that right?”

“I got to watch your dress ride up every time you were head banging. Others probably got to see it too, but none of them will ever know what’s under this outfit.” I tug at the hem of her dress, which has now put her soft thighs on display. I love how comfortable Vera is in her body that she doesn’t adjust her clothes unless she’s flashing too much. Right now, she’s showing off the right amount and my hands are greedy as they map all of the visible skin.

She sighs and kisses me again, gripping the back of my neck as I sink into her. I’ll never get sick of this—the touching and grazing, the way she stares into my eyes and how so often there are smiles she doesn’t offer anyone else. Not to mention the way she kisses me, like she needs me to breathe.

Fuck, I need her to do just about anything.

“Now, tell me what’s on your mind,” she says softly as she leans away.

Do it. Tell her. Speak your mind. “I don’t want to be your friend.” Her eyes widen and I cringe before adding, “I want to be more than your friend, Vera.”

She stares at me and I see the moment it clicks. She nods slowly and licks her lips. “I’m sorry for saying that. You are more than a friend, Elias. I have…my history with rel—” she’s cut off when the band starts up again and I swallow hard. “Let’s get out of here.”

I nod, because as much as this band means something to her, I need to be alone with her. I need us to have this conversation. Or I’m going to completely lose my mind. We’re on our feet, hands linked as we head to the exit. She’s silent by my side as the valet hurries off to get my car. When he returns, I tip him and get in. Once we’re on the main road, I turn to her and she’s already staring at me. “Where do you wanna go?”

“Drive around for a bit?”

I reach for her hand, slipping my fingers between hers, and follow the traffic with no destination in mind. It’s quite late, but I still stay under the speed limit and follow every rule I can to avoid getting caught by the cops. Even as I think it, two officers in brown pants and white shirts appear out of nowhere and wave us to the side. This is how the Chennai cops catch drunk drivers and bikers without helmets. Gotta give them credit for finding new ways to trick us.

Before the cop can see where my other hand is, I roll down the window and blow into the candy striped straw attached to the breathalyser. I keep my head down so they don’t recognise me. He hands me the straw and gestures for us to drive on.

“They always make this so dramatic,” she says once I’ve rolled up my window and merge with the rest of the traffic.

“It’s an intimidation tactic. Bash and I got pulled over once. The cop recognised us and got so flustered, he dropped all the straws and caused the most epic pile-up.”

She laughs. “Is that why you’ve got your cap low tonight, so he wouldn’t recognise you?”

When I reach for her hand again, she envelopes mine between both of hers. I smile, despite the turmoil in my head.

“Partly. I just want to be a regular guy out with his girl.”

“Swoooooon.” Her voice is all breathy and I chuckle.

“You’re not supposed to say the word.”

“Well, I didn’t want to distract you with my very good performance of a swoon.”

I shake my head and turn into a side street, looking for a spot where I can park. Her hands tense around mine, but as much as driving around is fun, I don’t think I could multitask right now. Pulling up below a tree, I leave the AC on and turn off the engine. The silence is deafening and I have questions on the tip of my tongue, but I’m not sure how to even say all the words.

“Were you thinking about it during the match today?” she asks softly.

I grit my teeth and nod. “I know this wasn’t supposed to happen. But something changed. Right?”

“It did. Everything changed.” She exhales loudly and says, “I’ve had really bad experiences with relationships. Two pretty bad heartbreaks has made me a little wary of trying again. And yeah, I know people react to relationships differently, but I was too jaded by what happened to trust again.”

I meet her watery gaze and nod slowly. “I get it, I think. I mean, I get that heartbreak can really shatter your confidence and trust in people. But I’m not them.”

She laughs and sniffles. “When we first met, you were them. Handsome, charming, funny, said you liked me a little wild. The sex, however, that’s different. Better . I convinced myself I could fuck you and it would be fine. Clearly not.”

“Do you regret it?”

“That’s not what I meant. I do not regret us . Fuck,” she groans and releases my hand to wipe under her eyes. “I’m terrified.”

“Of me?”

“Of my feelings for you. I don’t know how to put it into words or express them properly, but we are so much more than friends, Elias. You and me, we fit. We…we make sense.”

“We do fit and make sense,” I agree and smile when our gazes meet.

“Please be patient with me.”

I’ll fucking wait until the ends of the earth for you . “Of course.”

She releases a shaky breath and stares out the window. “I thought I was a good girlfriend, but my past will tell you I’m not. I work too much, my priorities are all wonky, I’m too mouthy, crass and my wildness is only appreciated sometimes . So I…my track record shows I’m not good enough.”

“Vera, that’s…fuck whoever told you that. You’ve spent the last few weeks reminding me I’m more than enough, so let me return the favour. You’re fucking perfect. I like how mouthy you are, I like the crass things you say. And baby, I love you wild. I like how passionate you get about your job and the people you work with. I am constantly impressed by you and I promise, you’re a pretty incredible girlfriend.”

She stares at me unblinking and I nod, because even though she called me her friend and we’ve been dancing around our relationship for weeks; she’s the perfect girlfriend.

“Does that make you my boyfriend?”

“I’ll be anything you want me to be, peaches.”

“Mine?”

My heart jumps and I nod. “Yours.”

Then she’s pulling me across the centre console and kissing me. I smile against her mouth as she grips my shirt in one hand and my hair in the other. It’s a whole new kind of kiss— gentle and soft, but also very desperate and I love how Vera pours herself into it. Moaning, her tongue slides over my bottom lip and I cup her jaw, opening up for her. Our tongues make contact and a shiver runs up my spine, because holy fuck, I will never tire of kissing her. Someone whizzes past us and the car shakes, breaking our kiss and I blink through the haze and darkness to admire her.

“I’m yours too,” she admits softly and I’m kissing her again. She’s mine . And no matter how long it takes her to get comfortable with us as a couple, I’ll fucking wait. Even if it means forever.

“What now?”

After our conversation and kissing, a grouchy old security guard from the building we were parked in front of shooed us away, I started driving aimlessly. It’s getting late but I don’t care, because I’m on the top of the world.

With her free hand, Vera scrolls through her phone. “Hungry?”

“For you.”

“If we hurry, we can visit my favourite thattukada? 1 before it closes,” she says, ignoring my flirting.

“Is it close by?”

“On Marina? 2 .” As the GPS directs me, she adds, “We can pick it up and eat at home, so you can eat a late dinner and me without prying eyes.”

The straight way she says it surprises me and I choke on my spit. When I glance at her, she’s grinning devilishly, and I’m reminded again how much I fucking love her. I turn onto Beach Road and I stop at the curb. I know if the cops at either end of the road see me there, they’ll fine me. But before I can say as much, Vera’s out of the car and hurrying towards the blue cart at the edge of the beach. I check my surroundings, while also keeping an eye on my woman and after fifteen minutes, she hurries back with three bundles wrapped in newspaper, oil already seeping through the layers. I hear a loud whistle and know our time is up, so I quickly put the car in gear and hit the accelerator and drive as fast as possible away from being caught.

Half turned around in the passenger seat, Vera’s cackling makes me smile. This woman has me doing things I never would have even imagined in the past. I’ve gone to secret gigs, parked illegally on the side of the road and I’ve wandered around the city in the middle of the ICL season in a ball cap.

All because I would do anything to have more time with her and make her smile.