Chapter 20 #2
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?”
We both decline, and he walks away to give us a few minutes to look at the menu. Adrian looks at me instead, his smile so content that I start to blush and ask, “Do you already know what you’re going to order?”
“Yeah, when I come here during the season, there’s a trout dish from the dinner menu that I typically get and swap out the sides for a salad,” Adrian replies.
I tsk. “Ordering from the dinner menu at lunchtime—you’re such a cheater,” I tease.
“What are you going to get?” he asks.
Setting down the menu, I say, “The goat cheese appetizer.”
Adrian narrows his eyes. “We could get that as an appetizer. You can order an actual entrée too.”
“If you’re going to cheat and order from the dinner menu for lunch, I’m going to cheat and order from the appetizer menu,” I say.
He opens his mouth to protest, and I cut in.
“You don’t understand how much I love whipped goat cheese.
I order it as a meal all the time. Silo has my favorite so far, but I haven’t tried it here yet. ”
Peter returns to take our order, laughing when neither of us order from the lunch menu. When he walks away, Adrian asks, “How did it feel to leave the cosmetology school for the last time?”
“Great. I was ready to say goodbye to the practice floor,” I say with a laugh.
“I mean, I’m nervous about how long it could take to build up my client list. But I’ve saved and planned for the next several months, so we’ll see how things go.
On Thursday, Lynsey and I get to set up the salon chair space we’re sharing, and I’m excited to have a place that feels half mine. ”
“Speaking of, I got you a graduation present,” Adrian says, shifting to pull something out of his pocket.
“I told you, this was not a real graduation to turn into a big deal,” I remind him.
He gives me a chastening look. “And I told you this is a huge milestone that we’re celebrating. Here—sorry it got a little crumpled,” he says as he hands me an envelope.