I wipe my face and open the bottle. “Wait for a while,” Anya says. I cock an eyebrow. “It’s said we should not drink water immediately after workouts,” she says, “At least in India, it is said.” She shrugs. I chuckle. She picks up her coffee mug, but before she can take a sip, I snatch it from her, careful not to spill it. “What the hell?” She frowns and gasps.
“Drink water first, baby,” I command.
“Are you ordering me?” She crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow.
I smile sheepishly. “You think I could ever do that?” I pat her head. “No, I am not. I am just begging because the only liquid you consume is coffee, and I have no idea how you survive on that.”
She grumbles. “I can drink whatever I want, thank you very much.” She pouts, her lip jutting out, and I have to stop myself from biting it and pulling her onto my lap right here.
“Come on.” I shift closer to her. “Be a good girl and drink your water, Firecracker,” I whisper in her ear, biting her earlobe. She shudders, her cheeks reddening at my words. I can practically see her melting as my breath tickles her ear. I can’t help but feel smug at how effortlessly I make her blush.
She sighs. “Fine.” Conceding,, her lips press into a thin line as she grabs the bottle from my hand.
I chuckle at her expression. She looks like a grumpy puppy, but it’s even funnier, considering her small frame and the oversized hoodie she wears. I continue to smile to myself, watching her gulping down the water.
She glances at me and narrows her eyes. “What are yougrinning about?” she huffs.
“Can’t a guy smile for no reason?” I grin. She crosses her arms, but I can see the red in her cheeks, and it fills me with satisfaction.
I’m a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world,
Life in plastic, it’s fantastic.
What the fuck. I look around. She laughs out loud. “It’s your phone.” I stare at her in disbelief, and she shrugs. “You remember the first time you tried to kiss me and couldn’t because my phone rang? Your face was a sight. I wanted to see it again.”
I roll my eyes. “That was the worst timing imaginable,” I grumble. I pick up my phone.
“It’s my dad. I have to take this,” I say. She nods so I pick up the call.
“Hi, Danny,” Dad says, his voice sounding better than the last time.
“Hi, Dad.” I smile. “I heard there’s progress in your treatment.”
“Yeah,” he says. I can sense the smile in his voice, which makes me grin. Anya holds my hand and plays with my thumb absent-mindedly.
“Dad.” I pause and peck her cheek. “I am coming to visit you next Sunday. My match is on Friday,” I say gently.
“I know. All the best,” he says half-heartedly.
“Dad, I promised you,” I murmur. “I won’t torment you after this.” I chuckle almost painfully. “If I do not win this match, I will not play basketball professionally.” Anya gasps and stands up, her eyes wide.
‘Are you mad?’ she mouths.
“I will take over your business,” I say firmly.
Dad sighs. “Okay. I am not happy about it either, but I amdoing it for you.”
I ignore him. “And, Dad.”
Anya swats my arm. ‘Don’t ignore me,’ she mouths again as she places her hands on her hips in frustration.
“I am bringing my girlfriend. I would like you to meet her.” She gasps again. I am so dead.
“Okay,” Dad says. “I am eager to meet her.” He cuts the call with that.
“You didn’t even ask me?” she whisper-yells.
“I don’t have to.” I shrug.
