Maybe I’m over Tim. But I’m not over what he did.
Orwhohe did it with.
A woman.
A woman who now shows up in my mind more than my inbox.
Whose tiny, amused smiles feel like little victories I didn’t know I was chasing.
Whose careful words make me work for every inch of her trust.
Not a nameless blur of limbs. ButAarohi.
She wasn’t supposed to be like this—grounded, perceptive, resistant to the charm I used to win people over.
She was supposed to fall for the version of me I carefully curated for this plan.
But she’s not naive. She’s not simple. She’s not one-dimensional.
She makes me feel likeI’mthe one being examined. So if I want somethingrealfrom her, I’m afraid I’ll have to give somethingrealin return.
And that terrifies me.
Not because it’s hard. But because it’s unreasonably,dangerouslyeasy.
And easy... feels like surrender.
TEN
Lucian
This is not easy.
How the hell is shethisdrunk on just three margaritas? Why did I even suggest spicy ones?
Fucking idiot,I mutter internally.
I had envisioned a chill night—some music, a few arcade games, maybe a casual kiss if the vibe was right. Not this. Now I can’t kiss her even though I really,reallywant to.
Instead, I’ve got a fully drunk Rohi—this tiny, chaotic hobbit—prancing around in an incredibly short black dress, high on citrus and tequila.
Fucking hell.
If she falls on her ass and flashes that perfect ass to this crowd of mouth-breathers, Iwillcommit a felony.
I move fast, catching her mid-fumble and wrapping an arm around her waist. She giggles, leaning into me without resistance. The bass-heavy music in this seedy arcade bar makes everything feel fuzzier than it already is.
“Sweetheart,” I murmur in her ear, “I think you need some water.”
She turns to me with hazy, glazed-over eyes, dreamy and dazed and utterly fucking stunning.
“I’m not drunk,” she declares.
A hiccup punctuates the statement.
I raise a brow. “Sure you’re not. But... maybeIam. And I need water, baby.”
I suppress a grin when she rolls her eyes and lead her to the bar, signaling the bartender with a nod.
