Page 51 of Run Home

“Steaks are done,” he announces as he turns off the grill. “Hey, Fireball! Come up and wash your hands so we can eat!”

Jason scampers up the stairs to the deck where we’re seated. Danae follows him inside to bring out the pasta salad and fruit platter she was keeping cold in the fridge. Alice and I move to the patio table and set plates around five seats.

There’s one empty chair at the table that I sorely wish was filled by a certain man. I start to feel my heart dipping beneath the sadness, but I shake myself out of it.

It’s okay. It’s good that he’s not here. It’s good to have special times with other people. We’ll have time together on Monday.

We’re wading, not diving. And that’s good.

I take a seat and enjoy the evening being celebrated by people who love me.

Although I’m spending far less time on my hair and makeup than the night of the gala, I’m feeling far more nervous getting ready for my date with Adrian today.

Because it’s a date. Our first real date. My first date in a long while. I’m desperate to not screw things up.

Adrian offered to do his workout super early in the morning so he could take me out to breakfast and spend the entire day together. The “yes” was forming on my lips when I paused, reminding myself to slow down. Wade into the relationship waters.

Also, I know he’s going to want to sleep in on his first day off in a long time. Griffin always did.

So I told Adrian I already had a Pilates class scheduled—true—and asked about starting with lunch together instead. He agreed, and I’m meeting him at one of the restaurants below his old apartment. He’s still enough of a regular there that the owners give him special treatment, including blocking off a few tables in the back to give us a semblance of privacy.

One of our topics of conversation today is bound to be how we’ll handle the publicity of our relationship. I can imagine the press will have a field day with the Wizard of Defense’s baby sister dating his best friend/former sidekick. Although I’m not nearly as averse to public attention as Danae was, I know my previous experience of managing it alongside Griffin is not the same thing as being central to the love life of a famous athlete.

Er, dating life. Not love.

Not yet, Samantha, not yet.

My choppy bob looks a little less choppy since I curled some gentle waves into it. I kept my makeup simple with some basic foundation and mascara, and I chose white shorts, a sleeveless teal shirt, and strappy sandals to strike a cute-but-casual look.

When I arrive, I’m surprised at how many cars are taking up parking spots along the retail area. Although there are apartments here, I’d expected it to be a little less busy at lunch time on a Monday. As I weave through the rows looking for an empty spot, apprehension eats away at my thoughts, knowing this increases the likelihood of Adrian and I being seen together.

After parking the car, I lift my sunglasses to check my mascara in the rearview mirror, then open the door.

“Sam! Hey!” Adrian’s cheerful voice calls. He’s walking my direction with a bright grin. Sunglasses hide his eyes, but I know by heart the corners crinkled with smile lines. He’s dressed in light gray chino pants, a short-sleeved, button-down black linen shirt, and two gold chains.

Well, he’s certainly not trying to hide his identity. I guess today is the relationship hard launch already.

Which means he really does want people to know we’re together. That he’s taken. That I’m taken. That we’re taken together.

The swirling thoughts settle in a smile.

Adrian takes my hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Like he’s done it a hundred times. Like it’s not the universe-altering first real time that it actually is.

Sure, he technically held my hand the night of the gala. But in the moment, my mind categorized that as necessary touch on our way to the dance floor with no underlying intentions. Right now, there’s every romantic intention behind his hand holding mine. And nothing will ever be the same for me.

As he leads me between the cars in the lot, he looks over his shoulder at my face, then down at our hands. He smiles softly as his thumb brushes the side of my forefinger, and I realize this is just as universe altering for him as it is for me. People mill about the retail area, coming in and out of stores, walking to and from cars. Several take double glances at us. When we reach the entrance to the restaurant, Adrian doesn’t let go of my hand as he holds open the door for me to enter.

The hostess welcomes us as we both remove our sunglasses, and she immediately leads us to a reserved table in the back. Adrian finally releases my hand as he pulls out the chair for me and sits across the table. The hostess gives us menus before grabbing a pitcher of water. “Your server will be with you in a moment,” she says, pouring the ice water, then walking back to the front.

Adrian holds his hand palm up on the table, so I place mine in his. I smile and say, “There’s absolutely no chance that we walked in here unnoticed.”

He rubs the back of my hand with his thumb. “I’m not trying to go unnoticed. I don’t want to hide that I’m with you. It would only be a matter of time before word got out anyway, so I don’t want anyone getting the idea that you were ever a secret.” He tilts his head to one side as he watches my reaction. “Were you wanting to fly under the radar? I’m sorry—I should have asked you about that before.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m fine with it. I’ve been around the pro-sports world long enough to know it was coming,” I say. “But I didn’t know how much attention you’d want when we’re still so new.”

Adrian leans in across the table. “We might be new. But you are not new for me. I’ll gladly take all the attention since it means you’re really with me.”

We’re interrupted by the server coming to our table. “Good afternoon, and thanks for joining us at Rye. My name is Peter, and it’s my pleasure to serve you today. Would you like something to drink other than water?”