Tale Teller (West Hampton U Series #1)

Chapter 22 ● Cops and Robbers

We're getting to the end folks! But fret not, maybe there's a part 2?... Maybe it's Ruhaan and Suhana's saucy story?... Maybe, maybe...

-- Sameer --

She was still soundly sleeping, sprawled across my pillow and bed like it was hers. She could have it. She could have everything. She already owned all of me.

Ruhaan dragged us across town for a pizza celebration to commemorate the success of Operation Muffins. His words. Since Muskaan had shift later in the day, I let her sleep while I struggled through a 7am practice. I had to rush home to make it in time for my bi-weekly session with my therapist. I thought by now she might have woken up but here she was, still soundly asleep with a small frown between her eyebrows.

Even in her sleep, she looks like she's stressing about something, my little overachiever.

I know she still had doubts that things were going to work out but I just had this feeling in my chest like it was all over now. We did everything we could and things will be okay.

As gently as I can, I crawl into bed, hovering over her to see if she stirs awake. I hold back a laugh as she groans, turning onto her back, but she doesn't wake. My hand finds its way under the cover and I run my fingers up and down her legs until her eyes flutter open.

"Good morning sleepyhead," I smile, pressing a kiss to her jaw. I push some of her hair out of her face, taking in her flushed cheeks.

"Good God, what time is it?" she says in a raspy whisper that shoots straight to my core.

I can't help it when I throw my other leg over her, taking in the feel of her body against mine. "Just after 9."

"I haven't slept this much in forever," she stretches out like a cat, pulling her arms out to wrap around my neck. A suggestive little smile plays at her lips when she finally wakes up enough to process her surroundings. "My face must look so gross but I kind of don't care."

"I'll look elsewhere, no problem," I tease, casting said eyes on her barely there PJs.

She whacks my shoulder with a musical laugh, and then nudges me to move away. With a loud sigh, I roll to the side, making it clear I was not doing so willingly. "You stink and I need to brush my teeth," she points out.

"I haven't showered yet. Care to multitask with me?" I grin. This time she merely gives me a playful scowl, before tugging on a hoodie of mine and disappearing into the bathroom.

"IT'S HERE!" I can hear Ruhaan's screaming from the hallway. A second later, he storms into the living room with his phone waving in his hand.

"What's here?" Zain asks, but I already know the answer. I don't even have the patience to open it on my own phone, so I grab Ruhaan's to read. It had been days, and we'd been waiting impatiently. I had almost made peace that there wasn't going to be an article, and our plan flopped hard. But thankfully, I was wrong. Or maybe I should read it first before making any assumptions on our success.

WEST HAMPTON GAZETTE

〰〰 Tale Teller 〰〰

Dear Foxes of West Hampton,

I must first apologize for the delay in bringing you this issue, as I was positively overcome with indignation at how much more the students of this campus will suffer before someone will take action. It seems our leadership has gone blind to basic law and order, running with their tails between their legs at the thought of getting up off their corrupt thrones to bring to justice the perpetrators.