SOMETHING (BEAUTIFUL) UNFINISHED

Chapter 14: We got here in the end

--- that night ---

"Invite me in, Annika."

He knew she was shocked, to see him here. He wasn't supposed to arrive for another week, and he hadn't called to tell her he was coming earlier. It was late, but it was the only flight Shivaay could get, and he had checked into his hotel before coming over.

Jhanvi had mentioned she was having a sleepover at her Grandparents this weekend and Shivaay had texted Harry for their address and to confirm Jhanvi was with him. He had felt awkward about it at first, but Harry had basically told him to go to her.

She loves you.

Annika stepped aside and gestured for Shivaay to come in, she had that adorable crease in her forehead that she got when she was confused about something.

Their house was so Annika. Quaint and cozy. Exactly what he would have imagined for her, for them.

"Do you want some coffee? Or tea? I can put on a pot." Annika asked as she made her way to the open concept kitchen. Shivaay smiled and shook his head as he followed behind her, whenever Annika was nervous, she fed people. He decided to indulge her.

"Coffee would be great."

As Annika made the coffee, Shivaay had a minute to just admire her. Gods, she was beautiful. She was wearing tight leggings that hugged her in all the right places, and a white sweater that looked incredibly soft. Shivaay could tell she had lost weight though, most likely due to stress and even though she was stunning he could see the dark circles under her eyes.

She looked tired and sad, like she had been crying.

His heart ached for her, he wanted to pull her into him and just hold her, but they needed to talk.

Annika set his coffee, black, the way he always took it, in front of him at the kitchen island and she then put some distance between them by leaning with her back against the counter.

Shivaay smirked.

"Afraid I'll bite?"

Annika looked down at her coffee, before looking back up at him through her lashes.

Gods, this woman.

She sighed, "What are you doing here, Shivaay?"

Ignoring the question, Shivaay set his coffee down on the island and rounded the corner, mirroring her body language and he folded his arms over his chest.

"Why didn't you tell me about Harry?" he challenged back.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and for the first time, the mask fell. Shivaay could see beyond the smile and dark circles, he could see the pain. He wondered how often she let the mask fall in the last 3 months, if she's let anyone know how badly she was struggling.

"I was going to tell you, when you got here. I just didn't want you to feel like you had any obligation to." She stopped mid-sentence, her bottom lip quivering.

She closed her eyes, as if she were willing her composure before continuing.

"I heard what you said, Shivaay. At the beach. I heard you and I respect that. You're here now, and you can be in Jhanvi's life as much as you want to be. I know you, I know you always do the honorable thing, I didn't want you to feel like you had to give us a chance just because Harry left."

Shivaay didn't know what to say, but he felt like a total ass. Yes, he had meant what he said that day, on the beach. He was angry but he had meant it, but the ONLY reason was that it was too late for them because she had a life with Harry. Shivaay had never thought that she would take it as it was too late for them in general.