Page 86 of Couple Goals

Then, Maeve’s eyes looking a little teary, she lets out a bashful laugh, and shrugs. She turns to Kira, and, with a single movement of her arms, dips Kira, Hollywood style, into an extravagant low kiss.

But then, across the room, Adriana sees a terrifying sight. Jacob, backing into a corner, being approached by… her parents.

‘Shit,’ she says, hurriedly handing her glass to a teammate and running over, just in time to hear her mother say, ‘And what exactly are your intentions with our daughter?’

‘Mum!’ Adriana cringes. ‘Sorry, Jacob, ignore her.’

‘Ignore your own mother-in-law?’ Adriana’s dad huffs playfully. ‘How dare you.’

Adriana groans. ‘Jacob, they’re messing with you, please don’t worry, they just don’t have a sense ofwhat it’s okay to joke about!I’ll see you guys for Sunday roast,okay?’

‘Bring your boyfriend along, why don’t you? But only if he’s already put a ring on it by then!’

She manoeuvres Jacob away from them, as he hurriedly says, ‘Lovely to meet you Mr Summers, Mrs Summers.’

‘Yes, yes,’ Adriana mumbles, eager to avoid any more awkwardness.

When Jacob is safely away, Adriana looks up at him.

‘Sooo,’ she fiddles with his tie. ‘Wanna go home with the captain of the Manchester Tigresses?’

Jacob blinks at her in surprise.

‘Well of course,’ he says. ‘But the night’s still young? Or at least–’ He glances at his watch. ‘Wow, it’s definitely not young, but your friends are all still here to celebrate you.’

‘I know,’ smiles Adriana contentedly. ‘But sometimes it’s nice to have an early night. And I like having you to go home with.’

He kisses the tip of her nose.

‘You really are full of surprises, Adriana Summers. Come on then, let’s get you home.’

Jacob hums to himself as he slips his keys into his key bowl when they arrive at his flat.

‘Are you humming Chappell Roan?’ Adriana laughs. He surprises her by then singing it loud and proud, with the lyrics that her teammates had invented for her, his voice a smooth baritone.

Adriana automatically slips off her shoes and puts them in the same gap in his shoe rack that she suspects he has made for her. She hangs her jacket neatly next to his, on two brass hooks. She has a moment of wondering where all her hundreds of colourful coats and clothes would fit in his sleek apartment if she were to ever move in…

Adriana has never looked at a man’s house for storage capacity before, normally it was just checking where the nearest exit was for her early morning dash.

Meanwhile, Jacob has flicked the kettle on. He starts clipping them some fresh mint from his windowsill herb garden. Adriana swings herself up onto his kitchen counter and kicks her feet.

‘I’m so happy,’ she sighs.

Jacob looks round at her, his smile soft and gentle. ‘I’m glad to hear it. Me too.’

‘Honestly, since all of this crazy wonderful party tonight, and being back in the team, and Captain, and having therapy lined up, theonlything worrying me anymore is what other changes might be happening to the squad and if any players come or go.’

Jacob nods seriously, pouring the water over the mint in a pot.

‘And I don’t have any insider info on that anymore, I’m afraid. But–’

‘La la la–’ Adriana sticks her fingers in her ears. ‘I don’t wanna know anything I shouldn’t know anymore! No secrets, ever again!’

Jacob brings her a round sienna-glazed ceramic mug, one that he has noticed is her favourite.

‘Hungry?’ He asks.

She shakes her head smiling. ‘You?’

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