Page 283 of Hateful Games

“You ready to be blown away?” I tease, picking up the remote.

“I thought we were watching the show.”

I roll my eyes at his sexual innuendo. “Not that, hubby.”

“You do realize I run my own office, don’t need to be watching it too.”

“Maybe you’ll learn new tips.”

Tugging my hair playfully, he says, “Blow me away, my wife.”

I hit play on the first episode. I’ve viewed this show countless times without feeling bored. I all but forget whether or not Nova is enjoying it when Jim and Dwight’s antics start. Michael will always be my favorite, though. I had chewed Bianca’s ear off when I learned he isn’t in the show after season seven until the finale.

Somewhere around the third or fourth episode, Nova lifts me completely on his lap.

My head resting on his shoulder.

As he idly massages my scalp, then the rest of my body, I drift off to sleep.

***

I come awake hours later to Bunny’s and Maggie’s loud snoring.

I’m cocooned in the blanket in the semi-dark theater room with no sign of Nova. Leaning up on my elbow, I push my hair back and search my phone. It says seven in the evening and I abruptly sit upright.

I must have been really exhausted.

A yellow sticky note catches my eyes and I peel it off. It’s a message from Nova saying he’s gone to run an errand and will return soon. It doesn’t say when he left but I’m assuming he’ll be back soon.

Throwing off the blanket, I trail out to the hall.

Clanking and the sound of water running flows down to me. As I get closer, it’s from the direction of the kitchen, so I relax because it must be our cook, Tanu. The woman is like Santa, as I hardly ever see her, and instead of gifts, she leaves delicious food and homemade desserts and late-night snacks.

Which is wonderful because when I’m hidden away in my writing cave in the library, I like to munch on snacks in during breaks.

In the past, I would order online but I quickly realized they made for a bad eating habit. But Tanu’s homemade chips, crackers, and cookies are both healthy and tasty. I don’t know what she puts in them but they’re scrumptious as hell.

This is the perfect opportunity to thank her.

Speedwalking to the kitchen, I find her over the sink washing the dishes. She’s in her mid-fifties yet doesn’t look a day over forty. I found her super sweet and reserved from the little interactions we’ve had.

“Hey, Tanu Aunty,” I politely greet her.

With a smile, she glances over her shoulder at me. “Hello. Did you need something, Mrs. D’Cruz?”

Oh yeah! She’s super formal too.

“No. Actually, I wanted to say how much I love your cooking,” I reply with a laugh. “Especially the desserts and snacks you leave behind. Thank you for those.”

Switching off the tap, she dries her hands and turns to me with a confused frown. “Do you mean the ones I leave in the library?”

“Yes!”

Her eyes crinkle in the corners as she reveals, sending my heart pinballing behind my ribs, “I’m afraid you’re thanking the wrong person. Mr. Nova comes every two days to bake them for you in the afternoons. I was strictly told to put them in the library.”

I’m gaping at her, unblinking as I digest the bombshell she just dropped.

Nova’s been baking!

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