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Off the Sidelines (QuirkyQuill and MrPositive)

Cassie wrapped her hands around the warm mug, trying to find comfort in the familiar. These mornings at Adrian's had quickly become routine. It felt so natural every morning to wake up and share a cup of coffee and a quiet hug with him before they moved onto the business of their days. How a week could feel like a lifetime was beyond her current ability to rationalize, but Cassie didn't even want to try. It was Adrian. They had fallen into each other so quickly after what felt like a lifetime of waiting. As fitful as her sleep was, she knew she wouldn't have slept at all if it hadn't been for Adrian's steady heartbeat and protective arms.

She stared blindly at the counter top, the last twenty-four hours replaying in her mind like some slow motion horror movie. Adrian was so quiet and her thoughts so far from where she sat, she didn't realize he was awake until he walked further into the kitchen.

The moment he walked by her and didn't touch her, Cassie knew something was off. A feeling of dread began to snake its way in her stomach. Looking up, her eyes studied his face, and she saw the same exhaustion on his face she knew was reflected in hers.

“Good morning,” she responded tentatively. This wasn't right. She wanted to chalk it up to him being tired, but they’d always had a tendency to drift closer to each other during times of stress. Not the other way around. Looking at him across the island, there wasn't anything about him that looked approachable in the way he always did.

When he spoke, she was momentarily confused, and it showed on her face. It took her longer than it probably should have to fit the puzzle pieces of his question to the physical distance he'd created. Her addled brain did put them together and she realized he was upset with her. Her confusion dissipated into a softer look.

“There wasn't anything to really tell until a couple days ago.” Speaking quietly, Cassie's hazel eyes remained steady on his. “You’ve heard us mention him from time to time. He’s been a thorn in my social media side for a couple years, but he's never given me any reason to think he was anything but a troll until a couple days ago. I get a lot of inappropriate messages on social media by a lot of people, but this was the first time anyone had ever directly threatened me. I let the network know and they started to pursue it on my behalf.” Her eyes dropped to her fingers resting on her mug, her stomach growing tight. Swallowing thickly, she looked back up at him, the strain back on her face. When she spoke, she took great care to remain calm.

“Yesterday morning before Meg and I left the house, he had flowers delivered with a really lewd note. It changed everything. He went from maybe being a threat to undoubtedly being a threat. The network made sure I had security with me any time I wasn't in a restricted area at the stadium. When everyone stormed the field, I just reacted like I have always reacted in that situation because it honestly slipped my mind in the excitement of the game and then the chaos.” Cassie sat up straight before standing to her feet. Walking around the island, she stopped to the side of him. Reaching out, she turned his face to her, her hands resting on both sides of his face.

“I thought waiting to tell you was the right decision.” Her voice hitched slightly as she felt the prickle of hot tears sting her eyes. She took a deep breath to steady herself, her thumbs rubbing against his skin. “I didn't want to do anything that would add to your stress or distract you from the team Friday or yesterday. You have worked so unbelievably hard this season, and you deserved to enjoy it with them.

You have built this incredible family, Adrian.” A small smile appeared on her face, despite the tears in her eyes as she sniffed, but it quickly faded. “I knew those young men were going to show up with every part of them focused on you and each other. I couldn't be the reason that you were unable to do the same for them. I planned to tell you last night after everything was over. I never could have imagined last night would turn out the way it did.” That image flashed before her eyes again, and she quickly worked to push it down.

“I'm so sorry if that was the wrong decision. If it was, it was a wrong decision made with the best of intentions.”
 
Adrian listened silently as Cassie spoke, her words filling the kitchen with the weight of everything she'd been holding back. His mug sat untouched on the island, his hands gripping its edge as he tried to steady himself against the whirlwind of emotions threatening to take over. He didn't interrupt, didn't move, but the tightening of his jaw and the furrowing of his brow betrayed the storm brewing inside him.

When she finished, standing next to him with tears in her eyes and her hands gently cradling his face, Adrian exhaled slowly. He took her hands and lowered them, letting them drop to her sides as he stepped back. His eyes, though still full of love for her, were shadowed with frustration and something deeper—something raw that he hadn't fully dealt with in a long time.

"Cassie," he began, his voice low but steady, "I hear you. I understand why you didn't tell me. I get that you thought you were protecting me, keeping me focused on the team. And maybe, in your mind, that made sense. But do you know what it feels like to be blindsided by something this big? To realize the person I care about most in the world was in danger and didn't think I should know?"

He rubbed a hand down his face, pacing to the other side of the kitchen before turning back to face her. "This… this brings me right back to Rebecca. To all those times I trusted her, thought we were in it together, and she was making choices behind my back that completely blindsided me. I found out she wasn't who I thought she was—found out everything—when it was too late to do a damn thing about it."

His voice cracked slightly, and he took a moment to compose himself. "You're not her, Cassie. I know that. But hearing this now, after everything that happened, it feels like I'm being left out of something that's not just important—it's critical. I can't do that again. I can't be in a relationship where I'm the last to know, especially about something this serious. I've already lived that, and it damn near broke me."

He stepped closer, his expression a mixture of hurt and determination. "You were in danger, Cassie. This man—he broke into your house, stood in your bedroom. Do you even know how many ways that could've gone wrong? How close we came to something I don't even want to think about? And I didn't know any of it until after it was over. What if the alarm hadn't gone off? What if the police hadn't gotten there in time? Do you have any idea how much that's been running through my head?"

Adrian's hands gripped the edge of the counter as he fought to keep his voice steady. "You can't do this alone. You can't shut me out because you think it'll make things easier for me. That's not how this works, Cassie. If we're going to be in this together—really in it—then I need you to trust me enough to let me help. I can't be standing on the sidelines of your life, waiting to find out about things after they've already spiraled out of control."

His voice softened, though the edge of hurt lingered beneath the surface. "I'm not mad at you," he said, his tone gentler now. "But I am scared. Scared because this isn't just about what happened—it's about what it means. I love you, Cassie. I love you more than I know how to say, and that means I need to be in this with you, no matter how hard it gets. No more secrets. No more trying to carry this by yourself. We deal with it together. Okay?"

Adrian's eyes searched hers, his own emotions raw and unguarded in a way they rarely were. He wanted her to see how much this mattered, how much she mattered, and how deeply this cut into old wounds he thought he'd left behind. "Tell me you trust me enough to do this together, Cassie," he said quietly. "Because I can't go through something like this alone again."​
 
Her stomach dropped the moment he removed her hands from him and moved away from her. Every muscle in her body tightened and she felt nauseated. Adrian had never pulled away from her like that before, rejecting her presence. When he began to speak, she met his eyes, every question he posed to her striking guilt into her heart. Cassie knew he was right. She had taken a big misstep with him, and she was scared that she wouldn't be able to fix it. It physically hurt to watch him move away from her, and she had to physically root herself to the spot not to follow him.

Then he verbally slapped her in the face. Cassie took a physical step backwards when he brought up Rebecca's name, something flashing in her eyes. Her hands balled up next to her sides and her own jaw tightened. She was nothing like Rebecca.

"You're not her, Cassie. I know that.”

Did he know that? Cassie wasn't sure if he really believed what he was saying. She couldn't fight Rebecca's ghost. He stepped in her direction, and she instinctively stepped back.

“Do you even know how many ways that could've gone wrong?”

The mental images of how last night could have gone that she'd been desperately trying to keep at bay came flooding her mind. Every lewd, descriptive message he had sent to her over the years, promises he’d expected to live up to overwhelmed her. Tears sprung to her eyes as she bit down on her lips. If he hadn't tipped her and Meg off, she or Meg could have really been hurt. Cassie's eyes closed, and two hot tears slipped down her cheeks as the feeling of that hand squeezing her leg struck her vividly. She could almost guarantee that any scenario he had dreamt up, she had conjured one just as terrible.

"I'm not mad at you.”

Cassie lifted her eyes to him at those words, uncertainty settling in her features. She felt like she was standing on glass at the moment, and while she had certainly experienced that feeling in her professional life, she had never known this feeling with Adrian. She had hurt him, and she knew that, but she also knew she couldn't fix it if he didn't let her. He’d constructed a wall so quickly between them it was terrifying. When he finished speaking, she swallowed thickly.

“I trust you with my life, Adrian.” Her voice came out, choked as she fought hard to control her emotions. “This was never about not trusting you, and I am so sorry that I made a choice that hurt you. I have never and would never hurt you on purpose. I took away your right to choose what to handle, and I am sorry.” Her eyes fell to the floor, her hands fidgeting with the sleeves of her sweater as she contemplated her next words.

“I want to make this right, but it's also obvious that you don't want to be near me right now.” Her eyes darted to the island that he’d used to create distance between them.

“I am not Rebecca.” Those four words came out a whisper as she looked down at her hands, unable to shake the earlier comparison. There were few other things he could have said that would have made her plummet the way that had.
 
Adrian stood frozen after Cassie's whispered words hung in the air. I am not Rebecca. The quiet declaration hit him like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, guilt clawed its way through his frustration. He hadn't meant to compare her to Rebecca—not in the way it had clearly come across—but he couldn't deny that her decision to keep him in the dark had ripped open old wounds. Wounds he thought had healed but now felt raw and exposed again.

He crossed his arms over his chest, his posture rigid as he tried to gather his thoughts. The weight of her tears and trembling voice twisted in his chest, but he couldn't let himself soften—not yet. Not when the echoes of his past still lingered, whispering doubts in the back of his mind.

"Cassie," he said, his voice quieter now but still firm, "I know you're not Rebecca. I do." He ran a hand through his hair, the frustration evident in the way his fingers tugged slightly. "But this—what you did—brought me right back to her. Not because you're anything like her, but because of how it felt. The secrecy. The decisions made behind my back. It's like a reflex now to question everything when I'm blindsided like this. That's on me, I know, but it's also why this is so damn hard."

Adrian's gaze flickered to Cassie, who still stood on the other side of the room, visibly shaken. Her fidgeting and the tremble in her voice only added to his inner turmoil. He hated seeing her like this, but the anger and hurt inside him weren't ready to fully let go.

"You say you trust me with your life," he continued, his voice steady but carrying an edge of exhaustion, "but how am I supposed to believe that when you didn't trust me enough to tell me what was going on? You handled it on your own, Cass. You decided for me that I didn't need to know—decided that I couldn't handle it. And I can't—" He broke off, shaking his head as he struggled to find the right words. "I can't be in a relationship where that happens. Not again. Not after everything I've been through."

Adrian turned away for a moment, gripping the edge of the counter and staring down at it as if it held the answers he was searching for. "Do you know what it felt like when I found out Rebecca had been lying to me? Making decisions behind my back, thinking she knew what was best? It wasn't just the betrayal—it was the realization that she didn't trust me. Didn't think I was strong enough to deal with it. And now, even though I know you're not her, it feels like I'm standing in that same place all over again."

He finally looked back at her, his expression a mixture of pain and determination. "I need you to understand how serious this is for me, Cassie. I don't need to be shielded from your problems or protected from your decisions. I need to be in it with you, no matter how messy or complicated it gets. That's what a partnership is supposed to be. I don't care how bad it gets, but I can't be left out in the cold. Not by you. Not after everything."

Adrian let out a slow breath, his tone softening slightly. "I'm not trying to punish you or push you away. I just… I need time to process this. Because right now, it feels like there's a wall between us, and I can't figure out how to tear it down. And as much as I want to believe you when you say this wasn't about not trusting me, it's going to take me a minute to get there."

He glanced at her hands, still twisting nervously in the sleeves of her sweater, and his voice dropped lower. "I love you, Cassie. That hasn't changed. But if we're going to move forward, I need to know you're willing to trust me enough to let me be there for you. Even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard."​
 
Cassie felt like she was going to be sick as she stood there, his words slowly ripping her to shreds. She'd argued with people, certainly, but she'd never experienced this side of Adrian aimed at her. She hated it. Her entire world had been upended in the last seventy two hours, and it was now crumbling around her in an entirely unexpected way. Closing her eyes, she tried to take a deep breath, but her throat closed around it and it took every possession she had over her body not to let out the sob that was trying to break free.

When he finished speaking, she stood there, feeling completely inadequate. It had taken her very little time to ruin his trust in her. Part of her was angry, and the other part of her felt as if she were getting buried alive under the weight of it. Finally, she looked up at him, tears streaking her face.

“I know I messed up. I own that. I acknowledge it.” There was a sharpness to her tone slicing through the distress in her voice. “I know that Rebecca violated your trust in the worst ways imaginable, and I can't fix that. I can't undo what she did. But you are punishing me because of her. I'm not perfect. I am never going to be perfect. She was deceitful out of maliciousness. Her actions were intentionally harmful. Adrian, I would cut off my arm before I ever purposely hurt you. But if you are going to build a wall every time I take an honest misstep because you are holding her actions against me…” Cassie looked around, fresh tears pouring out her hazel eyes as she shook her head. “You're right. This won't work. I can't fix my mistakes when they're being held at the highest level of scrutiny because someone else violated that time and time again. Right now, you are assuming the worst of me because of what she did, and you should know me well enough to know that you hurting over anything, tears me up inside. I can't atone for her. I can only try to right my wrongs, and I can't do that if you can't accept my apologies at face value.”

She opened her mouth to say something else, but closed it instead. Shaking her head, she reached up and wiped her cheek.

“You need time, take it. I’ll leave so you can have it.” Turning from him, she exited the kitchen, her heart feeling like it had just shattered. She knew they would eventually have an argument. It was bound to happen, but she'd never dreamed it would happen like this. The stairs blurred beneath her as she climbed them, and she nearly stumbled on the top landing.

Closing the door behind her to the bedroom, she sat on the edge of his bed feeling the emotion rise more fiercely inside her. Reaching over for her phone, she turned it on, knowing that she couldn't avoid the outside world forever. When the notifications began buzzing non-stop, she broke.

Letting her phone slide out of her hand, she leaned forward, her elbows resting on the top of her thighs as she buried her face in her hands. She barely heard the thud of her phone hitting the floor as she let out the sobs she’d barely managed to hold back downstairs. Every vibration of her phone drove her emotions harder like a hammer striking an overwhelmed nail.

Her entire body was shaking, and she could feel the guilt and anger and hurt gaining more traction. She'd cried last night, but this was different. Last night, she'd had Adrian with her, and he'd always made her feel like she could conquer anything. At the moment, she felt so wholly alone, and the burden of knowing she'd been responsible for driving some of that wedge weighed on her. The constant, unyielding sounds from her phone kept going as her texts, social media, voicemails pinged, reminding her that she had to face what happened last night. She would have to call her parents. She would have to call the detective. The walls were pressing in on her, and if she were at least at home, she'd have Meg.

She tried to inhale, but her lungs squeezed shut on her, refusing to let more than the faintest amount of oxygen in. When the room began to spin, Cassie realized she wasn't just having a hysterical meltdown. She was having a panic attack. She hadn't had a panic attack since her freshman year of college when she’d been told she was pitching in her first game. The recognition of what was happening only made it worse as she tried to breathe, fighting to remember every technique she'd ever been taught for making them stop.
 
Adrian stood in the kitchen, staring at the spot where Cassie had been moments ago. The sound of her voice, trembling and breaking as she laid everything bare, echoed in his mind. She had been right—about everything. He had gone too far. He had let Rebecca's betrayal rear its ugly head and bleed into something pure and good. The weight of his words settled heavily on his chest, choking the breath out of him.

You're assuming the worst of me because of what she did.

The look in Cassie's eyes before she turned and left burned into his memory. Adrian cursed under his breath, running his hands down his face. He couldn't stand the thought of her feeling like he didn't trust her or that he was punishing her for someone else's mistakes. The realization that he might've pushed her too far sent a surge of panic through him.

Adrian hesitated only for a moment before moving, his steps purposeful as he ascended the stairs two at a time. He didn't know what he was going to say yet, but he couldn't let her sit alone with the pain he had caused. When he reached the bedroom, the sight of her broke him. Cassie sat hunched forward on the edge of the bed, her body trembling as she buried her face in her hands. The sound of her ragged, shallow breathing hit him like a thunderclap. He recognized it immediately—the gasping, the shaking. Panic attack. His mind flashed back to college. He could still see her in the hallway outside the locker room, crumpled against the wall, overwhelmed by the weight of her first big game. He remembered the terror in her eyes and how it had taken him what felt like forever to calm her down. Seeing her like this again, all these years later, shattered something deep inside him.

"Cassie." His voice was low and steady as he crossed the room, kneeling in front of her. He didn't wait for permission—didn't need it. Gently, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest. "It's okay," he murmured, his voice calm but firm. "You're okay. I'm here."

Her body shook against his, her breathing shallow and uneven. Adrian pressed his cheek to the top of her head, holding her tightly but carefully, as if letting go would let her fall apart completely. "Cass, listen to me," he said softly, his tone unwavering. "I need you to breathe with me, okay? Nice and slow. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Just focus on my voice."

He took an exaggerated inhale, loud and steady, so she could hear it. "Like this. Breathe in…now let it out. That's it. Nice and easy. You've got this."

Her breaths were still erratic, but he could feel her trying, could feel her fighting to match his pace. Adrian held her closer, his hand rubbing slow circles on her back. "You're safe," he whispered. "I promise you, you're safe. I've got you."

The minutes ticked by as he stayed with her, grounding her with his presence. Adrian's mind raced with guilt and regret as he held her. This was his fault—his words, his anger had pushed her to this point. And for what? To protect himself from a wound that had been inflicted years ago? He had done the very thing he swore he never would.

"I'm so sorry," Adrian whispered into her hair, his voice breaking slightly. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Cassie. I didn't mean any of it. I was wrong." He tightened his arms around her, desperate for her to feel how much he meant it. "I love you, and I'm not going anywhere. Just breathe. I've got you."​
 
The vibration of her phone against the floor eventually stopped after what felt like a lifetime, but Cassie had stopped hearing it once the sound of blood pumping through her ears drowned out everything around her. All she could feel was the tightness in her chest, suffocating every rational thought she'd been trying to grasp onto. Once she’d fallen into the spiral, it was as if every negative demon had been given permission to drive her further down. That voice in her ear last night, her name slithering out of his hollow lips, was replaying in her mind. The look of betrayal on Adrian's face, a harshness directed at her she never could have prepared for.

She didn't hear him enter the room, and barely registered his voice. When his arms encircled her, she jumped slightly, the contact startling her. There was no resistance as he pulled her from the bed, and she curled into him, something loosening inside her as his warmth enveloped around her. It took several minutes, but his voice began to cut through the storm raging inside her thoughts, his deep calm the life preserver she desperately needed as she floundered towards shore. Her breathing hitched several times as she fought for air, his steady heartbeat pulling her outside of the racing cadence pounding in her chest. The more he spoke, the easier it became for her to breathe, and the room began to steady itself.

Cassie had no concept of how long she remained buried against him, her fingers clutching his shirt as if afraid he would disappear if she let go. One deep inhale filled her lungs, and her body seemed to melt against him as her adrenaline came crashing down. She took one trembling breath after another, feeling her heart rate beginning to slow.

“I was wrong.”

Cassie allowed silence to encompass them after he spoke, giving her body the rest of the time it needed to decompress. Exhaustion hit her like a tidal wave. Sniffling, she finally tilted her head back, her red rimmed, pained eyes searching his face. Shaking her head gently, she took another breath as she tried to find her voice.

“You aren't wrong about how you feel, Adrian.” When she did speak, her voice came out hoarse, expended from the unusual amount of emotion she’d exhibited over the last twelve hours. “You have every right to feel hurt and angry. I am so sorry that I caused that. I just…” Swallowing, she bit down on her bottom lip for a moment, settling a jump of emotion that hit her chest before she continued. “Be mad at me, but don't push me away. Please. I can't…“

A small hitch cut her off, and she closed her eyes as she rested her forehead against his jaw, her fingers loosening against his shirt as her arms slid around him.

“I can't lose you again. Yell at me if you have to, but please do it while holding my hand.” Looking back up at him, a lone tear slid down her cheek as her hazel eyes pleaded with him. Her phone vibrated, her body tensing up at the sound.

“I can't face today without you.”
 
Adrian felt Cassie trembling against him, her body heavy with exhaustion and grief as she clung to him. Her words echoed in his mind—"I can't lose you again."—striking at the very core of him. He had let her down, let his past twist his present, and in doing so, he'd almost pushed away the person he loved most. Almost.

"Cass," he murmured, his voice low and steady as he tightened his embrace, holding her as if he could shield her from every fear and regret weighing on her. He kissed the top of her head and let out a slow breath, grounding himself in the moment. "I need you to listen to me, okay? Really listen."

He drew back just enough to look down at her, his hands still holding her securely. His heart ached seeing her tear-streaked face, but there was a strength in his gaze—a conviction he needed her to feel. "You're not going to lose me. I swear to you, no matter what happens, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." His voice softened, but there was a raw intensity beneath it. "I love you, Cassie. I love you in a way that scares the hell out of me sometimes because it's so damn real. It's not like anything I've ever felt before. It's not tainted, not complicated—just pure."

He rested his forehead against hers, his fingers brushing gently along her back. "What happened with Rebecca, that pain? That was mine to carry, but I let it spill onto you, and that's on me. You didn't deserve that, Cass. Not even for a second." He closed his eyes briefly, as if steadying himself before speaking again. "I promise you, I'm not going to let my past come between us again. I won't let that shadow touch what we have. You deserve better than that, better than me letting my own fears get in the way."

Adrian paused, his hands cupping her face, his thumbs brushing away the tears on her cheeks. "You're right—I should've yelled if I had to, but I should've done it while holding your hand, like you said. I'll do better, Cass. You're everything to me, and I'll fight for us. I'll fight for you."

The sound of her phone vibrating against the floor pulled at the edges of his focus, but he refused to let it break the connection between them. He pulled her back into his chest, holding her close as if to anchor her. "We'll face today together, just like we'll face everything else. I've got you, Cass. I swear, I've got you."

He kissed the top of her head again and held her tighter, letting her feel the strength in his arms and the truth in his words. In that moment, nothing else mattered—only the promise he was making to her and the love he couldn't let her doubt.​
 
The sound of her name on his lips, soft and calm, was like a balm to the ache in her soul. Closing her eyes as his lips brushed the top of her head, she felt the world beginning to slowly click back into place. He was here. He was close. He was locked around her at the moment, his presence pulling her back together.

"I need you to listen to me, okay? Really listen."

Tilting her head back so she could look up at him, Cassie met his gaze, her eyes tired of entirely focused on him.

“I'm not going anywhere."

When he spoke those words, she nodded, choosing to trust what he was telling her. She knew they’d been living in the honeymoon phase of this relationship with each other, and that things were never going to stay perfect, but she could never have predicted that this was how things would go awry. Adrian still seemed like a far-fetched fantasy to her, despite the time they’d spent together. It was easy to feel at home with him, but that insecure girl from college still couldn’t believe that he wanted anything but friendship with her. It wasn’t a far flung idea in her mind that he would wake up one day and realize he’d made a mistake. When he brought his hands around to her face, her eyes closed for a moment, allowing the warmth of his hands to ease the tension in her muscles. Her head tilted slightly to the side, resting in his grasp, trusting him with her vulnerability. As he pulled her back to him, her hands slid back up his chest, allowing his arms to make her feel safe and protected against him.

“You don’t have to fight for me, Adrian. You just have to not let go.” She buried her face in his chest, inhaling his scent and familiarity. Time ticked by as she simply laid in his arms, not ready to face the rest of the world. Eventually, she pulled back slightly and sat up, her eyes going to his. Reaching up, she took his face in her hands as she’d done earlier that morning and leaned in to kiss him gently, pressing her lips against his, before pulling back.

“I love you so much. I really am sorry. I just wanted to keep you in this perfect bubble all week, and I feel like all of the good things that happened last night were tainted by all of the bad.” Planting a kiss on his cheek, she continued to hold on to him. “You beat the Cougars.”

She realized that it seemed like a ridiculous thing to grasp onto given the heaviness she knew the day would carry, but right now she was desperate for a bright light. The words out of her lips made her burst out into a teary-eyed laugh, and she shook her head at herself.

“Do you know how hard it was for me not to run out on that field last night and hug you?”
 
Adrian felt the warmth of Cassie's kiss linger on his cheek as her words hung in the air. Her mention of last night's victory against the Cougars sent a flicker of light through the tension he'd been carrying since their argument. The way she said it—like it was a reminder of something good they'd accomplished despite everything—made his chest ache, not with anger, but with something softer. Gratitude, maybe. Love, definitely. For the first time that morning, a small, genuine smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He pulled her closer for a moment, grounding himself in the comfort of her embrace. His voice, when he spoke, was low and gentle, carrying a note of amusement that felt like a lifeline pulling them both out of the heaviness they'd been trapped in.

"Damn right we beat the Cougars," he murmured, a quiet laugh slipping out despite himself. "And not just beat them—shut them down. Nobody thought those kids could pull it off. Not with the kind of season we've had. But they did. They left everything on that field."

He pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes, his smile growing a little more confident now. "Cass, that wasn't just a win. That was a statement. I've been waiting all season for these boys to believe in themselves like that. Last night, they finally got it. Every single one of them—kids who've never played a playoff game before, kids who thought they'd never be good enough—they went out there and proved everybody wrong."

His voice carried a hint of pride as he continued, his mind replaying the moments of the game. "The way they worked together, the way they kept fighting even when things got rough. It was incredible. I swear, when that clock hit zero, and I saw their faces—pure joy, Cass. That's why I do this. That's why I put up with all the late nights, the early mornings, the endless practices. It's for moments like that."

Adrian shook his head slightly, the smile lingering as he thought about the team's reaction to the win. "And the crowd? They went nuts. The way the whole town rallied behind us last night—man, that's what football's all about. Bringing people together, giving them something to cheer for. I just… I can't even describe how proud I was in that moment. Proud of them. Proud of what we've built."

His hands rested lightly on her waist now, and his gaze softened as it drifted back to her. "But you know what, Cass? That win last night—it wasn't tainted. Not for me. It was perfect. And you were a part of that. I saw you out there in the stands. You have no idea how much that meant to me, knowing you were there, cheering us on."

He let out a quiet chuckle, his smile turning slightly sheepish. "You were the first person I looked for when the game ended. I thought maybe—just maybe—you'd come running down to the field and tackle me in front of everyone." His laughter deepened for a moment, his voice laced with affection. "And honestly? I wouldn't have cared. Hell, I would've loved it."

Adrian's tone shifted, growing quieter, more serious. His hands slid up to frame her face, his thumbs brushing lightly over her skin in a way that felt intimate and grounding. "Cass… Last night, after everything—the win, the crowd, the celebration—I wanted nothing more than to come home and celebrate with you. To be with you. Not just because of the game, but because you're my person. You're who I want to share everything with—the good, the bad, all of it."

He paused for a moment, his dark eyes searching hers as if trying to make sure she truly heard him, truly understood what he was saying. "This thing between us? It's not just about the easy stuff. It's about all of it—everything we've been through, everything we're still going through. You're not just part of my life, Cass. You are my life."

The words hung in the air for a moment before he continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I know I messed up this morning. I let my past—let Rebecca—get in the way of what's right in front of me. Of you. I can't tell you how sorry I am for that. You deserve better than that, and I promise you, Cass, I'll do better. I'm not going to let my past or my hurt come between us again. You mean too much to me."

Adrian's fingers lingered against her skin as he spoke, his gaze steady and unflinching. "You're everything to me, Cassie. Last night wasn't just about a win. It was about realizing what I have—what we have. I love you. And I'm not letting go. Not ever."

He pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her in a way that felt both protective and vulnerable, as if he were trying to shield her from the weight of everything they'd been through while also laying bare his own heart. "I need you, Cass. I need us. And I don't care if the rest of the world is falling apart—I don't want to lose this. I don't want to lose you."

Adrian held her tightly, his voice soft but unwavering as he added, "You're not just part of my victories, Cass. You are my victory. And I'm never going to stop fighting for us."​
 
The small smile that appeared on his face released the remaining tension in her chest, and her fingers dropped slightly to the little crinkle by his lips.

"Damn right we beat the Cougars."

The way he said it made a small giggle erupt from her, and she rested her forehead against his, a remaining tear slipping down her cheek despite the small laugh. She needed to cling onto something good right now. The darkness of everything that had gone wrong had swallowed her so thoroughly over the last couple of hours that her emotions were frantically clinging on to this moment.

“Nobody thought those kids could pull it off.”

“Um, excuse me.” Pulling back from him, she looked affronted. “I demand that you amend your use of the word nobody, sir. I have video evidence to the contrary.”

Sliding her hands down to his neck, her fingers moved against his warm skin, the physical contact continuing to help her feel more grounded. The teasing dissolved as he continued to speak, her features softening as a small smile appeared on her lips. Listening to him speak about his team made her heart swell.

“I know I’ve said it before, Adrian, but you are exactly where you are supposed to be. Nobody could have done what you did the way that you did it. I have seen it take amazing coaches years to earn the trust in that locker room that you earned within months. I am so proud of you.”

“Not just because of the game, but because you're my person.”

His words pulled new emotions from her, tears welling in her eyes, but not falling. How was it possible she fell in love with this man more every day? When he pulled her closer, her arms slid around his neck, her face burying into his neck, pressing her lips to his skin.

“We will figure this out together.” Speaking gently, her fingers slid up to the back of his head, running through his hair. “I love you so much, Stafford. We’re going to hit more bumps. As long as we’re in them together, I have no doubt we’ll make it out on the other side of them. I will always be here to hold you tightly while you heal. The pain she caused won't just disappear, but no matter how long it takes, I will be here reminding you that you are loved and you are worth all the love this world has to give you. I know our day will come. That day when I get to run on that field and show the world that you are the only man my heart could ever want.”

Her phone began buzzing on the floor, the long tone of an incoming phone call. Groaning, she shook her head against him, her body shaking in a pout.

“I do not want to face this yet, but I don’t think I have a choice.” Sitting up, she looked down at the offending device as it jumped slightly against the floor with every ring.
 
Adrian exhaled slowly, his arms still wrapped around Cassie as her phone continued to vibrate insistently on the floor. He hated that this moment—this fragile, quiet moment where they had finally found solid ground again—was already being interrupted by the outside world. But he also knew she couldn't avoid it forever. Last night had been a turning point in more ways than one.

His grip on her loosened slightly as he shifted back to meet her gaze. "Come on," he said softly. "Let's go to the kitchen. I'll make us some breakfast while you deal with whatever you need to."

He didn't wait for an answer, just pressed a brief kiss to her forehead before gently untangling himself from her and standing. He reached down, grabbed her phone off the floor, and placed it on the nightstand beside her. "It'll still be there when we get some food in us," he added, his tone light but firm.

Adrian extended a hand toward her, offering more than just help up. It was an unspoken promise that he was here, that he wasn't going anywhere, that whatever she was about to face, she wouldn't be facing it alone.
​

In the kitchen, Adrian moved with a quiet focus, pulling ingredients from the fridge and setting them on the counter. Cooking had always been something that steadied him, a way to channel his energy when his mind was too full. Right now, it gave him something to do while Cassie sat at the table, scrolling through her phone, her fingers moving quickly over the screen as she navigated the aftermath of the previous night.

He cracked eggs into a bowl, whisking them with a practiced ease before reaching for the skillet. He could hear the occasional sigh from her as she scrolled through whatever messages, news alerts, and missed calls had been piling up. He wished he could take the weight of it from her, wished he could make it all disappear, but this—cooking for her, giving her something warm and familiar—this was what he could do.

As the eggs sizzled in the pan, he grabbed a loaf of bread and dropped a few slices into the toaster. He moved through the kitchen instinctively, his mind flickering between the game last night, the way she had looked at him this morning, and the reality of what they were up against.

His voice broke the quiet between them as he spoke, not looking away from the stove. "I know you've got a lot to deal with right now, but I want you to eat first." He scraped the eggs onto two plates, adding bacon and toast before setting one in front of her. "I don't want you running on empty while you're handling all this."

He finally looked at her then, taking in the tension still lingering in her shoulders, the way her lips pressed together as she stared at her phone. He reached out, his hand settling over hers on the table, grounding her. "You're safe, Cass. Whatever's on that screen, whatever fallout there is from last night—it's over. He's gone. And you're not alone."

His thumb brushed lightly against the back of her hand before he pulled away and grabbed his own plate. He took a bite of toast, watching her for a moment, waiting for her to eat, waiting for her to say something, waiting for the weight of it all to feel just a little lighter.

Adrian couldn't fix everything for her. But he could be here. He could cook her breakfast. He could remind her, in the quiet moments like this, that she didn't have to carry it all by herself.​
 
Cassie’s eyes closed briefly as Adrian’s lips pressed against her forehead, the small action driving out what little nervous energy from their fight remained. Any other day she probably could have responded better to their first argument, but today certainly had not been that day. Nodding to his words, she took his hand as he helped her up. When he started to walk away, she pulled him back gently, sliding her arms around his middle for one more hug.

“Thank you.” Squeezing him, she let go, sliding her hand down so her fingers could intertwine with his. Taking her phone in her other hand, she tried to ready herself with every step she took down to the kitchen. As he got to work in the kitchen, she did her best to mitigate the onslaught. Meg’s name was at the top of her text messages, and since it seemed the safest place to go, she started there.

M: Good morning, love. The news of what happened last night did hit the media, so everyone knows you were attacked. I hope you’re reading this first so you aren’t blindsided. Your parents are freaking out because they couldn’t reach you. Your dad called me and I let him know you probably had your phone off, but you were safe. Call them first.

M: The house is clean and back to normal, whenever you feel ready to come back. If you aren’t ready, let me know what you need and I’ll bring it to you.

M: The detective stopped by while Marcus and I were here. He needs you to call him. They might need you to go down to the station and just verify it’s the same man. Let me know if you want me to go with you. I know it won’t be easy.

Cassie grimaced at the knowledge that the entire world knew what happened last night. That certainly explained the thousands of notifications on her social media. She received several frantic texts from both her parents. Agreeing with Meg’s advice, she called her mother and spoke with her briefly, her eyes following Adrian as he moved around the kitchen. Not for the first time, she was struck at how easy it was to fall into this domicile pattern with him.

Timidly, she pushed the little camera icon that pulled up her Instagram. The last image she’d posted had been one of the field right before the game had started, but it had received the bulk of the messages. Biting her lip, she hit the comment icon and scrolled through, a deep breath escaping her as she read message after message of support. She selected the button for a new message, and typed out a quick story post in the hopes of easing the onslaught of messages.

Hey, Fam.
I am so grateful for all of the support and kindness many of you have shown me over the years. I cannot comment on what happened last night, but want to assure everybody that I am safe. I know you all will respect my privacy during this time, and thank you for your understanding as I step back from social media for a little bit. As a lifelong Timberwolf, I’d love to see everybody focus their energy on supporting the amazing win and incredible season those young men worked for. Thank you again.
Cass

The food in front of her immediately taunted a rumble from her stomach, and her eyes closed briefly as she took a deep breath. The warmth of his hand on hers brought her back to the present, and she looked up at him, gratitude filling her features as he spoke.

“Adrian, I am so grateful for you.” Turning her hand over so she could slide her fingers through his, she gave his hand a squeeze. “You make me feel safe.” Giving a small, reassuring smile, she picked up her fork and began to eat. Now that her body had come down from the adrenaline rush, she felt ravenous. After a few bites, she glanced back down at her phone as it buzzed. The reactions to her story were beginning to come through, but she at least knew that those required nothing from her. Looking up at Adrian, she swallowed a bite of food.

“The news picked it up. I don’t know how they found out. I don’t even know what they’re actually reporting on, but Meg said that word has gotten out. I also have to go down to the police station to confirm it’s the same person. Meg said she would go with me. I don’t know how you feel about going with me given our secrecy. Maybe if we all go together it won’t seem out of place?”
 
Adrian felt his stomach tighten the moment Cassie mentioned going down to the police station. He kept his expression neutral, his grip on his fork tightening slightly as he processed the implications. Of course, he wanted to go with her. The idea of her walking into that station alone—having to face all of this on her own—wasn't something he could stomach. But the reality of it settled in quickly. If he went, if he walked in there by her side, there was a real chance their relationship would no longer be just theirs.

The media already had the story of the attack. If they were digging into that, how long would it take before they connected dots that weren't even supposed to be on the same page? His presence at the station could raise questions, put them in the spotlight in a way neither of them were ready for. Still, none of that changed what mattered most—Cassie. His eyes lifted to hers, and in that moment, he saw the uncertainty there. She was leaving the choice up to him, giving him an out if he needed one. But that wasn't even an option in his mind.

He set his fork down and exhaled through his nose before speaking. "I'm going." His voice was steady, final. No hesitation. "I don't care who else is there, or what people might think. You're not walking into that place alone."

He glanced toward the window for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "Marcus and Meg will be there too. That's good. It'll make it look more like a group thing, not just me and you. But even if it didn't, I wouldn't let you do this on your own."

Adrian leaned back slightly in his chair, running a hand over his jaw as the weight of it all settled on him. He'd spent years carefully keeping his private life exactly that—private. But Cassie had changed things. From the moment she re-entered his life, she had slipped past walls he hadn't even realized he still had up. And now, with everything that had happened, protecting her mattered more than protecting his own privacy.

His fingers drummed once against the table before he met her gaze again. "I know we've been keeping this quiet, and I know we still have reasons for that. But I'm not about to let that stop me from being where you need me to be." His voice was softer now, more certain than anything else he'd said. "If people start talking, we'll deal with it. Right now, you need support. That's all that matters."

He glanced at the clock, mentally calculating how much time they had before they needed to go. He hated the idea of walking into that station, of feeling like they had to be careful about how close they stood, about what looks they exchanged, about whether or not he could offer her even the smallest comfort without setting off speculation. But none of that was bigger than the reason they were going. Cassie had been through hell. She deserved to have the people who loved her standing beside her when she faced the fallout.

Adrian pushed his plate away slightly and straightened in his seat. "Finish eating. We'll go when you're ready." His voice was firm, steady. "And don't worry about me. I'm exactly where I need to be."​
 
“You're not walking into that place alone.”

Cassie gave him a grateful nod, a tendril of tension loosening inside her. It gave her the tiniest amount of strength knowing that she would have Meg and Adrian beside her. She could see the myriad of thoughts moving through his eyes, undoubtedly a reflection of all the implications reeling inside her own. Being seen together outside the boundaries of their profession did have the potential to reignite the hashtags and rumors about their status. While those speculations had continued to appear over the last couple of months, the frenzy had died down as the season progressed. He was right, though. They could weather the publicity storm because they had done it before.

She ate a little bit more, forcing food down despite her nerves killing her appetite. When she’d eaten all she could, she pushed her plate back. Closing her eyes, she took a breath in an effort to mentally straighten her spine.

*

Cassie couldn't decide if the day had moved painfully slowly or overwhelmingly fast, but by the time she and Adrian walked back through his door that night, she felt as though she’d been raked over the coals while running a marathon. The two of them met Meg and Marcus outside the house and swapped cars so that Cassie arrived with Meg.

As a reporter, she was accustomed to talking for long periods of time, and she was a professional at asking questions. None of that made her feel well-equipped to answer yet more questions about the events leading up to last night. It certainly didn't prepare her to look at the mugshot of the man, the emptiness in his eyes turning her blood cold. His affect lacked the life that had been devoid in his voice. She was grateful the detective had given her the choice on how much information from their investigation she was given. Cassie didn't need to know what they’d found in his car or what the law enforcement officers had discovered in his apartment halfway across the country. What she walked away with was the knowledge that he didn't deny anything and still seemed convinced that Cassie would have him released because they were supposed to be together.

Once again surrounded by the solitude and comfort of Adrian's walls, Cassie was doing her best to scrub her mind from the day. She wanted to focus on anything else but this situation. Work would hit a lull for a couple weeks, and then bowl game announcements would happen the second week of December. Until then, her job was to speculate on who would go where, but the other winter sports were in a bye because of the holiday.

Tonight, she had every intention of testing out Adrian's bathtub with a long soak. Setting the duffle bag that Meg had packed for her on the bed, she began to rifle through it, taking notes of what had been packed.

And what hadn't.

Picking up her cell phone, she furrowed her brow as she sent off a text.

C: Meg, while I appreciate you packing my clothes for me, you didn't pack any underwear.

M: ….Oops? 😇😈

Despite the mood of the last twenty-four hours, Cassie burst out laughing.

C: Uh huh.
M: Tell Adrian I said you're welcome.
 
Adrian sat in the stiff, uncomfortable chair of the police station, arms crossed over his chest as he waited for Cassie to finish her interview. His jaw was set, a muscle ticking in his cheek as he stared at the scuffed tile floor, his mind running through everything that had happened today. He hated being here. Not because of what it meant for him—he had long since decided that his presence at Cassie's side mattered more than any whispers or rumors—but because of what it meant for her. She shouldn't have to be in this position. She shouldn't have to sit in that room and recount the worst moments of her life to people taking notes, analyzing her every word, asking her to relive it. It made him sick to his stomach just thinking about it.

He clenched his fists against his biceps, breathing deeply to keep his frustration in check. It wouldn't do any good to get angry here. The man who had done this—who had terrorized her for months—was finally behind bars. Cassie was safe. That was the important part. But Adrian knew that safety didn't erase fear, didn't magically take away the trauma of knowing someone had watched you, hunted you, convinced themselves that they owned you. He exhaled through his nose, glancing toward the door she had disappeared through. He wanted to be in there with her. He wanted to hear every question they asked, to make sure they weren't pressing too hard, weren't making her feel like she had to explain herself more than she already had. He wanted to reach across the table and take her hand, remind her she wasn't alone in this. But he couldn't.

So he waited. Meg and Marcus sat a few chairs down, talking quietly, but Adrian wasn't listening. His mind was too occupied with the memories of last night—the fear in Cassie's voice, the way she had clung to him afterward, the way she had buried herself into his chest as if trying to disappear from the world outside. That was the part that stuck with him. That was the part he couldn't shake. The door opened, and Adrian immediately straightened, his focus snapping back to the present. He didn't need to see her face to know she was exhausted. The weight of the day was pressing down on her, evident in the way she moved, in the slow drag of her steps.

—

By the time they returned to his house, Adrian could tell Cassie was completely drained. Her shoulders sagged as she dropped her bag in the bedroom, her movements slow and heavy, like the weight of everything was finally settling onto her.

He wasn't about to let her carry that weight alone.

Without a word, he disappeared into the bathroom, turning on the faucet and letting the deep tub begin to fill with warm water. He opened the cabinet beneath the sink, pulling out a bottle of lavender and chamomile essential oils—Meg had given them to him months ago when he first bought the house, claiming they were "for the ambiance." He had never actually used them. Until now.

He poured a few drops into the water, letting the calming scent rise with the steam, then turned to the small wooden shelf beside the tub. Candles. Again, something Meg had insisted on when she had dragged him through a home goods store, telling him that his house had "the personality of a prison cell." He lit three of them, their soft glow flickering against the tiled walls.

Leaning against the doorway, he called out. "Bath's ready for you."

She appeared in the doorway a moment later, her expression shifting from exhaustion to something softer as she took in the scene. Adrian shrugged, his lips quirking slightly. "Figured you could use a little peace and quiet." He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Take your time. I'll be in the kitchen."

He let his hand trail down her arm before he stepped away, giving her space to unwind.

—

Cooking was something Adrian had always found grounding. There was something methodical about it, something steady. And right now, he needed steady. He had decided on chicken and dumplings—comfort food, something warm and familiar. He worked in silence, dicing vegetables with practiced ease, rolling out dough for the dumplings. The scents of garlic, thyme, and simmering broth filled the kitchen, filling the house with something other than the weight of the last twenty-four hours. He wanted Cassie to have this—just a moment of normalcy, a moment where she didn't have to think about police stations, interviews, or the fact that the media was already buzzing about the attack.

He wanted her to feel safe. And if that meant making the best damn bowl of chicken and dumplings she'd ever had, then that's exactly what he was going to do.​
 
Shaking her head at Meg, Cassie tossed her phone down on the bed, the smile lingering. That laugh felt like a bright light in her day. Finding her pajama bottoms and a tank top, she pulled them from the bag. Adrian caught her attention out of her peripheral, and she looked up, the sight of him leaning against the door causing a surge of warmth to blossom in her chest. Walking over to him, a curious look in her eye, her hand absentmindedly slid around his middle as she looked past him.

Then promptly fell in love with him all over again. Looking up at him, her fingers curled against his hip, gratitude winding its way through her hazel eyes. A small tingle followed his fingers as he brushed her hair back, and her head leaned into the subtle touch.

As he started to pull away, she pulled him back briefly, planting a small kiss on his cheek.

“I don't know what I did to deserve you, Adrian Stafford, but I am so grateful for you.”

Left alone, she undressed and stepped into the tub. Inhaling deeply as she sank down, the scents eased her tension as the warm water relaxed her muscles. Closing her eyes, a small contented smile spread on her lips as she filled her thoughts with the man downstairs. The last several months had been a whirlwind. It was crazy to think that they were just a few months shy of having been back in each other's lives for a year. In some regards, that time had flown by in a chaotic frenzy of practices, games, interviews, and other sports. The part of that year where they had tentatively danced around another, trying their best to find how they belonged in each other's lives after so long apart had felt like an eternity.

Cassie nearly fell asleep in the tub, the silence a comfort after the noise of the police department and incessant phone calls and texts she’d fielded. Adrian had always been her safe haven in college, and it was no surprise to her how he could still so easily make her feel shielded from the world. Shaking her head, she roused herself back awake. Stifling a yawn, she sat up straight and pulled herself from the water that had begun to turn cold. Pulling on her pajama pants and tank top, she ran a brush through her hair.

Shivering slightly, she grabbed the hoodie from the back of his door. She'd taken to stealing it most nights, and quickly slid it over her cold skin, the air and dampness raising goosebumps on her arms. Adrian’s scent mingled with those from her bath, and she couldn't help but smile again. It seemed ridiculously cheesy, even to her, that she was smelling his sweater like some love lost teenager.

Making her way downstairs, she stepped inside the kitchen, the smells enveloping her in a nostalgic blanket. Walking up behind him, his stature blocking the stove from view, she slid her arms around his middle, her lips pressing against the back of his neck. Nuzzling him, she turned her head so it rested on the back of his shoulder as she gently squeezed him from behind.

“That smells amazing. If you aren't careful, you're going to spoil me.”
 
Adrian felt Cassie before he saw her—the warmth of her body pressing against his back, the way her arms fit so easily around his middle. Her lips brushed the back of his neck, soft and lingering, and he closed his eyes for a brief moment, exhaling slowly. It had been a long day. A frustrating, exhausting, emotionally charged day. But here, in this quiet moment, with her wrapped around him, it didn't feel so heavy. A smirk tugged at his lips as she spoke, her voice laced with a teasing affection that sent a pleasant warmth through his chest.

"Too late for that," he murmured, setting the wooden spoon down as he turned slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye.

The chicken and dumplings had simmered into something rich and comforting, the broth thick, the dumplings pillowy and golden. It smelled like home—like something familiar, something steady. Adrian wasn't sure when this house had stopped feeling like just a place to live and started feeling like home. Maybe it was when Cassie started leaving little things here—a forgotten hair tie on the bathroom counter, a book on his nightstand, her shoes kicked off by the door like she belonged there. Or maybe it had been all along, just waiting for her to step inside and make it real.

He reached down, giving her hands a light squeeze where they rested against his stomach. "Hope you're hungry," he said, reaching for the ladle. "Because I made enough to feed a small army."

Truthfully, he'd just needed something to do with his hands, something productive, something that could ground him when the weight of today threatened to settle too deep into his bones. Cooking had always been that for him. The repetition, the precision, the way it gave him control over at least one thing in his life. He turned in her embrace, his hands settling on her hips as he took her in. The hoodie she wore—his hoodie—hung loose on her frame, sleeves too long, fabric bunched at her wrists. She was warm from the bath, the damp ends of her hair curling slightly as they brushed against her collarbone. Something about it, about her, made his stomach tighten in a way that had nothing to do with hunger. Adrian lifted a hand, fingers brushing against her jaw, his touch lingering as his thumb traced a slow path over her cheek.

"You warm enough?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost thoughtful.

It was a simple question, but it carried something unspoken beneath it. Are you okay? Are you feeling safe? Are you here with me? Because he was here. With her. For her. Always.

Dinner was easy, unhurried. They sat across from each other at the kitchen table, the warmth of the food matching the quiet comfort that had settled between them. Adrian watched Cassie take her first bite, waiting for her reaction, and when he saw the way her shoulders relaxed, the way the tension of the day seemed to ease just a little, he knew he'd done his job. They talked, but not about anything heavy. Adrian kept the conversation light—teasing her about how she always stole his hoodie, sharing a story from his playing days, even throwing in a bad joke just to hear her laugh. That sound, the way it softened the last of the day's weight, made him feel like everything was right, even if just for a little while. When they were done, he didn't let her help clean up. He waved her off with a smirk and a playful shake of his head, taking care of the dishes himself while she lingered nearby. He didn't mind—there was something satisfying about the simple routine of washing plates, wiping down counters, setting everything back in its place.

With the kitchen taken care of, they moved to the couch. Adrian grabbed the remote, flipping through channels until he landed on something light and easy—a sitcom, nothing too serious, nothing that required much thought. The glow of the screen filled the dimly lit room, but he wasn't paying much attention. Cassie curled up against him, her body fitting against his like it was meant to be there. Adrian pulled her in closer, his arm resting along her shoulders, his fingers tracing idle patterns against the fabric of his hoodie that she still wore. He let out a slow breath, feeling himself relax for the first time all day.At some point, she shifted, tilting her face up toward his. Adrian met her gaze, his own dark eyes searching hers, and then, without a word, he leaned in. Their lips met in a slow, lingering kiss, one that spoke of quiet gratitude and unspoken promises. His hand slid up, fingers threading through her still-damp hair as he deepened the kiss, savoring the warmth, the way she felt so impossibly close.

When they finally broke apart, Adrian pressed his forehead against hers, his thumb brushing against her cheek in a soft, absentminded motion. There was still so much to deal with. The weight of the day, the fallout from everything that had happened. But for now, here in the quiet, with her in his arms, he let himself forget about all of it. Just for a little while.​
 
Smiling as she felt the gentle pressure of his hand on hers, Cassie felt the rest of the world sink away. With her phone tucked away upstairs, she knew there were no distractions to pull her from this time together, and she had every intention of keeping the outside world out. The smells coming from the pot were reminiscent of Sunday afternoons at her house growing up, and the earthiness of the herbs grounded her even more firmly.

“I am definitely hungry.” As if to punctuate her statement, Cassie felt a rumbling in her stomach, her body reminding her she hadn't eaten as much as she should have. It wasn't that she hadn't been given food. Everyone had been so intent on trying to take care of her they had constantly been trying to feed her or ply her with something to drink, but her anxiety had left little room for her to eat much of anything. Meg and Marcus meant well, and even the Victim Advocate and the detectives had been overly effusive in trying to make her feel as comfortable as she could in spite of the situation. Cassie had a feeling that everyone walking on eggshells around her made her more nervous than if they hadn't been treating her like glass about to shatter. Being alone with Adrian in a place that was beginning to feel like home had done more in the last hour to soothe her soul than a group of people staring at her intently as if they were waiting for her to break.

Adrian had become home to her. She supposed he had always been that, their friendship in college reaching so deeply inside her that he'd forever altered her heart. As they’d grown closer over the last months, she’d rediscovered that home. Looking up as he turned around, her fingers rubbed against his back, naturally finding the curves of his muscles. She could see him taking her in, and she made no secret of doing the same to him. The scruff on his face made her stomach tilt lightly, the flutter a reminder of how his stubble felt against her skin. His eyes drew her in, the green orbs just as mesmerizing to her as the first night they'd met. His question made her chuckle, and she stepped into him even closer, her arms tightening around him.

“I am now.” Grinning, she stuck her tongue out and touched the tip of his nose, a playful glint edging it's way past the mental exhaustion that had been a constant companion since that morning.

Cassie felt as though they had reached some silent agreement that tonight was simply about peace and contentment. Sitting at the dinner table talking about nothing and everything lifted her spirits, and she found herself marveling at how effortlessly being with him could be. This was one of the reasons Cassie fell in love with him all those years ago. No matter the stress or challenges or hardships they faced as student athletes, they could fit together in a way that she couldn't put into words.

Nestled in his arms on the couch, his warmth shielded her from her own thoughts and the consistent pressure of his fingers drawing shapes lulled her into contentment. The more he touched her, the more she needed to feel connected to him. His kiss sent a slow, unhurried desire from her lips into her chest, fluttering into her stomach before heating her center. Reaching up, her fingers grazed the stubble on his neck, and she melted into his taste. When he pulled back, she closed her eyes and smiled softly, her thumbs rubbing up and down. Neither moved for a moment, and Cassie slowly opened her eyes, her face drinking him in. She needed him, unequivocally, in that moment. She needed to be touched in love, needed to have the wrong hands driven from her memory.

She sat up slowly, her motions unhurried as she dipped her head to his neck. Pressing her lips against his skin, she turned her body and moved to straddle his lap. Cassie loved every part of his body, but there was something about his neck that instantly enticed her to explore it with her mouth, her tongue drawing indeterminate shapes across his skin. Lifting her head, she met his eyes, her own darkening with intention.

“Do you have any idea how easily you turn me on?” Sliding her hands up to his face, she left a soft kiss on his chin before meeting his eyes again. “How the very sound of your voice or the simplest touch of your fingers make my body crave every part of you?”

Closing her eyes, she kissed his forehead and slid her hands down to his chest. Nuzzling her nose with his, she sought out his lips, her tongue seeking permission to slide between his. Her hands kneaded his muscles, and her body pushed against him of its own accord as the taste of him filled her. Pulling back just enough, her lips were close enough that they touched his when she spoke. “How easily you drive the rest of the world away and consume every one of my senses?”
 
Adrian chuckled low in his throat, the sound deep and unhurried, as he felt Cassie press against him, her breath warm against his skin. There was something intoxicating about the way she fit in his lap, the way her body responded to him so effortlessly, so naturally. His hands rested on her waist, his thumbs tracing slow, deliberate circles over the fabric of his hoodie—the one she'd claimed as her own. He liked seeing her in it, wrapped up in something of his, her scent mingling with his own. But right now, he wanted more. He wanted to feel her, skin to skin, to remind them both of what existed between them, of the connection that had always been there.

He smirked, tilting his head back slightly to give her better access as she kissed along his neck. The warmth of her lips, the teasing flick of her tongue, sent heat rolling through his veins, pooling low in his stomach. When she pulled back, her hazel eyes dark with intent, he met her gaze, his own laced with something deep and undeniable.

"Do you have any idea how easily you turn me on?"

Her voice, husky and edged with need, sent a slow shiver down his spine. His smirk deepened, his fingers tightening just slightly on her hips.

"That so?" His voice was rough, amused, but there was no mistaking the heat beneath it. He let his hands slide up beneath the hem of her tank top, his calloused fingers skimming over the bare skin of her waist. "Good to know I've got that kind of effect on you."

He let his thumbs trace slow, tantalizing patterns across her stomach as he leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss just beneath her ear before trailing his lips downward. He could feel her breath hitch, feel the way her fingers curled against his chest in response, and it sent a thrill through him. He loved knowing he could unravel her like this, loved knowing that his touch, his presence, could drive away the weight of the day and replace it with something else entirely.

"You should know," he murmured against her skin, his lips brushing along her jaw, "you do the same damn thing to me."

His voice was lower now, rougher, filled with a quiet intensity that left no room for doubt. He kissed her again, slow and lingering, his hands gripping her thighs as he shifted beneath her, pressing her closer, deeper into him. The taste of her, the way she melted into him, made everything else—every outside worry, every lingering thought of the day—fade into nothing.

She was all that mattered.

His fingers slid beneath the hoodie, tracing the curve of her spine, reveling in the way she arched into his touch. He took his time, letting his lips find every sensitive spot along her collarbone, every place that made her breath stutter, memorizing her reactions the way he always did. He could spend hours like this, losing himself in her, in the way she moved against him, in the way she made him feel like nothing else in the world mattered.

But he wasn't about to let this stay on the couch. The thought struck him all at once—that she deserved better than this. Not rushed, not in passing, not tangled up in the corner of his couch. She deserved more than that. Without breaking their kiss, Adrian shifted his grip on her, his movements effortless as he wrapped his arms around her and stood. He felt the small gasp she let out against his lips, felt the way she instinctively tightened her hold on him. He smirked, amused and satisfied at her reaction, but he didn't stop, didn't hesitate.

"Pretty sure the couch isn't where either of us wants this to go," he murmured, his voice rough and teasing.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, her legs around his waist, and he carried her effortlessly toward the stairs. The warmth of her pressed against him, the scent of her lingering from her bath, sent a pulse of need through him, but he took his time, savoring the moment. Each step was slow, measured, the anticipation thick between them. Adrian wasn't just carrying her to the bedroom. He was carrying her away from the weight of the day, from the endless questions and phone calls, from the fear that had tried to take hold. He was carrying her into something deeper, something that belonged to just them.

When he reached the bedroom, he pushed the door open with his foot, stepping inside before kicking it shut behind him. The dim light cast long shadows across the room, flickering faintly from the candles he'd lit earlier when he'd run her bath.

Still holding her, he leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers for a moment, his breath mingling with hers.

Then, slowly, carefully, he lowered her onto the bed.

He didn't rush, didn't let go too quickly. His hands lingered at her waist, his fingers tracing slow, lazy circles over her skin. His eyes met hers, dark and filled with something that was more than just desire—something deeper, something that had always existed between them, even after all these years.

Adrian let his fingers trail up, brushing along her arm, over her shoulder, up to her jaw. He cupped her face gently, his thumb running along her cheek as he took her in.

"You're everything, Cass," he murmured, his voice softer now, more serious.

Because she was. And tonight, he was going to make sure she knew it.​
 
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