Page 159 of Glass Jawed
I won’t lie—I’m curious. But I let it go. He does have a company to run. And with Liam suddenly showing up, there are probably a dozen fires he’s trying to put out remotely.
We shift gears and play another round ofAntakshari—back to basics. Honestly, nothing beats the rush of remembering a song just in time and belting it in your opponent’s face like it’s a war cry.
But our teams are painfully small now. Even Navya bowed out after her fifth yawn.
Eventually, we call it a night.
I start toward the staircase near the back door when I catch the sound of low murmurs—tense, hushed, like the beginning of an argument.
My nosey ass is instantly intrigued.Please be Kash and Liam,I think, nearly giddy at the potential drama.
I sneak toward the back garden, all light feet and curiosity. But the second I spot them, I stop cold.
Navya is sitting next to Lucian on the bench.
Too close.Way too close.
But Lucian’s posture is telling—he’s leaning back, like she’s a live wire.
Relief floods me. Only for it to crash the very next second.
Because I hear what he says.
His voice is low,placating, like he doesn’t want to be overheard. Like this isprivate.
“Navya. Ipromiseyou, you have nothing to worry about. Aarohi and I are absolutelynottogether.”
My heart drops.
I mean, yeah. We’re not together. I know that. But hearing him say it like that—toher—what the hell?
Is he... trying to reassure her? Is he trying to get with her?
No. No fucking way. That’s not who he is. Not the Lucian I’ve come to know. Not the man who’s spent the last few weeks proving he’s not that guy anymore.
The thought alone short-circuits my brain. Because I trust him. I trust himenoughthat the idea of him betraying me with Navya while he’s been confessing his love for me is... unthinkable.
So unthinkable that my dumbass mouth makes a noise before I can stop it.
A stupid little yelp.
Loud. Awkward.Obvious.
God. A gasp would’ve been more subtle.
Both their heads whip toward the sound. Towardme.
And I wish the garden would just fucking eat me alive.
“Sorry,” I mumble, turning to leave.
Lucian moves fast—panic flashing across his face as he bolts upright, keeping Navya at arm’s length like she’s radioactive.
“Rohi,” his voice is low, lethal,hot—”don’t youdaretakeone fucking stepback inside.”
Okay. So I used to think I wasn’t the type of girl who’d melt over a man’s tone alone.
Turns out—I lied.
