Page 214 of Dream On, Liar

“We are not obsessed.”

“Last night, I found you two watching an entire documentary about travelling in Victorian times.”

“It was interesting.”

“It was about the means of transportation.”

“It had historical context.”

I shook my head, still I couldn't help smiling.

I looked back at Ishaan. “You'll survive.”

“I suppose I’ll have to learn how to.” He gave me a small smile.

I nodded, offering him a simple truth. “You’re a Patel. You won’t have to learn it. It’s in your blood.”

And I could it then. How much my words had meant to him.

The conversation drifted from there. Dev started arguing that the cinema needed a proper sound system. I told him the house wasn’t a multiplex.

Raina insisted that if we ever actually went to the cabin for a horror weekend, she was booking herself a hotel instead.

I told her that was cowardice.

She told me she’d happily live with that diagnosis.

Vedant told us to quit making his fitting a debate for horror movies. Dev promptly reminded him about the time he’d made his fitting for his society ball a sob fest. Ishaan was being asked question left to right, and for the first time in days, I felt something in my chest loosen.

I hadn’t realised how tightly I’d been holding myself together until I caught myself laughing.

Actually laughing.

The kind that made my shoulders drop.

The kind that didn’t need effort.

Even though Vedant had invited Oliver, he wasn’t here.

He’d gone home to check on his father, which meant Raina had been left to endure her brothers without her usual ally. She usually tagged along with him, especially considering the big news they had to share, but Raina was quick to fill me in that they had already made a trip to the King household whilst I’d been away. Which meant, the teasing had considerably worse.

We’d been waiting for her for nearly half an hour.

“Do you think she’s hiding?” Vedant finally asked, his eyes drifting from where he stood by seamster.

“I am not hiding.” She snapped. “The last time I came out—ten minutes ago, you guys mocked me enough to make me realise the next time I do this, I’ll do it with my girl friends.”

“Rain,” Dev sighed, picking up on the fact she was actually upset. “We’re sorry.”

“I’m actually your brother, but maybe Dev has changed his relationship—or maybe his name?”

Dev picked the cushion next to him before throwing it straight to my face.

Vedant laughed, loudly as I glared at him.

“Don’t pick on her after she tells you she’s upset.”

“In her words, that’s what siblings do.”