Chapter 15 #2
When the ride had started, she had put her hand on his in a moment of adrenaline-fuelled panic.
He hadn’t objected. Not even after the ride had slowed to a halt.
At the end of the ride, still buzzing from the high, she had turned to look at him and for a wild second, she’d thought he was going to kiss her. Part of her really wished he had.
Now, Leo was standing next to her, following Caleb’s game, egging him on.
Her skin prickled with the awareness of him.
Glancing sideways, she watched his face.
The fast-changing lights reflected off his glasses and made it hard to see his eyes, but the frown that was always present during the working day had gone.
He wasn’t smiling or laughing, but his features were relaxed. Unguarded.
Leo’s expressions were always guarded. His emotions appeared on his face in brief flashes, before he regained control. Caleb had said Leo didn’t even realise he was doing it. It must be so exhausting having to school your face to be neutral all the time. No wonder Leo was so tense.
Leo leaned towards Caleb to say something.
She watched his lips move. Such an attractive face.
She should look away. There were so many reasons not to let herself be drawn any closer.
He clearly wasn’t looking for a relationship right now.
Or ever, possibly. Besides, Leo was technically her line manager while she was on this project.
Hankering after him was stupid at best and inappropriate at worst. She had to get a grip.
Caleb lost his game with a score that wasn’t anywhere near the highest score.
‘Hmm,’ said Leo. ‘Maybe I should have a go at that.’
‘You think you can do better?’ A challenge flashed in Caleb’s eyes.
Vidya automatically made a mental note that Caleb had a competitive streak.
Her attention switched to Leo and she saw the smile in his eyes.
He was winding his friend up. Caleb’s expression suggested he knew that.
‘I mean, you’re welcome to try …’ he said as he stepped aside so Leo could have a go.
He stood by Leo’s shoulder, with his arms crossed, watching.
Vidya looked away. Cataloguing information about Caleb had become automatic.
Why was she bothering? It wasn’t as though Udeni was going to be grateful.
Her resistance to finding the father was just a passing fixation, like so many things were with her.
Except the baby wasn’t a passing thing, was it?
The baby, when it came, was a permanent addition to the family.
It would be reassuring to know Udeni understood that.
It was ridiculous that Vidya was even having to worry about this.
Vidya sighed; her earlier elation had faded.
This whole situation was bananas. It would be Udeni who got pregnant from a one-night stand with someone she didn’t even remember properly.
It would be with one of Vidya’s work colleagues, rather than a random stranger, because heaven forbid that Udeni’s recklessness should only affect her and leave Vidya out of it.
Udeni insisting that she was going to raise the baby by herself was all very grand, but she wasn’t really going to, was she?
Vidya was going to help. It was inevitable.
And Amma and Thatha would rant and shout and probably chew Vidya’s ear off for not ‘looking after her sister’, but once the baby arrived, they’d probably have to fight off babysitting offers from Amma.
Udeni would be forgiven in an instant, but Vidya wouldn’t be. It was all so damn unfair.
Udeni always got away with everything. There was something about her that made people think she was some sort of sweet angel, when really, she was an impulse-driven hot mess.
Vidya was the sensible one who sorted out the messes.
If Udeni had been less pretty or Vidya less plain, things would have been so different.
Vidya turned her gaze back to the two men.
Leo was frowning with concentration and leaning towards the screen.
Caleb was mirroring Leo’s movements and muttering things like ‘get him’ and ‘there’ and ‘yes!’ She watched the way Leo’s eyes darted around as he played.
The firm set of his mouth. The sharpness of his jawline.
She really liked this man. He was gentle and had a lovely voice and smelled of aftershave and clean laundry.
She liked his fastidious work ethic, his very toned legs and his big, warm hands.
But he was her work colleague – and she wasn’t her sister – so she couldn’t jump on him simply because she wanted to.
He might not be interested in her, of course, but she couldn’t take a chance to find out.
It was so frustrating. She wished that just for once, the real world would just bog off and let her have what she wanted.
Leo’s game ended. ‘Drat,’ he said. ‘So close.’
Caleb sagged with exaggerated relief. ‘Ha.’
‘I’m only ten points behind you. That’s what – two hits?’
‘Still counts.’
Watching them bicker good-naturedly made Vidya miss Angie, the only person in the world who knew what Udeni was really like.
Vidya glanced at her phone; there was no reception.
Oh well. It was probably for the best. She may as well enjoy this little respite.
Leaving the guys behind, she made her way to a driving game. She was usually pretty good at those.