Page 55 of Stumped

Elias’s picture and stats appear on the screen and while I can’t hear what the commentators are saying, it’s clear the fans are excited he’s back. When the camera pans in for a close-up, he raises his bat, adorned with all his sponsors, and the crowd goes nuts again. I cover my mouth as a smile stretches across my lips, tears prick the back of my eyes.

So proud of you, superstar.

He rolls his shoulders and gets into position, and the whole bar goes quiet. The camera pans out and I hold my breath as the bowler starts his run-up. His form is beautiful and when the ball leaves his hand, I clench mine tightly. I tense in anticipation and it takes a few seconds, but the loudwhackof Elias’s bat making contact fills the space. The ball soars higher and further before it drops into the stands. There’s a moment of shocked silence before the crowd erupts. I’m vibrating, my heart racing so fast it’ll be outside of my body any minute now. Tears fill my vision and I close my eyes to calm myself down, because there’s no way I can watch the rest of his playing if I’m crying. And I definitely don’t need all these drunk people thinking I’m some kind of crazy woman crying over an athlete.

They’ll never understand how fucking proud I am.

Focused on the television again, I press a hand to my speeding heart as Elias hits another six, a four, then a short two runs before he’s aiming for the stands again. When he’s in the non-striker?1 position I move through the crowd quickly. Given that everyone’s standing, it takes me a few minutes to find ourtable and only because Tamara appears in front of me, grabbing my shoulders.

“Are you okay? Where did you go?”

“Toilet,” I reply, drunk on watching Elias play. “He’s so beautiful, Tam.”

“Who?”

“Elias.”

She looks around before focusing on me. “He’s here?”

I point behind me. “He’s playing again.”

“Vera, what are you saying?”

Grabbing her arms, I smile. “Elias was cleared to play. I just watched him.”

She nods slowly. “You’ve got it so bad for this man, Vee.”

“I know.Fuck, I know.”

Tam laughs and wraps her arms around me. I hug her back and we sway in place as the bar cheers again. With our elbows linked, we walk back to the table where Krys and Millie are standing as well, worried expressions on their faces.

“I’m so sorry. I came out of the restroom and got turned around.”

“Also the man she’s fucking just made an appearance,” Tamara offers and our friends gasp, craning their necks to see where he might be. I shake my head and fill up my glass.

“Where?” Krys asks, frowning as she gives up on spotting him.

“Because he’s not actuallyhere. He’s…” I wave a hand, unsure of how to explain I’m sleeping withElias Joseph.

“She’s fucking a cricketer.”

“What?!” Millie and Krys say at the same time and I wince at the volume before shooting Tam a glare.

“I’ve been…in asituationshipthing with Elias Joseph.”

They stare at me, mouths flapping like fish. Millie and Krys’s partners are huge cricket fans and I know my friends watch the sport too, so their reaction isn’t one of confusion. More of shock.

“What the fuck, Vee?” Krys whisper-hisses and turns around to point at the closest television, where the object of our conversation is getting into position at the crease. “Seriously?”

I nod and smile, watching as Elias takes another shot so effortlessly, his head tipped back before the camera follows the ball into the stands.

“They’re in love,” Tamara offers tartly.

“Tam.”

“Venkat is going to lose his mind when he finds out,” Krys says and stills before adding, “Am I allowed to tell him?”

“As long as your husband can keep a secret, I don’t care.”

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