Page 29 of Stealing Home

“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.

---