10
Oliver
THE BAT FELT HEAVIER in my hands than it had in years. For the first time in my life, it felt like I couldn’t turn off the world, that the weight of everything else and the things I couldn’t control or fix were looming over me as if everything deepened on it, and not even cricket could be my escape.
Rihaan’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Mate, focus. You’re swinging like you’ve never seen a ball before.”
I clenched my jaw at his assessment. It wasn’t unusual for us to be at the nets. He and I had been running drills together for years, but something about today felt… off.
I shook my head, attempting to shake off the lingering thoughts as I got back in position. I tightened my grip on the bat and Rihaan started his run-off, spitting another ball towards me.
This time, my swing was clean—sending the ball straight into the net—but we both knew it wasn’t my best work.
Rihaan frowned. “What’s with you today?”
“Nothing,” I replied with a bite I hadn’t intended.
He raised an eyebrow, putting his hands on his hips as he watched me. “Right, and I’m the Queen of England.”
“Whatever are you doing here then, your Majesty? Go back to the diamond kingdom you’ve run away from,” I smirked, and he rolled his eyes before walking back to pick up the ball.
He paused, eyeing me for a second like he wanted to say something but thought better of it and reset in his position. I managed another clean hit, but my mind was still elsewhere.
Not on the game, not even on my dad.
But on Raina.
It was like since the day I met her, she had claimed an unknown place in my head that I didn’t even know existed before her.
It had been two days since she’d walked out of the kitchen with some abrupt excuse about errands. Two days of me going over each detail about that morning to figure out what I did or what I said that made her pull back so fast, it made my head spin faster than a red ball.
After the gala, a part of me had expected us to go back to dancing around each other, but she’d sat at the kitchen counter, half-asleep, in my hoodie, letting herself be seen in a way that felt like being let in on a secret kept hidden from the world. It made me feel things I’d never felt before.
“You’re distracted again,” Rihaan said, breaking the silence.
Sighing, I looked at him and his own gaze was fixed on something behind me. As though, he’d been checking himself rather than me, and it got me thinking about how he had been avoiding home more than often recently. It was off-season, so it wasn’t unusual for him to be out of the house, but this time it felt intentional.
“Pot meets kettle,” I shot back, and his eyes narrowed in my direction.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, his tone already defensive.
I shrugged, keeping my expression casual. “You’ve been off too,”
Rihaan scoffed, folding his arms. “No, I haven’t.”
“You’ve barely been home since Raina moved in,” The words landed heavy between us, and he stiffened.
“I’ve just been busy.” He bit back, his jaw tightening.
I raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. “It was a rest week,” I said pointedly. “And we both know what it means in your world—you holed up in the gaming room, eating junk and playing video games until your eyes are bloodshot.”
He hesitated, his gaze fixed on the empty pitch like he was trying to find an argument but was failing miserably.
In the end, he just sighed before muttering. “It’s complicated.”
In that moment, I knew better than to press him, so I just nodded. Still, the thought lingered—maybe he wasn’t avoiding her. Maybe he just didn’t know how to deal with her after years of letting whatever tension existed between them simmer under the surface.
He hadn’t been pleased when she moved in, but he was quick to let her know that he wanted her to stay. As the realisation kicked in, I couldn’t help but think that maybe her pulling away wasn’t about me, but it was just… her.
The thought settled heavily in my chest, stirring at something I wasn’t quite sure of, but it felt like, in that second, I understood her better.
I knew what it was like to carry things you couldn’t explain or share. To build walls so high that after a while, you’re not even sure how to let anyone else in. And when you notice someone starting to chip away at it, you feel like you’re being stripped away of the only sure thing in your life.
I felt the air in my lungs rush out of me as another realisation dawned on me. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t get her out of my head. Because it felt like she was the only person who understood how much effort it took to keep it all together.
Suddenly, I wasn’t scared about her walls, but the fact that somehow I needed to think about the cracks that were starting to appear on my own.
TRAINING WITH SOMEONE you’ve known for years gives you an advantage. When the rhythm hasn’t settled, you don’t get frustrated. Instead, you work around it until you find the click.
It was our first day back on the pitch, and neither of us was ready to call it a bust, no matter how distracted we’d been. Instead, we pushed each other harder, each delivery and swing sharper than the last until we found the flow.
The morning sun burned away by the time we switched to targeted drills that forced us to focus on the finer details. Rihaan worked on his famous yorkers, testing his accuracy, while I perfected my placement shots. Drills weren’t even close to being as fun as proper games, but considering it was just the two of us today, it was productive and didn’t push us too hard when we were supposed to be on a rest week.
Sweat dripped our skin like soft summer rain by the time we called it a day and packed up our equipment.
Rihaan glanced at his phone, frowning at whatever had his attention. “Uh, I’m heading out. I’ll catch up with you at home.”
He didn’t wait for my reply; he just turned around and raced out without a backward glance. I sighed, zipping up my bag before turning my attention to the pitch for one last time before making my way back home.
By the time I unlocked the front door, my shirt stuck to me, and the ache in my shoulders was starting to set it. Dropping my bag on the floor, I walked past the reception room, the familiar scent of polished wood and faint lavender filling my lugs as my steps echoed faintly.
My family townhouse was stunning, I’d give it that and my Mum had done a great job redecorating it when me and the guys moved in. The marble counter tops in the kitchen with chairs gleamed, and the plush couch in the connecting living space made it feel twice its size.
But once, this space had been chaotic—cricket equipment on the floor and under the couch, magazines on the coffee table, and the smell of my Mum’s cooking wafting through the kitchen as I returned back home with Dad after our training session. It was home. And, while there were still elements to it I still loved, the constant feeling of something missing was there.
I walked into the open space, a hand on the hem of the back of my shirt to pull it off but stopping once I spotted her.
Raina was dressed up—sleek dark blue top, black skirt and tights with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was busy looking at her phone, unaware of my presence, and I took the time to take her in. I’d gotten used to seeing her in oversized hoodies and a messy bun with a soft look as she curled up with cats. But now, as she leaned against the kitchen counter top, I was taken back to the moments when I first saw her and something warm flushed in my chest.
“Going somewhere fancy?” I asked, leaning on the opposite side of the counter, hoping to sound casual but failed miserably as the curiosity in my voice was evident.
She jumped slightly at the sound of my voice, her brown eyes connecting with mine for a second before she gave her outfit a once over and turned back to her phone. “Not particularly, just going out for brunch.”
When I didn’t look away or reply, she looked back at me, her gaze settling on my face, and my heart raced.
Winning her attention sent a small rush through me, the feeling tasting like a victory. So when my heart wanted to say something, I didn’t hold back. “You are gorgeous.”
It was momentary, but I saw how, for a second, she held her breath as she searched my eyes. She must’ve noticed my sincerity because her own gaze softened. “Thank you.”
I held her gaze for a moment longer, enjoying the hum of calmness that ran through me before giving her a wink. “Hope they have the kind of eggs you like,”
She quirked an eyebrow, letting out a half-laugh, “Shame I didn’t try yours. I could’ve given you pointers when I came back.”
“I’ll take pointers if it means I get to feed you and have your undivided attention,” I shrugged, trying to test a theory.
Her lips parted, clearly caught off guard. Before she could speak, her phone buzzed, and just like the other morning, she gave me a small look before she grabbed her bag and disappeared through the doorway. Moments later, the front door unlocked and clicked behind her as she left me in the same spot. But today, she left me with something other than just confused thoughts.
It was subtle, but I caught it. The glint in her eyes that she’d let me see before she locked it again.
There was a certain rhythm to being a cricketer. You learned to trust your instincts but to read the game as it unfolded in front of you. It wasn’t just about the strength or the technique—it was about patience, timing, reading the environment and knowing when to hold back or push forward. A single misstep, a moment of overconfidence and the game is over for you.
Players spent years building that skill, but it was one I was gifted with. Because it didn’t just help me on the field; it helped me with people, too. As I stood there in the kitchen, watching the spot she once stood in—I realised that I’d been too direct with her.
Because in that snap of second, I’d seen the fragility in her eyes, the one that told me that she wasn’t used to letting people in, and while the pull I felt toward her was something unique and strong, I needed to take into account the weight she carried, that is, if I wanted to make sure I didn’t overwhelm her and ultimately push her to retreat further and build walls even higher before I even had the chance to find my footing.
Raina
I WAS RUNNING LATE when I arrived at the café, and the blame was all on the new resident who was living in my head rent-free. I’d been so caught up in going over our interaction before I left the house that I had missed my station, and didn’t realise until the doors were closing.
I could count the number of times that has happened before: once.
And to my defence, that wasn’t my fault either.
But as I entered the café, it took me a second before I spotted Leah, who was, of course, on her phone typing furiously. When I got closer to the table she’d picked for us, her head turned in my direction, and though her lips were pressed in a faint line, her eyes softened. “You’re late,” she said as I shrugged off my coat and slid into the booth.
“Nice to see you too,” I quipped, and she rolled her eyes before waving down a waiter.
“You said you left on time,” She narrowed her eyes, but I could hear the warmth in her voice, and I hesitated.
I’d known Leah for about two years now after I met her at NexGen when we were filming for our Women in Motorsport mini-series. But when we met last year at the after-party to celebrate Vedant’s first championship, that was when our friendship truly began, although sometimes it felt like we’d known each other for years.
She had this ability to ground me in a way I didn’t feel around most people. My first impressions of Leah were that she was the kind of person who had her whole life together in a way I only aspired to. Methodical and assertive, she knew basically what the next ten years of life looked like, and when it came to getting what she wanted, she was ruthless. She was three years older than me but always carried herself with such grace of someone who’d live twice as long.
But since I’ve known her, I’ve learnt that she had this surprising softness underneath it all, and the people who were let into her world saw the genuine care she had for them. And to her, that’s all that mattered.
Before I could reply to her, the waiter came round the table, and as it was Leah who had suggested this place, I let her order.
“So? What’s been going on with you? You’ve been avoiding me for the last week, and if I hadn’t seen you in Singapore, I would’ve thought you’d been kidnapped.” She said matter-of-factly.
I winced, deciding between if it was better to just rip the bandage off or not.
“Also, I saw you at the motor hub, coming out of Vedant’s driver room, and if this is not part of the explanation, feel free to touch on that too.”
I sighed, feeling the gears turning in her head. “I honestly don’t even know where to start.”
She arched a brow but kept quiet, waiting for me to continue. But I meant it; I had no idea where to begin and unwind this chaos. Leah knew I had a difficult relationship with my family, but I’d never really explained in detail what actually went down, and it wasn’t out of distrust. I just hated that look of pity. I’ve seen it in person before, and I knew I never wanted to feel that way ever again.
“Well, for starters, I had to move in with my brothers.”
“What? What happened?”
“There was a leak at my place. Most of my stuff is completely destroyed, and it would take almost two months for it to be fixed, so not only did I move out, I gave my notice, so I need to eventually start looking for a new place.”
“When was this? Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped.”
I pursed my lips, guilt prickling at the edges of my conscience at the surprise and concern laced in her question. “Last Monday. Axel basically tricked me into going to Rihaan’s championship after-party, and then back at home, this mess was waiting for me. Vedant was there when my building manager told me I needed a new place, and after everything that went down at the party and at work, I had no energy to fight him on it.”
She studied me for a moment; there was concern, but I could tell she was upset. “What happened at work?”
I hesitated, unsure how much to share. I had kept my word with Hazel and hadn’t spoken to anyone about this, but I trusted Leah to know she’d keep it between us. “The company is basically undergoing a restructure, and they might move me from Formula One.”
Her eyebrows shot up, clearly surprised. “Move you where ?”
“Cricket.”
I watched her face as she tried to find an expression to fit the shock, and if I didn’t find it so damn tragic, I might have laughed.
“Okay, yeah, I get why you didn’t text me. Also, what do you mean might?”
“I said I needed to think about it because before, I wasn’t sure how it would go down with Rihaan.”
“And now?”
“I don’t know. On one hand, Rihaan still has his grudge against me because if it were to him, I wouldn’t even be living with them. On the other, I love NexGen, and I don’t want to lose that because of someone else.”
She nodded just as the waiter was back at our table, setting our drinks down.
Once we were alone, her eyes narrowed in my direction. “You’re still holding something back.”
“Nope. That’s all.” I said, busying myself with my drink.
I think I might have said it too quickly.
“You said that too quickly.” Damn it. “And, by the way, even if you hadn’t? You’re a terrible liar.”
“First of all, I’m not lying. Secondly, I may be a bad liar, but I’m great at keeping secrets. Thank you very much.”
Leah didn’t blink. “You are also incredibly stubborn.”
“Family trait… or curse, whatever you want to call it.”
“I’m well aware.”
“Sucks for you then,” I grinned.
“You’re forgetting who I work with.” She shot back, making me frown.
“Vedant is a saint compared to the rest of us.”
She gave me a look of sympathy like I had no clue what I was talking about, before sighing. “You know I’m not going to let it go until you tell me.”
That I believed, as I said, she was ruthless when it came to getting what she wanted, even if it was as basic as menial information.
“It’s honestly nothing.”
“You’re trying to convince me or yourself?”
I sighed before admitting. “Both.”
Leah’s brows shot up, clearly not expecting the response.
“They don’t exactly live alone… Rihaan’s teammate and best friend is living there, too,” My voice was barely above a whisper as if saying it too loudly would get me in trouble.
“You mean Oliver?”
I blinked, caught off guard by her response. “You know ?”
She gave me a tight smile. “Just from what I’ve seen on social media. They all do streams quite a bit, so I’ve just picked up on it.”
I stared at her, unsure how to respond.
Leah tilted her head, her expression softening. “You like him.”
“I barely know him.”
“That doesn’t matter, and especially not to you. I know how much you rely on your gut instincts.”
I shook my head. “This time it’s different.”
“Different, how?”
“Let’s say he’s been… unexpected.” She leaned forward; her interest was clearly piqued. “Not in a bad way, I think. I’m not quite sure yet.”
She didn’t reply as she watched me with a strange expression, and I shifted in my seat. It was then I realised how different I felt when I noticed Leah trying to read me, compared to when Oliver did it.
As though, she could see the words pop up above my head, she said. “You’re scared.”
“What?”
“You’re scared,” she repeated, her tone was calm but firm. “I get it. You’ve been through a lot, and you’ve built up these walls around you, hoping that it’ll deter anyone from getting closer, but now that you’ve seen someone trying to break them down, it’s terrifying. But you’re twenty-two, Raina. You’re young, and you’re so strong. But you’re allowed to have fun, even if, and especially when, it scares you.”
I took a deep breath, taking her words in. “It’s not that simple.”
“And it won’t be. But you’ve got to take a chance and find out. We both know you’ve survived tougher situations, and this is life’s way of testing you, but you’ve got to have fun.”
I didn’t say anything, and luckily, I didn’t have to, as the waiter interrupted us with our food. He placed a plate of fluffy pancakes in front of her and then a plate of egg royale in front of me.
“I know you said you were in the mood for something savoury, and they’re supposed to be the best savoury dish here,” Leah said, and I bit on my lower lip, trying to stop the laugh that was trying to escape me.
“Thanks.”
I sighed as his voice ran through me again. The warmth of his low, teasing voice and the wink that sent a shiver down my spine before he told me he wanted my attention. He didn’t even falter when I brushed it off like it was nothing; he just watched me with curious eyes as I walked away.
But it wasn’t nothing. I had never seen someone be so forward about wanting my time or wanting my attention. It was thrilling, but a part of me couldn’t help but be worried. It felt too easy with him, too natural, and I wondered if instead of bringing out a part of me, it would overwhelm me too much.
“And for what it’s worth,” Leah’s voice cut through my thoughts. “I think you should take the new role, too.”
I blinked, fumbling for a response. “You do?”
“I mean, I’m aware I don’t really know what exactly went down, and you still don’t have to tell me, but I think you’re looking at it the wrong way.”
I stayed quiet, letting her finish.
“You’ve managed to be in F1 and still be away from Vedant, so you can do the same with Rihaan. And I know you don’t take risks unless you know you will completely ace it, but maybe that’s the challenge this time. You have no idea the can of worms that stepping into the world will open up with your career, your family or your love life.
“But, Raina, you have been so unfair to yourself. You’ve been through so much at a young age that now when it’s time to live and make mistakes? You’re holding your cards so close that you’ve completely isolated the game. You won’t even give yourself a chance to play a strong hand. Instead, you stick with what’s safe so you know you won’t lose.”
My heart hammered in my chest violently as her words sunk in.
“ And,” she added, her lips turning up in a gentle smile. “If it’s a mistake? So, what? You can restart any time you’d like. Also, if you give it a real shot—I can even promise not to set you up again until you ask me to.”
Her attempt at making light of the situation drew a soft laugh from me, even though my mind was still racing.
Had I really been so caught up in my hurt that I had robbed myself of something in the name of self-protection?