We Could Be Something

“You really didn’t have to cook, Addie” Iker quipped as he placed his fork down onto his plate, his dark eyes glancing up towards Adriana who had moved to clear the table. It had been a few hours, after they’d finished painting the nursery, Adriana had been insistent on cooking them dinner, and whilst Iker was grateful for the gesture, a small part of him wanted to duck out.

They hadn’t mentioned it, how close they’d come to kissing before the baby had kicked, and whilst he was grateful to have been spared the awkward conversation, part of him wanted to talk about it. It had been a close call, until the baby had moved, he had been sure that they were going to kiss, and whilst he knew that, in the long run, it was probably best that they hadn’t, he couldn’t shake the slight feeling of disappointment that lingered in his stomach.

“It was no trouble” Adriana quipped, moving to place the plates on the counter “Besides, you did most of the work today. It was the least I could for you” she added, offering him a teasing smile.

“You helped” Iker noted, helping to clear away the plates from the table “You did what, half a wall?” he added amusedly.

Adriana offered him a mock glare before she shook her head, moving to settle down on the couch. “Seriously, I am glad that I had your help today” she noted softly “I’ve been meaning to make a start on the nursery for a few weeks and I am glad that you were available to help out. It doesn’t look too bad” she added, offering him a small smile.

“I think it looks good” Iker contributed, sitting in the seat beside her “It’ll need another coat of paint and I am sure that it will look better once you have some furniture in there, but your bump, he or she is very lucky” he enthused, sparing a small glance down towards her bump.

Adriana followed the line of his stare before she shook her head. “He should be here” she mumbled gently.

Iker allowed her words to linger for a moment before he gently wrapped an arm around her waist, coaxing her into a soft hug. “Have you still not been able to get a hold of him?” he mumbled. It wasn’t a topic that they talked a lot about, whenever the topic of her ex-boyfriend came up, Adriana tended to shy away from it, and Iker didn’t want to push her, even if he was sure that it would do her good to talk about it. He knew that she had to get there in her own time.

“I called him when I went for the scan” Adriana mumbled, cuddling into him slightly “But I only got his voicemail again and no one else seems to want to help me get in touch with him. I’ve tried his parents, his brother and sister and our friends, but no one will help me to get a hold of him” she added. She had tried, since Jonathan had departed, she had tried frequently to make contact with him, but still there was no response, something which upset her more than she would have liked. She knew that she wasn’t going to change his mind, Jonathan had been clear that he had little intention of helping her out with the baby, but she hated that she was the one being made out to be at fault.

Iker shook his head, his hand gently rubbing up and down her back. “I’m sorry he’s not here, Addie” he mumbled gently “You deserve a lot better than some idiot who couldn’t see that he had something pretty great right underneath his nose” he added, pressing a soft kiss against the top of her head.

Adriana, who was happily curled against him, tilted her head. “You think I am pretty great?” she quipped, her tone somewhere between flattered and teasing.

Iker’s skin flushed slightly red before he nodded. “You know I do” he quipped.

Adriana offered him a small smile before she leant up, pressing a kiss against his cheek. “Remind me how it is that you’re single again?” she quipped, moving to pad towards the kitchen in order to collect a bottle of water.

Iker shrugged gently. “I dated someone for a while” he noted gently “And when it ended, I wasn’t really interested in staring something with someone else” he added.

Adriana, who’d dropped back into the seat beside him, smiled. “Well, whenever you decide to start dating, I am sure that you’ll make someone very happy” she enthused.

Iker offered her a small look, briefly contemplating suggesting the idea of them attempting a relationship, before he shrugged. “I don’t quite think I am there yet” he noted, the tone of his voice slightly uncertain.

Adriana offered him a slightly dubious look, caught on the tone of his voice. “Iker?” she posed.

Iker shook his head. “It’s nothing, Addie” he noted.

Adriana frowned. “Are you sure?” she noted “Because you didn’t sound all that convincing. Is there something wrong?” she added.

Iker offered her a small look, briefly thinking about bringing up the ‘almost’ moment that they’d shared only hours previous, before he shook his head. “It’s nothing, Addie” he repeated gently “It’s just been a long day and I really ought to think about heading home. Thank you for dinner” he noted as he pushed himself up to his feet.

Adriana spared him a dubious look before she pushed herself up, leading him towards the door. “Are you sure?” she posed “Because if there is something else up, you know that you can talk to me right? That’s kind of our thing” she added, offering him a slightly impish grin.

Iker admired her smile for a second before he nodded. “It’s nothing, Addie, I promise” he insisted gently.

Adriana offered him another dubious look before she leant in, pressing a kiss against his cheek. “Thank you for today, Iker” she noted gently “I’m really grateful for the help” she added.

“It was no trouble” Iker mused gently “I’ll see you later?” he added.

Adriana offered him a grin before she pulled the door open, allowing him to step out of her apartment. “Goodnight, Iker” she added before she pushed the door closed.

Iker paused for a moment, listening to the slight thump of the door closing, before he tilted his head back, letting out an aggrieved sigh. He knew that he shouldn’t be upset, from the outset of their friendship, it had been clear to him that it was going to take time if anything romantic was to come of it, but still he was irked at himself for not admitting that he liked her when she had presented him with the opportunity, even if it was a risk. He was irked that he had chickened out.