Read Online Game of Love by Ara Grigorian - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ara Grigorian
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harnessed. They agreed. So I attended USC in Southern California and earned my bachelor’s degree by fourteen. Then they whisked me away to MIT for another four years.”
She clenched her legs to her chest, stunned. “How was MIT? Were you socially accepted there?”
“Sure, somewhat. But I was an outlier. An oddity. I was a fourteen-year-old working on two PhDs alongside twenty-five-year olds and older who felt they were the best of the best. I didn’t have to try, while they killed themselves. I killed the curves wherever I went, so my presence became an annoyance. I was always surrounded by people, but I was never with them. Do you know what I mean?”
She nodded, almost in a trance. “Smiling and talking to the people, but never truly present.”
“Exactly. You nailed it. Every day, all I wished for was to go back home. To see my friends who had been there for me since we were toddlers, to see the girl I loved. But I had to live out someone else’s plan.”
“Bloody hell, Andre.”
“Hey, it all turned out for the best,” he said with a strained smile. “Look at me now, I hang out with Gemma Lennon.” He shrugged. “A normal life is all I wanted. Just a normal life.”
The young boy had aged before her. Gemma took his hand. A beat, then her breath caught and the world transformed.
Her posture straightened as electricity swam through her hand. He must have felt something too, because his grip tightened, and in that moment, she wanted to put the world on pause. His hand in hers felt like what had been missing. It felt perfect.
“Love’s greatest gift is its ability to make everything it touches sacred.”
~Barbara DeAngelis
heir hands did not separate. Gemma expected the current of warmth to disperse, but it didn’t. She stared at their intertwined fingers and allowed her gaze to travel to his. Their eyes locked for a long moment.
He turned her hand and studied her palm. She held her breath as an electric current reverberated along her skin.
“Your hand has adapted into the perfect mate for a tennis racquet,” he said as he traced the calluses on her fingers and palm. “I once heard that when you are committed, wholly and completely, you build scar tissue. Whatever you dedicate to that passion absorbs the weight of the damage.”
A small sound escaped her mouth. She swallowed. “I imagine it’s the price we pay.”
“Sometimes the price may be too high.”
“Excuse me, Dr. Reyes?” someone said from behind them.
Gemma pulled her hand away as they both turned to a woman who had appeared in the aisle next to them.
“Stella, right? Stella McCormack from TeraVision.” They shook hands as he rose. The woman didn’t let go of his hand.
“I’m sorry for interrupting,” she said as she glanced at Gemma, then did a double take before turning back to Andre. “I just wanted to say hi.”
As they spoke, Gemma pretended to read a magazine, but she caught every detail. Stella leaned on the seat, shifted her weight, touched his hand, placed her hand on his chest, giggled, and seemed amused by his wit. He answered her questions, explained, and motivated her. She seemed very motivated. A little too motivated for Gemma.
She’s a little too old for him, if you ask me.
Now she was writing her phone number on the business card that had been conveniently tucked in her pocket.
Of course he’ll call you next time he’s in Seattle,
Gemma thought. After a few moments the woman stretched and kissed his cheek.
Must be nice.
“Sorry about that,” he said as he sat.
“No worries, Dr. Reyes,” Gemma said, still flipping through the pages of the magazine. “She’s pretty.”
Andre glanced at Gemma. “You want me to introduce you to her?”
“Don’t be daft. She’s definitely interested in you.”
“Hmm.”
“Not interested?”
“Not remotely interested.”
She laughed a little too easily. “Why’s that? Do you already have someone special?” As soon as she asked, she mentally
She clenched her legs to her chest, stunned. “How was MIT? Were you socially accepted there?”
“Sure, somewhat. But I was an outlier. An oddity. I was a fourteen-year-old working on two PhDs alongside twenty-five-year olds and older who felt they were the best of the best. I didn’t have to try, while they killed themselves. I killed the curves wherever I went, so my presence became an annoyance. I was always surrounded by people, but I was never with them. Do you know what I mean?”
She nodded, almost in a trance. “Smiling and talking to the people, but never truly present.”
“Exactly. You nailed it. Every day, all I wished for was to go back home. To see my friends who had been there for me since we were toddlers, to see the girl I loved. But I had to live out someone else’s plan.”
“Bloody hell, Andre.”
“Hey, it all turned out for the best,” he said with a strained smile. “Look at me now, I hang out with Gemma Lennon.” He shrugged. “A normal life is all I wanted. Just a normal life.”
The young boy had aged before her. Gemma took his hand. A beat, then her breath caught and the world transformed.
Her posture straightened as electricity swam through her hand. He must have felt something too, because his grip tightened, and in that moment, she wanted to put the world on pause. His hand in hers felt like what had been missing. It felt perfect.
“Love’s greatest gift is its ability to make everything it touches sacred.”
~Barbara DeAngelis
heir hands did not separate. Gemma expected the current of warmth to disperse, but it didn’t. She stared at their intertwined fingers and allowed her gaze to travel to his. Their eyes locked for a long moment.
He turned her hand and studied her palm. She held her breath as an electric current reverberated along her skin.
“Your hand has adapted into the perfect mate for a tennis racquet,” he said as he traced the calluses on her fingers and palm. “I once heard that when you are committed, wholly and completely, you build scar tissue. Whatever you dedicate to that passion absorbs the weight of the damage.”
A small sound escaped her mouth. She swallowed. “I imagine it’s the price we pay.”
“Sometimes the price may be too high.”
“Excuse me, Dr. Reyes?” someone said from behind them.
Gemma pulled her hand away as they both turned to a woman who had appeared in the aisle next to them.
“Stella, right? Stella McCormack from TeraVision.” They shook hands as he rose. The woman didn’t let go of his hand.
“I’m sorry for interrupting,” she said as she glanced at Gemma, then did a double take before turning back to Andre. “I just wanted to say hi.”
As they spoke, Gemma pretended to read a magazine, but she caught every detail. Stella leaned on the seat, shifted her weight, touched his hand, placed her hand on his chest, giggled, and seemed amused by his wit. He answered her questions, explained, and motivated her. She seemed very motivated. A little too motivated for Gemma.
She’s a little too old for him, if you ask me.
Now she was writing her phone number on the business card that had been conveniently tucked in her pocket.
Of course he’ll call you next time he’s in Seattle,
Gemma thought. After a few moments the woman stretched and kissed his cheek.
Must be nice.
“Sorry about that,” he said as he sat.
“No worries, Dr. Reyes,” Gemma said, still flipping through the pages of the magazine. “She’s pretty.”
Andre glanced at Gemma. “You want me to introduce you to her?”
“Don’t be daft. She’s definitely interested in you.”
“Hmm.”
“Not interested?”
“Not remotely interested.”
She laughed a little too easily. “Why’s that? Do you already have someone special?” As soon as she asked, she mentally
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