Page 88 of Stumped

My father worships the ground my mother walks on. Theirs might have been an arranged marriage, but it’s always been one of love. I’ve caught them cuddling on the couch, I’ve seen him watching her adoringly during large family functions.

“What more can I ask for?”

“Exactly.” I lean against her and sigh softly. “Ignore everything else, chakkare. The only thing that matters is you and him. I know this hurts and they took it too far, but you can rise above this.”

“Ihaveto let it go or it’ll make me miserable.”

“And in a day or two, they’ll find something else to be assholes about.”

“Amma!” I gasp.

“What? I’m an adult, I can say assholes. Maybe even sayfuckingassholes.”

“Oh my god, you rebel.”

She laughs and hugs me. “I’m so proud of you, Vera. And happy for you too.”

Show those Legends they messed with the wrong team.

Superstar

My father invitedme to stay after lunch to watch the match with him and my brothers, but I decided to be alone. Except a call went out and now I’m squished on the couch between Tamara, Millie and Krys with their men at our feet, as the Renegades battle the Legends. It’s tense and very stressful, so much so none of the snacks laid out on my coffee table have been touched. The condensation on our drinks has seeped into every coaster and it’s probably warm and gross now. But nobody cares. Our eyes are fixed on my TV as Samar runs up for the final ball of this over.

And he scores a hat-trick?2, knocking the third Mumbai batter out.

My living room erupts in loud cheers. We’re on our feet, bouncing around and screaming with joy. The Renegades have taken out the Legends’s best hope and our chances of winning the Qualifier has skyrocketed. The game returns after the commercial break and everyone settles down. This time, food is passed around and drinks are consumed. My friends are talking at once and I’m glad they showed up. The Legends have three overs left to salvage whatever score they can, but there’s no hope. Knowing this, I head to the kitchen to get myself a glass of water.

I’m not even a little surprised when Tamara follows me.

“Do you want to talk about you or me? Which will be a better distraction?”

I snort and lean against the fridge. “You, obviously.”

“Patrick asked me to meet him so we cantalk.”

“And you said…”

“Nothing.”

“Tam.”

She shrugs and tugs at her hair. “It’s been twenty-something years. Does it matter?”

“Um,yes. You were seconds away from killing him when he showed up. Don’t you want some closure?”

“What if it confuses me even more? Besides, Ijustgot out of a long-term relationship and I don’t need anything new.”

Tilting my head, I smile. “Who said anything about something new?”

“Ugh, I hate you.”

“Look, you have nothing to lose by meeting him. Maybe talking won’t help, but you won’t know unless you take the chance, right?”

“Being in love makes you too logical.”

“So weird, right?”

Tamara laughs and pulls me into a hug. I allow myself to lean into her, letting the worries of the day, the week, theyearfade away in that embrace. My cousin is my favourite person and she knows exactly how to help me calm down, even if she did show up with all our friends. But she still knewtheywould distract me enough to move past the article.

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