Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Adriana

Heather and I have been hanging out by her pool since we finished our work this morning. The guys are off on their road trip, so it’s just us ladies.

“A, why don’t you see if Dani is around this weekend for a girls’ night since the boys aren’t here?” Heather suggests to me.

She knows that I’ve been missing my best friend even more now that we’re in the same state and haven’t been able to hang out..

“Genius idea! I’ll send her a message.” I say, grabbing my phone to do so.

Adriana: Hello Bestie!

Dani: Hola! What’s cookin’ good lookin’?

Adriana: You around this weekend?

Dani: I am. What’s up?

Adriana: Well, Heather had this brilliant idea of a girls’ night since the guys are on the road.

Dani: I’m in. Tomorrow or Saturday?

“Boss lady, tomorrow or Saturday night?” I ask Heather.

“What if we made it a weekend? We can hang out here tomorrow and then on Saturday we do a spa day?” Heather puts her thought out there.

“I am not mad at that idea.” And with that I go back to texting Dani.

Adriana: Both? Heather says we can hang out at the house tomorrow night and do a spa day Saturday. Thoughts?

Dani: Hell yes! What time should I be there tomorrow?

Adriana: Anytime after one pm. We have a meeting in the morning, but that’s it for the day.

Dani: I’ll see you then. I can’t wait.

Adriana: Me too!

“She’s in. She’ll be here around one tomorrow.” I let Heather know with a huge smile.

“Perfect. I can’t wait to meet her in person.” She says genuinely.

Heather has been with me when Dani and I have facetimed so they have kind of met. I’m excited to have my two best friends meet since they’re two of the most important people in my life.

I can’t believe it’s been a month since I packed up my apartment and moved across the country. My, how things have changed.

Working with Heather has been great. Most of the time, it doesn’t even feel like it should be called work. It was an exciting week because we finally settled on a name for the foundation. And we get to throw a gala to announce it and to get donations for funding.

“I’m really excited about this gala and am hoping we can finalize the pricing and details at tomorrow’s meeting.” I say to Heather.

“Me too. It’s going to be so much fun. I’m glad we will have volunteers to help with everything so we can enjoy ourselves, too.” She replies.

“I agree. Are we going to have a theme?” I ask her, with ideas swirling through my head.

“If we can find one that the team likes.” She answers.

“Let’s brainstorm, my friend. I have a plethora of ideas.” I suggest to her.

It only takes us about an hour before we have close to six different options to pitch to the board. We meet with them next week, right before we head to Colorado to watch the team play.

“Why don’t you go shower and grab your stuff to come back over? We can start girls’ weekend tonight if you want to stay in the house with me.” Heather offers to me.

“I can do that. Lonely without Ty?” I question Heather with a slight laugh.

“A little. It’s a big house when it’s just me. When we lived in the city, the apartment was enormous, but it wasn’t this spacious.”

“I can understand that. Okay, I’m going and I should be back in like an hour.”

“You can let yourself in.”

“Sounds good.”

Getting up, I gather my phone and towel and head up to my apartment. I start the shower before stripping down to get in. Twenty minutes later, I feel refreshed walking into my bedroom. I throw on sweats and a tank top before going back into the bathroom to dry my hair quickly.

I grab my phone charger and Cole’s sweatshirt in case I get cold for later before locking up and head back to Heather’s.

“Hello!” I say, while closing the door.

“In the living room.” Heather lets me know so I can join her.

I walk into the living room and see Heather lounging on one end of the couch, which means I take the other end to sit on.

“What are we doing tonight?” I inquire, since we didn’t make any plans beforehand.

“Well, let’s figure out dinner first.” Heather declares.

“Priorities.” I state with a laugh. This woman is always thinking about food.

“Italian?” Heather hopefully proposes.

“You know the way to my heart. I could get down with some chicken scarp.” I say while putting my hands over my heart and laughing.

“Mozzarella sticks too?” she asks after she finishes laughing at my antics.

“Duh, it’s not a full meal without them.” I say playfully.

Heather rolls her eyes at me as she orders online from her phone.

“Thirty minutes.” She says before a devilish grin takes over. “How do you feel about watching the game?”

“Put your man on the screen, woman.I won’t deny you.” I tease.

Who am I to deny her from watching her man on the screen? It’s not like I don’t want to watch Cole too. Wait, what? Stop that Adriana.

“Don’t act like you don’t enjoy watching the games.” She throws right back at me.

“Well, duh. It’s the pants for me.” I call out my love of baseball pants.

“Liar.” she puts me on blast.

“Yeah, yeah. I can’t help it. Sports and me go together like peanut butter and jelly.” I try deflecting, but knowing it won’t help.

“Are you sure there isn’t another reason you don’t mind watching the game?” she hedges, trying to get the answer she wants out of me.

“I mean King is nice to look at too. But I know he’s not pitching tonight since he pitched last night.” I say, not giving in right away.

“Are you sure it doesn’t have to do with a certain catcher?” She continues to goad me.

” Oh my friend, Cole. Sure, it’s nice to cheer him on, too.” I respond casually, trying to make sure my voice is even.

“Yeah, friend.” she laughs while giving me a who are you kidding look.

I roll my eyes and smile, not admitting to anything. Even if there might be something to admit..

Heather puts the game on the tv as the first pitch is being thrown to left fielder Dane Rivers. He hits a single and Dean Lockwood is up next. He gets a base hit too.

“Here’s your man.” I point out Ty on the screen to Heather.

“He sure is mine.” Heather says with a smile. I can see the love she has for Ty in her eyes, and it’s that look that makes me want to let someone in again.

I want someone to look at me the way they look at each other. I guess I don’t know what I want.

“THAT’S MY MAN!!” Heather shouts and brings me out of my head.

Returning my attention to the screen to see why Heather is shouting. Ty hit a home run. We high five and do a little dance before going back to watch the game. The next two batters don’t make it on base and then Cole is up. He strikes out and he looks pissed. We continue to watch intently until the doorbell rings and Heather goes to grab our food.

“Here we go.” Heather says as she comes back into the living room and takes the food containers out of the bag to place on the table in front of the couch.

“Soda or water?” she asks me.

“Water please. I can grab it.” I offer going to get up.

“I’ll grab them. I’m up.”

“Okay then.” I say, settling back in my seat.

Heather comes back, and we eat and watch the game. When we finish eating, the game is almost finished. Just one inning left.

It’s the top of the ninth and Tyler is up to bat first. Heather doesn’t even breathe as we watch him at bat. The Grizzlies are down by two runs. I’m clutching Cole’s hoodie like my life depends on it and it will bring them luck.

Tyler hits a double. The next batter strikes out and then Sean Wilson is up. He hits a single and Ty makes it to third base. It’s Cole’s turn now in the batter’s box and he takes the first two pitches that were balls. The pitcher winds up and throws the ball. It looks like a fastball right down the middle and Cole’s timing on the swing is perfection. Cole smacks the shit out of the ball. Yeah, he did because it’s a home run and he just gave The Grizzlies the lead. The guys are all at the plate as Cole steps on Home. The high fives are all around as they make their way to the dugout. Heather and I are jumping up and down to celebrate.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves now. There is still the bottom half to go.”

“True. Ma’am, are you holding Cole’s hoodie?” Heather questions me.

“You didn’t see that.” I say, while holding my hand up to block her view.

“Mmmhhmm. But soon you know you won’t be able to deny it right?” she sasses me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I play dumb.

Heather just smiles and we go back to watching the game as the next batter strikes out and the one next hits the ball straight back to the pitcher.

“Let’s hope they hold them off.” I tell Heather.

“Fingers crossed.”

We are both sitting on the edge of the couch now. Heather’s leg is shaking and I’m now hugging Cole’s hoodie.

Nashville’s best player, who is on a hot streak, steps into the batter’s box. Hunter throws a strike and then a ball. His third pitch is hit, and it looks like it might go all the way. But it starts to come down and long and behold, Dean Lockwood is able to grab it at the wall. The Grizzlies win!

Heather and I are back to dancing and jumping.

“Let’s go!” I shout.

“Hell yeah boys!” Heather shouts.

We calm down and realize how late it is.

“Let’s go upstairs. You can take the guest bed.”

“Yeah, I’m exhausted now. That was a lot.”

We make sure all the lights are off and doors are locked and go upstairs. I head to the guest bedroom and Heather goes to her bedroom.

I turn on the TV, plug my phone charger into the wall next to the bedside table, and then crawl under the covers. While channel surfing, I come across Gilmore Girls. I grab my phone and unlock it and before I can think twice, I text Cole.

Adriana: Great game tonight.

I don’t wait to see if he’s going to respond. Instead, I go to the bathroom

Cole: Thank you. Does that mean you watched?

Adriana: Might have.

Cole: Would you be mad if I said that I already knew you did?

Adriana: Depends on how you would know.

Cole: I might have received a really cute picture of you.

Adriana: What picture?

Cole: Picture

I’m going to throttle Heather. While I was hugging Cole’s hoodie, watching Hunter pitch to the last batter of the night.

Adriana: I guess I’m caught. But in my defense, it was the bottom of the ninth with two outs.

Cole: Sure, but that means you brought it with you to the house.

Adriana: Shhhh.

Cole: I won’t tell.

Adriana: What a gentleman.

Cole: I try.

Cole: Heading on to the plane now.

Adriana: Have a safe flight Co

Cole: Worried about me flying?

Adriana: Only in your dreams

Cole: You’re not wrong.

Adriana: ……..

Cole: Too much?

Adriana: I don’t even know.

Cole: Get some sleep beautiful

Adriana: Night Co

Cole: Night darlin’

What is this man doing to me? I fall asleep with a smile on my face and I wake up that way, too.

I get out of bed and head down to the kitchen, where Heather is already making coffee.

“You are an angel with devil horns.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Angel with devil horns. Heavenly for my coffee and a evil for taking and sending Cole that picture last night.”

Heather sets her coffee down and full on belly laughs, bending herself onto the counter. She looks up at me and has tears in her eyes.

“It’s not funny!”

“I’m sorry. It kind of is. But I’ll stop for now. We will pick this up later when Dani is here.”

“Jeez.” I say as I scrub my hand down my face.

“Let’s get ready for this meeting. I’m so happy it’s via zoom.” I say to change the subject.

“Me too. Only have to put a nice top on and be comfy on the bottom half.”