Page 114 of Dream On, Liar

I nodded. “Okay.”

“Headphones?”

I smiled. “I’ve got mine. Thank you.”

He gave me a nod then, and turned back to his screen.

Tucking my laptop back into my bag, I pulled out my headphones and my e-reader, before settling on the bed.

I felt his stare burn into my skin as I got comfortable, before he turned back his stream.

Unable to help myself, I flicked it back to him before he spoke again. Even though the narrator started the book, I couldn’t help but notice the ease Rihaan had sitting there. It was unlike to what I’d seen ever before.

I knew he occasionally streamed from the time I’d researched his socials for his profile, but I could never bring myself to watch him.

When I turned my focus back to my reader, letting the audio book pull me into the immersive reading, the room settled into a strange rhythm.

His voice occasionally rose from the desk, filtering through the gaps of silences between chapters.

The occasional burst of laughter, him cursing out one of his friends on the call, his little quips to his chat.

I tried to focus.

I really did.

Eventually, my eyes grew heavy.

The words blurred.

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Before I let sleep took me.

A SOFT TOUCH MOVED across my cheek, making me stir.

My eyes opened slowly just as Rihaan's fingers brushed a strand of hair away from my face.

“Hey.” I blinked at him, pulling my headphones off. “What time is it?”

“Fifteen minutes to one.” He replied, pulling back.

I pushed myself upright. “Oh. Did they call?”

He nodded. “A couple minutes ago. Your room is ready.”

I looked at him, still groggy and nodded. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

I sat up properly, and only then, I realised how close he was sitting to me.

“It’s okay. You looked peaceful.”

I blinked, trying to absorb his words as the words left me. “I wish I felt it.”

Rihaan frowned. “You think you’re coming down with something?”