Theo nudges me, his look of disgust screaming at me for being pathetic.
Rohan grunts his hello, trailing behind his sisters like a ginormous bodyguard. Fuck, I hope he doesn’t kill me when he finds out about us. I’m only partly registering Rohan talking about his summer plans when Theo turns to Alia and asks her the same thing.
Her gaze flickers to me and for an instance, panic flashes across her face.
How. . . odd.
“Nothing’s set yet,” she replies, her soft voice nearly drowned by Rohan’s grumble.
“You say that like you’re not going to do it.”
“Do what?” The question is out before I can stop myself. Rohan’s eyes swings toward me at the same time as Alia’s.
“Nothing,” she mumbles unconvincingly.
I notice Irsia fidgeting next to her, her expression frozen. Unease slithers down my spine. What the fuck is going on?
“I wouldn’t call it nothing. It’s a big fucking deal, Aloo.”
Alia pinkens at the pride in Rohan’s tone and all I can do is stare at her. I hate that I don’t know what they’re talking about. I especially hate that it’s about Alia and I’m in the dark.
“Care to share what you know, Moore? What’s with the secrecy?” I keep my tone light but the smile on my face is tight. My foot taps in place as my nerves overtake me.
Rohan throws one arm around Alia and announces with as much of a grin as his grumpy face can handle, “Aloo’s gonna be a cricket coach.”
I release a trapped breath. The cricket club director must’ve called her.
“Congratulations, Tots,” I say, pleased for her. Do I wish I was the first to find out? Of course. But that doesn’t mean I’m not proud. I’m mentally planning a celebratory date. She can dress up for me, we’ll pop some champagne, I even have a restaurant I’ve been wanting to take her to. They have a mango tiramisu on their menu I’m certain she’ll enjoy.
“Nicely done.” Theo fist-bumps her as more well-wishes pour in. Oddly, Alia doesn’t look happy. I tip my chin up, questioning her silently. She shakes her head once, her smile nowhere close to reaching her eyes. I wonder why.
“When do you start?” Mateo questions.
“It’s not decided yet.”
“At least you’ll still be around to see us get to the playoffs before leaving for India.”
My ears ring with a whining noise that pierces through the chatter around me. My throat feels dry despite the drink I’ve been chugging. My lips struggle to form words, battling me when I open them.
“I-India?” I croak.
Alia’s eyes plead with me to understand. . .what?
“Yeah,” Rohan nods, frowning like I’m being too slow. “As the new assistant coach for the Indian women’s cricket team.”
45
CALLUM
I’m not sure how I got here.
This parking spot has seenalotof me over the last few months, but I don’t recall ever thinking I’d rather get run over by a car right here than reply to the messages Alia’s sending me.
My mind is still reeling after Moore dropped a reveal bomb that’s left me feeling like I’ll be picking shrapnel out of my heart for the foreseeable future.
I kept hoping I’d misunderstood something but, as time wore on, I was left to digest the unsettling news that Alia was leaving. . .me.
The voice in my head jeers at the plans I’d made. The future I’d started to envision.