Chapter 63: Reigniting The Flame

I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous for anything.

All day, I remained in my room, waiting to hear the sound of the gates opening so I could run to him and ask him how the meeting went. Somehow, this little bubble had become my home.

Just as I expected, I heard the sound of the gates opening, and excitedly, I ran out to go and see him. To me, it just felt like one of those ‘honey, I’m home’ moments even though what was going on between us couldn’t really be labelled. To me, it had gone past a fake relationship.

By the time I made my way to the living room, he was shedding off the jacket of the suit and tossing it on the couch.

“How was it?” I asked, approaching him.

“Definitely a whole lot, but I think we should go and sit. This is not a conversation you can have standing.”

First of all, he looked like he needed a cold glass of water to drink. I went to get it for him.

We settled down in the living room, with me seated on his lap for emotional support.

“Okay so, I have good news and I have bad news. Let me know the one you want to hear first.” He asked.

“Tell me the good news first.” Malik’s face contorted in shock. Maybe he thought I was one of those rays of sunshine that would love to hear the bad news first then good news later. I needed to cleanse my palate. It had been a rough couple of days.

“The good news is that I’ve been cleared by the doctors and I can resume training.” He said and I jumped up, excitedly.

“Malik, that is really good news. I know how badly you’ve been wanting to get cleared.” I say back down on his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck even tighter.

“Yes, I know, but the drugs caused a major issue and they are demanding for something really big.”

“Which is?”

“Therapy.”

“Therapy is not a big deal, Malik. You’ll go to it and you will be fine.”

“No, it is. Maybe because that is your field, it is so easy for you to dismiss, but it is a big deal, Sloane.”

“Look, listen….”

“I’m supposed to just walk into an office, tell someone all about my life and then trust the person. How the fuck does that even work?” He asked, genuinely irritated.

“You’re going to be fine. You know you have me by your side.”

“Yeah, but for how long?” He asked and I stilled right there on his lap.

“What do you mean for how long?”

“If the opportunity presented itself for you to leave this relationship today. Would you walk away?” He asked me. First and foremost, why was he asking me that question?

I was silent, looking around the living room as though the plant or the chandelier would come and bail me out of the mess that I was in.

“Tell me, Sloane.”

“I don’t know.” I muttered, answering in all honesty.

“Why don’t you know? For the longest time, you had wanted out of the relationship. What if this is the time to end it?”

Fuck! I was fucking stupid. He was trying to use reverse psychology to end things with me, and here I was thinking that he genuinely cared. That was it.

I got up from his lap, about to walk away, but I felt a firm grip around my wrist. He was holding onto me so tightly.

“We’re not done speaking, Sloane.”

“Maybe you’re not done, but I am. I need to get back to my room.”

“And now, you’re the one who is trying to start a fight.” He stated firmly and I stilled, my feet planted firmly on the floor.

“I was never trying to start a fight with you. You were the one so hell bent on….” I paused, looking around me. Everything began to dawn on me.

He had been cleared to play. That meant that everything would return back to the toxic way that it used to be. The fighting, the arguing, the minor disagreements. The only reason we even coexisted was because he was not in a state where he could give optimal performance.

Wow.

“Let me go, Malik. I’m being serious.” I demanded, but he didn’t let me go.

I stood there, looking at him while he held on to my wrist like it was a fortune. Eventually, his grip on the wrist loosened and I yanked my arm away before storming off. I shut the door to my room loudly—for him to know that he was not welcome.

MALIK’S POV

We were back to that cycle again, and I caused it.

The truth was that I was trying to see if a part of her wanted to stay. I didn’t want this relationship to end. I hoped she felt that way. From how she acted today, it was obvious.

Now, I had to figure out a way around this to show her that I was not an asshole.

I didn’t want to cook. I also didn’t want to buy her flowers. In this fake relationship, it seemed a bit performative.

I wanted to do something I’d never done before.

I didn’t know her likes or her dislikes. It just dawned on me that I didn’t really know Sloane. For someone I had been living in the same house with for close to two months, it was quite disappointing.

I went to the patio, rearranged it, went to the kitchen to get some ice cream and snacks, decorated it with some petals and shot her a text.

Malik: I’m an asshole, I know, but would you please come to the patio.