Page 78 of Stumped

“A little turned on watching you wield that bat and threaten me with a good time.”

“I might wield your bat the way you like it too,” she teases and I groan.

“Looks like I’m the one winning tonight either way.”

Vera laughs and shoves me. “Stop distracting me, I have a match to win.”

I back away and stand near one of the blue flags as Bash hands out more instructions. Vera’s very focused as the first ball is thrown and I’m not even a little surprised she gets four runs right away. She gets another four with the second ball and a single run after that. Samar hoots and cheers every time she hits the ball, and even though I’m on the ‘opposing’ team, I’m having the best time watching her. When the batting changes and Samar takes over, Vera comes over to kiss me loudly. Thisonly makes my friends whistle before she goes off to sit beside Tamara, all her delicious skin on display.

Fucking hell, she really is mine.

And shedidkickour butts.

I can’t tell you how or what she did differently, but one minute the ball was crossing the red flags and the next she was catching them all. Between her and Samar, there was absolutely no chance at winning. You’d think being professional cricketers, Bash and I could win. My sexy girlfriend made sure to not let that happen.

Vera also figured out what she wanted as a prize: Bash and me waiting on her and Tamara all evening.

After cricket, we came back to the house to wash up for the evening. Patrick and Nina should be arriving soon—Kuriakose texted me when he was at the airport to pick them up—so until they get there, I’m refilling drinks and admiring Vera. She’s sitting at the long wooden dining table with her feet kicked up on the bench beside her.

“Hey superstar, come sit with me!” she calls out. I grab my beer and join her, smiling as she leans in and presses her mouth to mine. “Hi.”

I chuckle and kiss her again. “You having a good time, peaches?”

“I haven’t been on holiday in a long time, so yes.”

“I’m glad you could be here.”

She nuzzles into my neck. “Right where I’m meant to be. She might not say it, but thank you for inviting Tam.”

“Happy to have her.” I run my hand over Vera’s ponytail and twist it around my wrist, gently tugging her head back so I can look into her eyes. “You were so fucking hot out there,” I whisper.

“Watching me play cricket got you all hot and bothered?”

“Watching youexistalways does, but you and cricket? Hazardous.”

She grins, closing the space between us again as I cup the back of her head. The words linger at the tip of my tongue; I want to tell her I am madly in love with her, like Tamara said I should, but I’m nervous. Talking about her past is important and I haven’t brought it up again becausesheneeds to be ready to go down that road.

The sound of car doors slamming shut breaks the kiss and I smile. “They’re here.”

She scrunches up her nose. “They’ll like me, right?”

This is a version of Vera I haven’t seen—nervous and shy, tension settling in her shoulders—but I’m absolutely certain my siblings are going to love her. I release her hair and cup her face instead, thumb brushing over her cheeks.

“They’re going toloveyou,” I say.Just like I love you. She nods, nibbling on her bottom lip, so I add, “You have nothing to worry about. I promise. They’re a little psychotic, but harmless.”

“That sounds like Tam.”

I chuckle and get up, helping her to her feet. With our hands linked, we walk into the house as a loud voice echoes in the space.

“What the fuck areyoudoing here?”

“Ohno,” Vera mumbles and hurries ahead of me, both of us coming to a stop when we see Tamara glaring at Patrick. Nina’s looking between them as she slowly backs away. I can feel the tension ripple between my brother and Tamara, but I don’t know how to diffuse it.

Patrick flashes his famous smile, the one that wins over people and also gets us into trouble. “Hey, Lotus.”

Twenty-Six. Ah, adulting

Vera

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