Chapter 13
Cici
I nibble on my bottom lip as I try to decide what to do. I don’t even know if Adam is free today, but I kind of want to invite him to the game.
It would be a way to hang out in a more casual setting and see if he’s really as great of a guy as he seems like. It would be fun to have someone to talk to other than the girls.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the girls, but their focus is understandably on their husbands and kids. We’re at different stages in our lives and I don’t always feel the most comfortable with them anymore.
Cici: Are you busy today?
I grin when he responds almost instantly.
Adam: I guess that depends on what you have in mind.
Cici: I was thinking you could come to a game with me.
Adam: I'm thinking I'm free all day. *smirking emoji*
Cici: Do you want to meet at my house and then we can drive to the stadium together?
Adam: That sounds perfect. Let me know what time and what your address is.
I blow out a relieved breath and quickly give him my address. I let out a little squeal of excitement and rush into my bathroom to start getting ready.
Adam will be here soon and I want to look cute. He’s already seen me dressed up and ready for an after-work date, now I want to show him I can be just a normal girl and go to a ballgame.
I don’t want him to think I'm this uptight business woman or some snobby rich girl. I'm not either one of those things and I don’t want there to be any unrealistic expectations.
I know he thinks he’s somehow beneath me because he’s a bartender and doesn’t have a well-known last name, but that’s not how I see him.
I couldn’t care less what the number on his bank account is, I just want someone who loves me for me.
By the time I finish getting ready, I'm a ball of nerves. I never go out with strangers. I know nothing about Adam except where he works, yet I'm looking forward to this.
Covey’s message is still sitting on my phone without a response. I don’t really know what to say to him, but I don’t want to respond to him right now. I want to focus on my day with Adam. After all, if today goes well, Covey could be a man from my past. Someone I’ll only ever view as a friend.
When Adam pulls into my driveway, I hurry outside to meet him. He smiles as he climbs out of this car and holds his arms open. I don’t hesitate to step into them and let him wrap me in his embrace. This might be the best hug I’ve ever gotten.
“Hey, beautiful,” Adam says softly as he pulls back to meet my gaze.
“Hi, how are you?”
“A lot better now that I'm here with you.” He grins and keeps his hand on my lower back. “When do you want to leave?”
“We can go whenever. The game starts in a couple hours. There’s food there and my friends are already there.”
“Are we sitting in regular seats?” Adam arches a brow, making me chuckle.
“We can if you want to. Or we can sit in a suite and watch. It’s completely up to you.” I lift my shoulder in a shrug. I really don’t care what we do.
I’ve spent the majority of my games in the stadium seating.
Charlie and Macy always preferred to sit there because they feel like they’re in the action.
Mom would rather sit in the suite so she doesn’t have to wait in lines for food or the bathroom.
Dad would prefer the stadium seating, but Mom constantly says he has to sit in the suite.
The last thing he needs is someone recognizing him and it could turn into utter chaos.
We have our own box suite since Dad owns the team, but Dad also included a joint box for Leo and Wyatt as part of their contracts.
He knew so many of the Mulberry Lane families would want to come to games and he said having a big box available was better than Leo or Wyatt constantly trying to get tickets for their family and extended family.
Of course, Dad made sure the boxes are next to each other, and he put a door between them. He wanted to make sure he could see his friends whenever he wanted to.
“I think I might take you up on the suite… After all, I doubt I’ll get to live this fancy life ever again.” He grins.
I smile back, but it doesn’t reach my eyes. I'm not sure why Adam keeps bringing up how different our lives are. I don’t care, I don’t know why he does.
“I just need to grab my things, then we can go.” I motion towards the house.
“Sounds good.”
Adam follows me inside and he lets out a low whistle.
He glances around and I suddenly feel really self-conscious about my home.
It’s a nice home, in a great development.
I could’ve gotten something bigger, or in a more private location, but this works for me right now.
When I start a family, there’s a good chance I’ll want to move into something different.
Currently, I enjoy living close to Cord and our friends.
I like the gated community and knowing people can’t just waltz in here.
It’s safe and secure, something I want in my life.
“Your house looks like it belongs in a magazine. It’s crazy. ” Adam shakes his head.
“Thanks? I guess.” I frown as I grab my purse and sunglasses.
“Do you have a pool too?”
“I do,” I say slowly. “And a hot tub.”
“Jeez, it must be nice to be loaded.” He snorts out a humorless laugh and shakes his head again.
If I didn’t know this is the same guy I spoke to last night at the bar and again via text message, I’d swear they were different people.
Last night he was sweet and funny, today he’s being insulting and obnoxious.
The guy from last night, I could see a future with him.
This guy… it’s taking everything in me not to kick him out.
I ignore his comment and head towards the front door. I insist we go in his car and quickly text the four guys who work the gate at our development.
Cici: Please take Adam off of my visitor list. He’s an obnoxious jerk.
Sean: Taking him off now. I’ll deal with him if he shows up again.
Pat: You’re too good for him, Cici. Tell him if he comes back, he’ll have four angry security guys to deal with.
I smile at their responses and tuck my phone into my purse.
I love having such an amazing team protecting our community.
Charlie’s uncle owns a security company and when we started moving into this development, they insisted on helping with security.
It was a gated community, but it didn’t have any guards.
I'm more than thankful for the men they employ to keep us safe. I know I can text or call those guys at any time and they’ll come running.
It makes me feel a lot safer, especially with me living alone.
Adam keeps glancing at me and I honestly don’t know what to say to him. I want this day to be over so I never have to speak to him again.
I give him directions on where to park when we get to the stadium, but I don’t let him park in the player’s lot. I have my pass, but I'm unsure if I want him there. Who knows what he’ll try to do. I don’t trust him.
“Man, I expected you to have some parking pass that opened up a secret parking lot. Like what the players and owner probably park in.”
“Oh, I don’t need one. I don’t own the team and I'm not a player or employee. I just park in the normal lots,” I lie, more than done with him.
I won't spend the day trying to impress him or making this even more enjoyable for him. It’s bad enough we’ll be sitting with my parents and I doubt Dad will bite his tongue. He’ll happily put him in his place and honestly, I'm looking forward to it.
Once we park, I lead Adam over to a door and wave my key fob in front of the sensor. The door clicks open and we walk through. It’s the only door that leads directly from public lots to the inside of the stadium without passing through the rest of the stadium.
We walk through the maze of underground tunnels and we take the elevator up to the suite floor. Adam’s overwhelmed with everything and I'm fairly certain he’d be lost for hours if I left him behind. The thought is tempting.
When I wave my key fob in front of the suite, it opens easily and we step inside.
There’s still an hour or so before the game will start.
The stadium doesn’t open for another fifteen minutes, but I like the calm before the crazy.
I always love getting here early. The guys are still on the field and I like watching them.
“This is awesome! I can’t believe I get to watch a game from the owner’s suite.” Adam moves down the steps to the window. He stares at the field with a look of awe on his face.
I let out a soft sigh and squeeze my eyes shut. I was fine with Adam not having a padded bank account or some prestigious job, but I don’t like the attitude he has towards me because I come from a wealthy family. The only thing different between us is my last name and the number in my bank account.
I understand we grew up differently and where this is normal for me, it’s new and exciting to him. But if he’s going to constantly insult me, I don’t want him near me.
Most of the guys on the team didn’t grow up with money and they don’t act like Cord and I are different because we did.
My phone pings with a new message and I tug it out of my purse to see who’s texting me.
Cord: Are you here yet?
Cici: In the suite.
Cord: Ok, I'm headed up to see you. I have something for you.
Cici: Ok… I have a guy with me.
Cord: Oh, really *smirking emoji*
Cici: Yeah, it’s not like that. I thought there was potential, but there isn’t.
Cord: I'm sorry, Cici.
I smile at Cord’s text message. That’s one thing I adore about my brother. He really is sorry I haven’t been able to find the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. He wants me to find someone I love and start a family with them. He wants to see me happy.
Right as I'm about to return my phone to my purse, I see another text message. My heart sinks as I read it.