Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Adriana

Pizza and a movie did sound good. Plus, I wasn’t ready to go home and be alone. I’ve been enjoying having my own space, but it can be lonely sometimes. With the guys being home for the next six days, I don’t want to intrude on Heather and Ty’s time when we’re not working.

“Why don’t you guys go home and change and then come back? I’m going to shower quickly and then I’ll order the food.” Cole suggests to us.

“Yeah, a shower sounds good. I need to get the chlorine out of my hair. Adriana, you good with that?” Heather double checks with me.

“Yeah. That sounds good.” I concur.

“Just come back on over when you’re done. Apparently I don’t have to open the door to you lot.” Cole jests to Heather.

With that Heather, Ty and I head over next door to shower and change.

After taking a quick shower, the debate on what to wear is happening in my head. Before I could change my mind I grab the jersey t-shirt that Cole gave Heather to give to me. It has his last name and number on the back with the Grizzlies logo on the front.

Why not see what his reaction will be?

Since I didn’t wear his jersey opening day, maybe this might be a nice way to make it up to him. Picking up my brush, I run it through wet hair and put it in a low ponytail and let it drop over my left shoulder.

Texting Heather to let her know I’m ready and wanted to see if they were before leaving to head over to theirs.

She texts me right back, letting me know they’ll meet me at the bottom of the stairs so we can walk over together.

“We’re back!” Ty shouts as we walk in.

“Kitchen.” Cole lets us know where to find him.

“Food is ordered and should be here in about five minutes.” He updates us.

“Adriana, wait til you see the movie room..” Heather says with a wide grin.

What the hell is she up to now?

“That’s right. I didn’t get to see it when you set up the bathroom down there.” I reply to Heather.

There’s a knock at the door and Cole goes to answer it.

Heather has this stupid grin on her face, to which I give her a pointed look. She shrugs her shoulders and Cole returns before I can even open my mouth to say anything.

“Are we eating down there, too?” Cole gives us the option.

“It’s up to you. Your house.” Ty says.

“We can eat down there. What do you guys want to drink? We can take them downstairs so we don’t have to come back up.” Cole says.

He thinks ahead. I like that. Wait what? Don’t even start with a list of the things you like about Cole. Chastising myself because this is not where my head should be.

“Water or soda works for me. We have a mini event tomorrow before the game and it’s with kids.” Heather replies

“Same. Being tired or hungover doesn’t seem like it will be fun with kids.” Adriana agrees with Heather.

“Sounds good. Water bro?” Cole asks Ty.

“Yeah, gotta be hydrated for tomorrow. I’ll take the food.” Ty responds while grabbing the boxes of pizza.

Cole grabs four bottles of water and a two liter bottle of soda. He’s crafty because I see him put a water bottle in each pocket of his sweats, so it’s easier to carry the soda.

“Ty, why don’t you lead the way since you’re closest to the door?” he suggests.

Ty nods before turning to open the door that is a few feet from him. Heather follows him and then I’m following her, with Cole behind me. It’s like a conga line. Well, now he’ll get to see the back of my shirt. Following Heather into the movie room where Ty has already put the lights on, which allows me to realize why Heather was grinning so big. Cole has a large sectional that spans the width of the room. The room isn’t huge, so neither is this couch. It has two seats that are in the middle and the chaise portion is wider than normal and can fit two people on both ends. Heather is sneaky. One of these days, I’m going to figure out how to get her back. I know she means well and I love her even more for that.

“What are we watching?” Heather asks.

“We have all the streaming platforms to choose from so pretty much whatever you want.” Cole says.

“Let’s watch the latest Avengers movie. I haven’t seen it yet. Or is it too long for you guys?” Heather responds.

“It’s only 6:30. I think we’re good. Ty? I know with being a little older that your bedtime might be before ours?” Cole asks Ty.

“Fuck you, asshole. That’s fine.” Ty laughs.

“Sounds good.” Cole tells us.

With that, Cole switches between apps to find the movie. We all grab slices of pizza and, of course, Heather and Ty go to sit on one end with a chaise while Cole stretches out on the other. Deciding sit on the cushion that’s next to Cole because I don’t want to feel like a third wheel if I’m too close to the lovebirds.

About half an hour into the movie, Cole pauses it. I look over at him, asking what’s up with my facial expression, and he lifts his hand up and gives me the sign for one moment.

“Potty and trash break.” He answers my unspoken question.

Ah, that makes sense. He gets up and grabs my plate to place on his. This causes me to a breath because he’s even closer to me now and casts a shiver through my body as his scent hits me. His scent has notes of sandalwood, the ocean, spices, and the woods.

“Are you cold?” he asks me.

“A little.” I say, but it’s not the temperature. It’s the proximity of him.

“While I love finally seeing my number on you, I have to ask Sweatshirt or blanket?”

Shit, now I have to pick one.

“Sweatshirt please, if you don’t mind.” I choose.

A sweatshirt can’t cover us both or insinuate anything other than watching a movie with friends.

My thoughts are running wild thinking about how today felt in the pool. Anytime Cole touched me I felt this zing of energy run through my body. Cole affects me more that I’m willing to admit at the moment out loud.

Cole and Ty must have left to go upstairs because Heather comes to sit next to me.

“You think you are so slick, missy?” I say to Heather with a hint of attitude while pointing at her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, lady.” Heather denies.

“I’m sure you don’t.” I retort with sarcasm.

“I really just wanted to watch a movie on the movie screen.” She at least tries to convince me.

“It had nothing to do with the setup of what we had to sit on to watch the gigantic movie screen?” I ask with a pointed look.

“I honestly forgot about the couch. I’m sorry.” She says coyly.

“Mmmhhhmmm. It’s all good. Are you excited that Ty’s home for six days?”

“Yeah, it’ll be nice to have some time with him. I treasure the time we have when the season is here. Oh that reminds me. I’m thinking of flying out for the last game of their upcoming road trip. Any interest in coming with me? We can have a sleepover in a nice hotel room.” She says with her eyes full of hope.

“Where is it?”

“Colorado.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I get it if you don’t, but I thought it’d be cool to see where you’re from.”

I look at her while my thoughts are running rampant. I really had no plans ongoing back, but it would be fun with Heather.

“You know what? Sure. It would be cool to show you around.”

“Sweet!”

“Did you have fun in the pool today?” She asks me.

“I did. You?” I return.

“Yeah, it’s been a while since we’ve all been that carefree.” She muses, as the boys come back into the room.

Cole brings me one of his Grizzlies hoodies. He hands it to me and I unfold it. I look at it, shake my head and put it on. He picked a hoodie that has his name and number on the back, too. Ty lowers the lighting and we all sit back into the places we were before. Cole unpauses the movie and we go back to watching it.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” Cole says above a whisper.

Cole’s smooth voice pulls me out of my sleep.

“Mmm. Did I fall asleep?” I question on a yawn.

“You did. You okay?” Cole has a worried look on his face.

“Yeah, I guess the afternoon sun made me more tired than I thought. Where are Heather and Ty?” I say as I look over to where they were laying down together. And this is when I realize that my head is on Cole’s shoulder.

“They just went upstairs. I told them I’d get you up.” He offers me.

“Thank you for today.” I say, moving to get up. Once on my feet, I go to take off his sweatshirt, but he places his hand on my arm.

“Keep it. You can always give it back to me another time. You’re welcome for today, but it’s really me who should thank you. The surprise you guys gave me was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. Today was the least I could do.” He says with such sincerity.

“Stop, that can’t be one of the nicest things someone has done for you.” I say in disbelief.

“It really is. Most people only want to be in my life for all the wrong reasons and use me. It’s not about doing things for me, just what I can do for them..”

“That’s shitty. You know it’s funny because I wanted to help do something nice for you.” I tell him.

“Why?” He asks like I have three heads.

“You’ve been so welcoming to me when you haven’t had to be, and it felt like a way to say thank you for that.” And that’s the truth.

Cole hasn’t had to do anything for me. He didn’t know me from a hole in the wall, but he’s been more than willing to help.

“It’s not a hardship to be around you, Adriana.” he says with this look in his eye that makes me believe him.

He speaks his mind. Add that to the like column.

“You’re not too bad yourself, Cole.” I reply in like.

“Let’s get you upstairs so you can get home.” Cole tells me.

Nodding my head, I turn to walk out of the movie room.

Damn it. This man is starting to make cracks in my walls and I don’t know if they need to be reinforced or if I should just let him chip away at them.