Page 92 of Stealing Home

I don’t tell Tyler this often, but his approval is something I might not need, but want. And that goes for anything in my life. He’s my big brother and his opinion matters to me. Especially after mom and dad died. He’s the only one in the family who can call me out on my shit the way our dad would. I do the same for him too. We might have to be there for each other, but I also want to be there for him and his family, too.

We hear Dani and Adriana come out of the apartment to make their way towards us. It only takes them a moment to reach us.

“I’ll text you when I get on the plane tomorrow.” Dani says to Adriana.

“You better woman. I love you. Thank you.” Adriana says to Dani as they hug.

Adriana goes to say goodbye to Heather and Dani comes over to me.

“So now that you two are official, as her best friend, I have to say this. I like you Cole. I think you are good for her. Please don’t break her heart. I don’t want the Grizzlies fans to hate me if I have to break the hands and knees of one of their favorite players.” She says quietly but sternly to me.

The only thing I can do is smile at her. I’m glad Adriana has someone looking out for her like this. I know Heather does too, but it’s not the same as Dani.

“I will always do what I can to make her happy. That you have my word on.” I tell her with the utmost honesty.

“Good. Thank you for not giving up on her.” Dani says and gives me a hug.

I just nod at her. I don’t know what else to say. There was no way I was going to give up on her.

“Ready baby?” I ask Adriana.

“Yes. Bye guys.” She says.

I take her hand in mine, and that’s how we walk back to my place.

We get into the house and go straight to the kitchen.

“Do you want something to eat or drink?” I ask her.

“Water please.” She replies.

I grab two waters out of the fridge.

“Ready to head upstairs or do you want to watch a movie or tv down here?” I give her the choice.

“We can go upstairs. I can’t be falling asleep on the couch again.” She laughs out.

“I can say it wouldn’t matter where we sleep, but it would be nice to have the space of a bed.” I tell her.

“Exactly.” she agrees.

We go upstairs into my bedroom. I go straight to my dresser in the walk-in closet to get Adriana a t-shirt. I grab one of my college baseball ones and head back into the bedroom.

“Here you go. You can change first. Do you need anything else in the bathroom?”

“Do you still have the extra toothbrushes we stocked you up with?” She asks.

“Exactly where you put them.’ I tell her.

With that, she is off to the ensuite bathroom. I unpack my bag and grab my sleep shorts and a plain white t-shirt. I cue the tv up with the next Harry Potter movie for when we get into bed.

Oh, I need to text Ty so I can get the info for my surprise date with Adriana.

I grab my phone from my pocket and text him. He gets back to me right away with the information, and I thank him.

Adriana walks out of the bathroom and fuck me. Her being here in just my t-shirt is better than I ever imagined it. And I have imagined it. More than I’d like to admit.

“You’re up, Casanova.” she tells me.

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