Page 19 of Her Former Bear Mate

And frustratingly, Lena's neutral expression had always been one she found hard to read.Even when they were together.

Uncomfortable and out of sorts, Aditi exchanged a nervous smile with her ex.She had no idea what this meant but she was kind of curious to find out.

She followed everyone out into the garden where the games were set up.Aditi tried not to focus too much on that or Lena, instead pouring all her focus into trying to win.The first round, a blindfolded obstacle course, was a piece of cake.She shouted instructions at Lena who easily jumped over all the scattered toys and laundry with her long legs.It was an easy win and they celebrated with a hesitant high five.

She was determined to win the next round too but her ambitions were quickly squashed when they were given a stuffed bear.The challenge?To put on a diaper while blindfolded.Since neither of them had any experience with it, it turned into a talcum powder disaster.Aditi nearly choked on the cloud of perfumed dust and she was glad when the game ended.

Lena snorted."You've got some here."She touched her own cheek.

"Is it gone?"Aditi asked as she wiped her face.

"No, you actually added even more.Go like this."Lena slapped her own cheeks while she shook her face.

Aditi couldn't help but laugh at the silly sight.She mimicked the action, surprised by how much powder was flying off of her.

"You look like you've been in a crack den or something," Lena joked, snickering under her breath.

"So just the hospital then," Aditi joked back as she coughed out some of the powder.

Lena patted her back which turned into soothing repetitive circles.There was something calming and stirring about the motion, it made Aditi sink into it.Nobody gave better back rubs than Lena.

She relished in the familiar feeling until she snapped back to reality and remembered this was not something to find comfort in.

They played a few more games, all baby-themed.She particularly loved the guess round with baby pictures of all the guests, mostly because baby Lena was the cutest thing in the world.And while Lena didn't say anything, she did look at Aditi's baby picture with a strange intensity.

Aditi considered making a joke about it but decided against it.The afternoon was going remarkably well, she didn't want to spoil it by becoming overly sentimental.Not when they were getting along better than they had since the breakup.This wasn't where she thought they would be but it was better than the usual frosty tension.

A little whistle was blown to announce the next round.Maria's sister held up a stack of papers with pens."The last round is the calendar relay.One person in the team will have a schedule, the other person needs to write it all down.You may not show them your schedule.But there's a catch!I'll be playing loud music and crying baby noises to distract you."

Everyone groaned and some of the couples looked confident, while others already looked defeated.Aditi was fairly confident about the task, communication had never been an issue between her and Lena, and she wasn't going to be distracted by some noise.

What she hadn't counted on was the distraction thatwasLena whispering in her ear.Even while she was saying the most boring and mundane things like, Aditi was unable to focus.Lena's breathy voice made it impossible to concentrate because her ear was warm and every instruction whispered by Lena was like liquid electricity crackling down her neck.

It was a good thing they were in public because it was bringing back memories of passionate nights and intimate mornings.

"Aditi?Are you even listening?"Lena gave her a little nudge.

"Yes, I am, sorry."Aditi focused on her empty piece of paper and wrote down some random events in random boxes while she tried her best to listen.

The game was over before Aditi realised it and they placed last.She didn't even care, she was focusing too hard on getting her heartbeat under control.And the worst part was that Lena knew far too well that this was a turn-on.

Awkward, awkward, awkward.

"That was an, umm, interesting game," Lena said, looking everywhere but Aditi.She totally, totally knew.Of course she knew, there had been plenty of nights that started with whispers and ended in screams.

Beet red and flustered, Aditi excused herself to get some water and calmed herself down by washing her hands under cold water.Very cold water.This was her ex, for fuck's sake.Her heart shouldn't be pounding like crazy and she hated her body for reacting like this.It was like it had forgotten the horrible heartbreak and intense fights, it was just ready for make up sex.

That was not going to happen.Aditi knew Lena well enough that there would be no back-sliding.Lena was far too unyielding for that, a quality Aditi always admired in her.She wished her own spine was made from whatever material Lena's was because she was always far too quick to bend.

Even now, she couldn't help the hope springing up in her chest even if her head knew there was no future for them.As long as they disagreed about commitment, there was no path forward.

"You're such an idiot," she whispered to herself, disappointed with the woman in the mirror."Get a grip."

ELEVEN

Lena

Lena pushedher trolley through the biscuit aisle of the supermarket, not really paying attention to the brands or prices as she just mowed packets into her cart.Was eating her weight in carbs and sugar going to solve her problems?

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