Page 71 of Stumped

“I want to stay,” he insists.

“I uh…want to say I’m a huge fan,” Venkat, Krystina’s husband, says. “I’m trying to be cool, but I can’t because you’re the reason I started watching the ICL.”

Whoa. My friends and their partners enjoy the sport, but that’s a huge compliment and I feel the effect of those words on Elias.

“Thank…you. I…nobody’s ever said that to me before.” He laughs nervously and glances at me, shock and awe in his eyes.

“He’s a pretty good reason to get back into it,” I reply with a grin and Elias blushes, eyes dropping to his lap. His shoulders loosen up and grip on my neck lightens, which is enough.

When I look up, Millie’s fiancé, Jonathan is bouncing nervously and I laugh. “Okay, okay. You can ask him your questions for the next five minutes and then we’re moving the fuck on.”

“Yeah, totally,” Jon says and clears his throat. He leans across the table and arches an eyebrow. “What do you think yourchances are at the championship trophy? And uh…can we get tickets?”

“Jon!” Millie smacks his arm and flashes us an apologetic smile.

Elias laughs. “I don’t talk about the…first question. And yes to tickets. I’ve got some in the box for the next game, if you would like them.”

“I would be honoured to sit in your box,” Jon says, stars in his eyes and Millie yanks him back.

Venkat raises his hand like he’s in a classroom and Elias nods politely. “If you didn’t play for the Renegades, who would you want to play for? And uh, if it’s okay to ask, how’s your shoulder?”

“The Mavericks, maybe. I grew up in Bengaluru, so the city is special to me. The shoulder’s good. Lots of physiotherapy, being careful with my swings this time around and spending less time fielding to avoid further injury. And the right attention and care is helping.”

“I bet Vee’s been giving it aaaaaalllll the right attention,” Tamara says loudly and I roll my eyes. Elias grins, because he knows the truth. He leans over and kisses me, a sign he’s finally relaxing. I pinch his chin between my fingers and steal another kiss before he reaches for his drink.

“Speaking of Mavericks, what happened during the Bangalore match, man? That was one hell of a fumble.” All heads spin to my cousin’s date. Like I said, handsome and zero personality. Or tact, for that matter. He laughs, hands held up at our glares. “You didn’t say what questions were off limits.”

“Everyone has bad days and that was mine. I did fumble and fuck up and disappoint people, but I went out there and did my best,” Elias says calmly and my heart thunders with pride for this man. He picks up his drink and takes a sip as silencedescends on our table. Tamara’s berating her date, but my attention stays on Elias and when he turns to me, he shrugs.

“I’m so proud of you,” I say softly and he smiles.

“That’s all that matters.”

He kisses me again, ardent and intense. My fingers curl into the front of his shirt, the world around us fading away. When he pulls back, everyone at the table clears their throat andIblush while he grins. He kisses the tip of my nose and settles into his chair. Tamara’s alone at one end of the table, frowning and poking at her phone.

“Tam, you okay?”

“I don’t know what I was thinking bringing aTinderdate to girl’s night. I’m really sorry, Elias. Not the best first impression,” she says, forehead wrinkled as she puts her phone away.

“Don’t worry about it, seriously. Besides, it wasn’t a bad question. I’m sensitive about it, that’s all.”

He’s come so far since the first time we met and I know it’s because he’s been playing well consistently. They’ve won the last few matches and Elias’s performance was exceptional. I also know it’s also his growing confidence in himself and like he said, that’s what matters.

Conversation picks up effortlessly around the table and they talk about everything from work Venkat’s doing on their apartment to Millie’s adoption progress. Elias asks questions and gets very involved in their lives. I sit back and watch. I didn’t expect our evening to go this way, but having two of the important parts of my life connect was inevitable. And it feels good.

By the timewe get back to my flat, it’s two a.m. and we’re in the too-many-drinks-and-happy-mood phase of the night. We stumble into my bedroom, giggling and reaching for each other, clothes coming off one layer at a time. In my underclothes, I gather my hair into a messy bun and stand in front of the bathroom sink. Elias joins me after I’ve got all my makeup removed and face scrubbed clean, spreading toothpaste onto our brushes. He hands me mine and with drunken smiles, we brush our teeth. He sways slightly, eyes closed, one hand on my hip and I smile at how good we look together.

We’re really taking thistogetherthing seriously.

My friends approve, judging by all the thumbs up emojis littering my group chat with the girls. Tamara mentioned family lunch and invited Elias, so he’s going to meet my parents and brothers in two days. Not to be left out, he invited everyone to his annual beach getaway with his siblings and friends. Krys and Millie said they couldn’t make it, much to the chagrin of their men, but my cousin hopped on board instantly.

In the past, I would have hesitated and berated Tamara for what she did. But I do want my parents to meet Elias. It can be slightly overwhelming, but he didn’t flinch at the invite so he wants this too. He’s not hiding his feelings from me and definitely not pressuring me to do the same. But knowing he wants this, wantsme,is a good reminder everything’s going to be fine. This relationship might have been unexpected, but every little change—his clothes appearing in my cupboard to his toiletries in my bathroom—has felt right.

Like we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.

“You okay?” He squeezes my hip and I nod.

“Happy,” I assure him, spit into the sink and rinse out my mouth, but when I move aside, he grips my hip to hold me in place.

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