Page 101 of Dream On, Liar

“I saw it in pictures, too,” I could hear her smiling. Before I could interject, she continued. “Fine. But what do you think about taking a trip to Edinburgh? I could finally show you the cabin you’ve wanted to see since you were little.”

“Really?”

“If you promise to stop skipping classes. Your father said they can pull you off the team if you continue to do that.”

I frowned, my heart sinking. My gaze flicked to Dev, and he raised a brow before making his way over to me. “Did she hang up?”

“No, I’m still here,” Ma’s voice echoed through the phone. “Rihaan. Do you promise?”

I forced myself to reply. “Yeah.”

“Thank you, baby. I love you.” The words were audible as Dev took the phone from me.

“Ma. I’ll call you in twenty minutes. I saw one of the housemasters coming in for bed checks.” Dev’s narrowed gaze focused on me as he nodded to whatever Ma was saying. “Fine. Love you too.”

“What?” He asked once he made sure the call had ended. He slid his phone inside his pocket, resting his hands there.

“You told her I was skipping classes because Dad wouldn’t let me go with you to see her?”

Dev sighed. “Well, it wasn’t like Dad was going to tell her.”

“I thought she called because I got sick.”

He nodded. “Yeah, that too.”

I huffed, annoyed that he’d snitched on me.

“Why? What did she say?”

I raised a brow. “She said Dad told her what Coach said.”

He tilted his head, like silently asking me to continue. But I had nothing to add.

“I don’t know if they talk. How would I know?”

“You seem to know everything,” I muttered.

“Rihaan.”

“Fine. She said she’ll come during Christmas break and maybe we can go to the her cabin for my birthday”

He frowned. “Really?” He paused at my confused expressions. “Well, you better not skip classes then. Not unless you want to be kicked off the Cricket team, and then you know what will happen.”

I nodded. “Dad will get Mr. Frank fired, replace him and then you’ll be stuck with him. Again.”

The corners of his lips lifted, and he shook his head. “And no Edinburgh.”

“Fine.”

He nodded, ruffling my hair once and I swatted his hand away.

“Are you going to talk to her again?”

“No. It’s almost 3 AM in Delhi, she’s going to bed.”

“Liar.”

“Go to bed, little brother.”