Page 73 of Stealing Home

“Thank you for last night, Cole. Even though there were a lot of tears, I had a great time with you.”

“Thank you for joining me. I enjoyed spending the night with you.”

I reach out for her and pull her into me. Gently, I cup her cheek and angle her head up to meet my gaze. I take my time thoroughly kissing her before I pull away.

I remember I need to ask her a question sooner than later.

“I have a question before I leave, though.”

“Okay, what is it?” she asks.

“I was hoping you would want to be my date to the gala.”

“I haven’t scared you off yet?” she asks.

“I wouldn’t be asking if you did.”

“Well, you didn’t really ask…so.”

I laugh. She is absolutely more sassy in the morning.

“Adriana, will you please be my date to the Grizzlies gala?”

“Are you sure you want to make that statement?”

“I am. But if you aren’t, I understand. I know it comes with a lot.”

“So you are telling me you are all in?”

I grab her hands to hold them and bring them up to my lips and kiss her knuckles. I look her dead in her eyes before I respond.

“Yes, I’m all in A. I really feel that we have something here and I’m ready to dive in headfirst. I get that might not be where you are, but like I told you last night, I got you. If you want to wait a while longer before we make a public appearance, that is okay with me, too. I told you we would go at your pace and I meant that. So this is entirely up to you.”

I can tell Adriana is taking in what I just told her. She smiles at me and I know everything is going to work out.

“I’m all in. You don’t make it easy to say otherwise. Not that I want to. I feel the connection. Last night, while I know it wasn’t a conventional first date in terms of our conversation, it’s been a really long time since I’ve felt that comfortable speaking about my past that way. As far as the team goes, that works until the gala.

“Cole, since coming here, I feel that I’ve gotten to know you well. So I know when you say something, you say it because you mean it. So yes, if you are all in, then so am I.”

She finishes and comes right back to me to kiss me. We break apart from our kiss and we are both smiling like high schoolers.

“Now go because you have a game to win, Casanova.”

“Fine. I’ll go but only because I have to work. I’ll call you later.”

“Bye Casanova. Play hard today.”

I give her a quick peck on the lips and turn to head home.

It’s beena great week so far. I got to wake up to Adriana in my arms, solidify our relationship and we won our last two games. Hopefully, the good keeps rolling into this guys night with the team.

I am bringing the ice outside to put into the coolers when my phone pings with a text notification. I grab it from my pocket and see it’s from King.

King: Be there in two minutes.

Cole: Cool. You can park in the driveway. I’m in the backyard just come through the gate and up the stairs.

I pocket my phone and go back to opening the bags of ice and adding them to the cooler when I hear King.

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