Page 102 of Fixation

I can’t sleep.

It’s me, Vedant.

Reina rolled her eyes. Of course, Vedant had managed to get her Dubai number. The party had finished only a little while ago, and she was now in her bed, unable to fall asleep as well, thanks to him.

Another message popped on her screen.

I haven’t slept properly ever since you left me.

She scowled into the phone. Well, neither had she.

Say something, beautiful. I’m dying here.

She laughed as she typed.

So dramatic.

There you are. I miss you.

You just met me.

I can feel you rolling your eyes.

Oh God, she had just rolled her eyes.

Go to sleep, Vedant.

Can I call?

A smile formed on her face.

Why?

God, you really are making me work for it.

Ok, call.

She answered her phone on the first ring.

“You can’t sleep either?” he asked.

“No.” Reina lay on her bed. “The party just finished. Is everything okay with you? All three of you rushed out of the party.”

“Earlier in the evening, you asked whether I was sure Karina was alive or not. Mihir found proof that she is.”

He told her everything Mihir had found, and she listened quietly. In the end, she said, “I’m delighted for you. This is great news.”

“It is. I’m so excited to meet her.”

Reina felt herself revelling in his happiness.

“I wish you were here with me,” Vedant said.

She didn’t respond to that. While she, too, wished she was with him, she didn’t want to voice it out loud. Although she had accepted that she was going to give him a chance, she still wanted to take things slowly. Her past still made her wary and fearful of getting hurt and being left heartbroken again.

“I’m not like whoever hurt you, you know,” Vedant said softly.

She gasped. How had he read her mind so? And how could she be absolutely certain he wasn’t like her birth father?