“What about you? You don’t have to be at the arena until later, right?”
"Right. I’ve got a couple of appointments this morning, then I’ll head over there later.”
“And you just need breakfast tomorrow? Then lunch and dinner on Saturday?”
“You got it. Then pregame dinner Sunday.”
“All under control.”
He smiles at me from behind his coffee cup.
“Anything exciting planned while I’m gone?”
“It’s only one night.”
“Plenty of trouble can be had in one night,” he teases.
“Casey wants to go out out.”
“Out out,” he repeats, nodding.
“By the time she was old enough, I was gone. She has this thing about making up for lost time.”
“You don’t seem very excited about it.”
“Clubbing isn’t really my thing. I’d much prefer going to a nice restaurant or a cocktail bar.”
“I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time. Do you know where you’re going?”
I shake my head. “I’ve left her to plan it.”
“She’ll take good care of you.”
“Here’s hoping. I’m not sure I remember how to party,” I confess.
“Of course you do. Put on a sexy dress, have a couple of drinks, and I have no doubt it’ll come back to you. You lived in Vegas, remember? You’ve got this.”
I appreciate his faith in me; I really do.
“Are you staying with Casey, or did you want to come back here?”
“Cole,” I breathe.
“I’m serious. The guest room is sitting empty. I won’t even be here. It’ll be so much faster and cheaper.”
“Are you really sure?” I ask. “I know how much you value your space. I don’t want to intrude.”
“If I weren’t sure, I wouldn’t be offering. You’ll already be driving here to sort out lunch anyway, so you may as well save yourself the trip.”
I hold his eyes, searching for any hint of a lie. But I don’t find anything.
“Thank you, Cole. I really appreciate it.”
“No, problem. I’m gonna go and get ready.”
He places his mug in the dishwasher and then disappears down the hallway toward the bedrooms. His athletic shorts do crazy things for his ass, and despite knowing that I shouldn’t be staring, I can’t help myself. Handsy is hot all dressed up for a game, but Cole at home is on another level.
A little more relaxed now that I’m alone, I finally eat my breakfast.
