Page 63 of Dream On, Liar

“Yeah?” I asked, rubbing a hand over my lips as I swallowed. My throat drying up by the thoughts climbing up my mind, as a strong force surged inside me, begging me to send Oliver away and unlock the mini bar.

Not during camp.

“Do you want to plug in the console and do a few rounds of games?” I was already shaking my head before he could finish.

“I think I’m gonna go out for a run. I was already planning to go the Circuit.”

“Perfect, give me five and I’ll come with you.”

“No. I’ll be fine on my own.” I replied, and like he could tell that I was hiding something, he shook his head. “Sorry. I’m not leaving you alone right now.”

I sighed, any hopes of walking into the bar disappearing with my breath. “Fine. If you’re adamant on clinging to my side, let’s stay here. I overheard Faroq giving you a lecture to not overdo legs earlier.”

Something close to surprise flickered in his eyes, probably because I’d never been the one to ditch running—ever. But I would be lying if I didn’t admit that the more time I’d spent listening to Maeve and her little truce…the less pain I’d been in all week.

Maybe, there was some truth to my wish after all.

Maybe, if I no longer had someone forcing me beyond the limit I knew crossed a line, I could still fix this mess I’d made of my life.

14

Rihaan

THE NEXT TWO WEEKS passed by in a blur.

Between my mind still bouncing around the roller coaster my father had set in motion and the strange chaos of working with Maeve, I’d felt like I was moving through everything on autopilot.

The late-February evening sun settled softly over New Brighton Beach, casting a warm amber glow across the water as the cool coastal breeze rolled in from the sea.

Instead of going home this week to celebrate Raina’s birthday, we’d changed our plans to arrive early at the first stop in our tour.

While it wasn’t unusual, with most of the team flying directly to Christchurch—in the hopes to adjust to the time zones—and only a handful of staff had gone back, and even then, it had been a strange, numbing experience.

I’d spent most of the week inside the rental Raina had booked, curtains drawn more often than not, moving between my bed and the sofa with the occasional detour to the kitchen. If I wasn’t playing video games, I was sleeping. If I wasn’t sleeping, I was doom scrolling through my phone, trying—and failing—to distract myself as a new pile of articles and panels discussed the test. Not just the tour itself, but my test.

So lost in the array of opinions, I hadn't even had the energy to go out for my usual runs.

And, today, my sister had finally decided she’d had enough of my sulking.

Apparently, putting on a good show for her birthday was more important than whatever miserable little cave I’d created for myself, because she’d quite literally dragged me out of the house.

I hadn’t argued much.

I didn’t have the energy for that either.

Now, I lay back on the picnic blanket, the sound of the waves rolling steadily against the shore blending with the distant chatter of the others.

Lifting myself onto my elbows, I searched the stretch of beach for my sister and Oliver, only stopping once I spotted them at the shore.

They stood deep in the shallows, Oliver’s arms wrapped around her, his chin settled on her head.

They looked peaceful.

A part of me was tempted to leave them be and walk back to our rental, but I had a feeling that a part of their peace had something to do with me agreeing to come outside and breathe some fresh air instead of spending another evening staring at a screen in the dark.

I settled back onto the blanket and adjusted my sunglasses as I decided taking a nap.

It’d be a win for both of us.