Heart, Body & Soul (MxM)

Chapter Twenty-One

He is reading it over and over again. His mind is restless, but he doesn't wait before he hits the dial to Ivan.

'Not asleep yet?'

Something about his voice is...funny. As if he was just waiting for Riyaan's call.

'I am watching a movie.'

'Which one?'

'Godzilla, King of Monsters.'

'Mm. I haven't watched it.'

'We would be a romantic couple?'

'I think so.'

You think so?

Are they really discussing this?

'What kind of lover would I be?'

Ivan laughs softly and then says slowly. 'A little clingy. But that will be alright because I'll be possessive.'

'You? And possessive? I don't believe you.'

'Sure. What did we talk about first impressions?'

'So, you'll be like full-on possessive mode if I hang out with some other guy?' Riyaan asks, pausing the movie.

'Not exactly. Especially if I know he's not a threat.'

'Threat?'

'Threat to my relationship.'

Riyaan already knows; that there's not going to be any threat to Ivan from his side. It's out of the question. Ivan wouldn't need to practise his possessiveness at all. He would be everything that his exes weren't. And Ivan will see that one day, and he can wait — albeit impatiently.

'Would you bring me flowers when we are dating?'

A chuckle comes through. 'Your optimism surprises me every time. But, yes.'

He knows the reaction. Ivan expected him to say 'if' instead of 'when', but he chose not to.

'What kind of flowers do I like?'

'Carnations. What flowers do I like?'

'Roses?'

'No. What kind of food do I like?'

'Mmm.. Spanish?'

'No. Your favourite food is chickpea curry with naan and chilli lemon noodles,' Ivan says, laughing softly saying the last dish. He knows. It's not a recipe that they find in restaurants. 'But chickpeas curry, only when I make it.'

'How did you even know about that?' True. Nobody else makes chickpeas like Ivan does. He must have deducted his preference from the time he refused to finish his restaurant takeaways twice, but clearly devoured when Ivan cooked it.

'I know my recipe is special. What's my favourite travel destination?'

'Spain? Costa del Sol?'

'Wrong again. Yours is towards the mountains, where we went. Do you know anything about me at all, Riiiiyaaaan?'

By this point, Riyaan is angry at himself too. At Ivan too. Is he deliberately lying about this so Riyaan loses? But thinking back, he truly never said anything about the rose being his favourite flower and Spanish being his favourite cuisine.

Not Costa del Sol either— Riyaan just assumed. But he hasn't told Ivan about the chickpeas either. Not about his favourite travel destination, but Ivan knowing that is understandable. Where in life he has been, other than with Ivan, anyway?

'You are bad.' Because...he just is!

'Am I? What's my favourite clothes to wear? This should be easier, tell me?'