hang out at your house for a little while before you take me home?”
She wanted to go to my house?
I searched her expression, for hints of what she might have planned—wondering if she might have similar plans as mine. But her face gave nothing away. So I said, “What do you want to do?”
She lifted her bare shoulders in a shrug. “It’s such a beautiful night out,” she said, glancing off in the distance to where the sun was just making its slow descent through the trees. “I thought it might be nice to sit out back and watch the sunset with you.” Then looking unsure of herself, she added, “And maybe we can talk about some things I’d like to discuss before you go to San Francisco in the morning.”
It took me a moment to respond because I was trying to keep my hopefulness levels from shooting to the clouds, but after a beat, I swallowed the nervous lump in my throat and said, “I think that sounds like a good idea.”
“Would you like anything to drink?” I asked Arianna when we walked into my kitchen. She’d been quiet on the drive home, like she needed the time to think about whatever she wanted to say to me, so I’d just let her think and listen to the radio as we made our way through the streets of Denver.
“Just water will be fine,” she said.
“Okay, I’ll bring it right out if you want to wait for me outside.”
While I grabbed two tall glasses from the cupboard and filled them with ice and water from my fridge, Arianna let herself out through the French doors that led to the patio.
There was a slight chill in the air when I stepped outside a minute later. Arianna had turned on the gas fireplace I had out there. She’d also switched on the string lights that zig-zagged along the pergola, bringing the patio area to life in the way that I loved ever since she helped me design it.
And as I looked at her sitting there on the cream cushions of my rattan sectional, staring off into the distance at the pink and purple clouds that had been colored by the setting sun, I couldn’t help but feel like she belonged here.
She belonged here with me.
Despite all my indecisiveness with where I’d be playing football next year, I knew I belonged here, too.
I belonged here in Denver.
Because even if I physically moved thousands of miles away from here to there, my heart would always remain with Arianna.
It would stay here.
And I had a feeling that I wouldn’t last long without my heart.
Arianna glanced away from the sunset to me. “It’s so beautiful out here tonight,” she said.
“It is.” I handed her a glass of water, and meeting her gaze, I dipped my head down and added, “Almost as beautiful as you.”
She took the glass from my hand, her cheeks flushing slightly. “You’re not just saying that because you bought the dress for me, are you?”
I shook my head and took the seat beside her so my leg was pressed against hers. Then letting my gaze slowly take her in—her face, her light pink two-piece dress and the way it fit her body, and then back up to her eyes—I said, “The dress is amazing. But no, I’m pretty sure you could wear my sweaty football jersey and I’d still think you were the prettiest girl in the world.”
The color of her cheeks deepened further, and her eyes softened as she searched my gaze—like she too was trying to figure out where we stood. And then in a quiet voice, she said, “If we’re choosing out of your closet, I think I prefer one of your old T-shirts.”
I gave her a soft smile, remembering back to this morning in my sunroom and how amazing she’d looked in my green T-shirt. “I think I’d prefer that, too.”
She took a sip from her water and then set it on the patio table. I set mine next to hers.
“So,” she said, adjusting the strap of her dress over her shoulder. “Like I said earlier, I have some things I’d like to talk to you about before you meet with the 49ers.”
“Yeah?” I asked, my heart skipping a beat as anticipation welled in my veins.
She nodded. “But it’s kind of a scary conversation to have and I really don’t want to make things weird between us if you feel differently than me.”
I licked my lips, my heart galloping