Chapter Seventeen

                                    

                                          
It takes three weeks for the World Cup hype to die down a little. He's welcomed to India as a hero, everyone praising his performance, especially during the last over. Ishan thinks about how different all of this could be if he hadn't played the last over the way he did. How people would probably be protesting for him to get kicked out of the team, bringing up the fact that he's gay.
He never texts back Shubman, he's not sure if it's subconsciously or if he genuinely forgot because of his hectic schedule. Shubman wants to talk, but about what? Does he want to yell at him, fight with him, or did he just want to congratulate him on the win. He knows he won't truly know unless he texts Shubman back but he's simply too scared. 
He's invited to the Ambani wedding which Hardik and Krunal convince him to go to– and the whole time he's there, all he can think about is Shubman.
"You look red," Tim David comments, offering Ishan a cheeky grin.
Ishan snaps out of his thoughts and looks down at his outfit before awkwardly chuckling, "Oh, thought I'd try something new." 
"Well, you look good," Tim mumbles before taking a sip of his drink. He looks around the ground before sighing, "I don't know anyone here– well I know people but I don't really know people." 
"Oh," Ishan replies, looking around. He lost Hardik somewhere in the crowd earlier and Krunal is too busy dancing with his wife somewhere, "Me too."
Tim hums before asking, "I thought you came with Hardik and Krunal." 
"I did but I think they're off somewhere else," Ishan explains. He takes a deep breath before mumbling under his breath, "Off somewhere flirting with some actresses." 
Tim chuckles, patting Ishan's arm, "You're a funny fella, Ishan."
"You say my name funny, Tim," Ishan comments, looking over at the taller man. "It's pronounced eee-shawn not i-shan." 
"Oh forgive me," Tim replies, blush creeping up on his cheeks. "Tell me if I'm saying it right now– eee-shawn?"
Ishan nods, breaking out into a grin, "Yup, you got it right." He looks around the crowd before glancing over at Tim, "Want me to introduce you to some girls? Or are you seeing someone?" 
"Neither," Tim replies with a playful wink.
Ishan furrows his eyebrows in confusion, "What do you mean neither?"
"Well, I'm not really interested in meeting women tonight and I'm not seeing anyone," Tim explains, tone suggestive. 
Ishan's confusion only deepens and he squints at the taller boy, "Uhh... okay. Do you wanna meet some businessmen?" 
Tim rolls his eyes, "You really don't want to give me the time of day, huh?"
"I literally don't know what you're talking about," Ishan admits after a couple moments of silence. 
"I'd rather spend the night with you," Tim admits, lowering his voice and moving closer to Ishan.
That's when it hits Ishan, Tim's flirting with him. But why would a straight guy be flirting with him?
"You wanna be seen with me? A kind of openly gay player?" Ishan asks after a few seconds of stunned silence.
"Well, you hang out with Hardik and Krunal, why would it be any different with me?" Tim challenges the shorter man. 
Ishan thinks for a moment before replying, "Well, they're like my brothers. And they're married with children." 
"Why don't you let me worry about who sees me with you?" TIm suggests, offering Ishan a soft smile. "I've been trying to hang you since the start of IPL season, don't know if you've noticed?"