We Could Be Something

Pulling his kit bag onto his shoulder, Iker spared a small glance around the room, glad that the training session was over for the day. It had been a long day, the session that morning had felt as though it dragged, and Iker was pleased that it was over, even if it did likely mean returning to his apartment, he was glad that he had the opportunity to relax for the rest of the day. Adjusting his bag, he said a quick goodbye to the few teammates which were dotted around the room before he moved to step out of the door, padding up the corridor towards Adriana’s office.

It had been a little while, after their ‘almost’ kiss, both of them seemed to have pulled back from one another, and whilst it disappointed Iker that things between them had become slightly more awkward, he was glad that it hadn’t been worse. It had been close, if not for the baby’s kick, he was sure that they would have kissed, but by avoiding it, they’d avoided an awkward conversation, something which pleased him. He wasn’t sure that he had the heart to listen to her explain that she didn’t quite feel the same for him as he was pretty sure he felt for her.

Sparing a glance towards the office door, he contemplated walking away for a moment before the door swept open, revealing Adriana who offered him a teasing grin. “You’re perfectly on time” she teased as she padded back towards her desk.

Iker shook his head. “How’d you know I’d come by?” he noted as he followed her across the room.

“You’re quite predictable, Iker” she mused gently.

Iker playfully rolled his eyes, something which made Adriana smile. “Can I do something for you, Iker?” she teased as she moved to file away some of the paperwork which littered her desk.

“I was just wondering if you were free” Iker quipped “I’m done with training for the day and thought maybe we could head out to lunch. I mean, if you’re busy, we can go another time but I was hoping…”

“I am free, Iker” Adriana interjected, a small soft smile on her face at the sound of his babbling.

Iker blinked a couple of times before he nodded “Ok” he agreed gently.

“I’ll just go and grab my jacket and we can head out” Adriana smiled before she ducked out of the room.

Iker watched after her for a moment before he shook his head, wordlessly ruing himself for babbling. It was a habit of his, whenever he found himself a little nervous or uncomfortable, he tended to ramble, and it irritated him slightly that he had started to do it again around Adriana, something which was almost certainly a result of the kiss that they’d almost shared.

~#~
“So, have you made much progress when it comes to the nursery?”

Adriana, who’d been pushing the last of her dessert around her plate, shook her head. “I’ve done a few bits and pieces” she noted “I’m not exactly great with DIY, but I’ve built a couple of pieces of furniture. It’s starting to look like a proper little nursery” she insisted gently. It had been a little tense, despite their best efforts to pretend that things were fine, there was a slight hint of tension between them, and Adriana knew that it wasn’t simply going to dissipate, regardless of how much she wanted it to, chances were that things would be a little tense until they had a conversation about what had happened.

“You know” Iker quipped, sipping on his glass of water “If you need any more help, I’d be more than happy to offer. I’m not exactly an expert either, but I am sure that between the two of us we could get it done” he enthused gently.

Adriana offered him a soft look before she shook her head. “I think I have it under control” she noted gently “I’ve only got a few more pieces to put together and I am sure that I can handle it” she babbled, her cheeks tinting slightly pink.

Iker admired the soft expression on her face for a moment before he let out a sigh, something which made Adriana shake her head. “It’s strange now, isn’t it?” she murmured softly, her eyes peeking up at him shyly.

Iker nodded his head. “It’s a little awkward” he admitted gently “But I am sure that that will fade eventually. We didn’t even…it’s not like we actually kissed, Addie. I am sure that the awkwardness will fade if we just give it some time” he insisted gently. He was slightly wary about broaching the topic, as far as he knew, Adriana was still nowhere near ready to even contemplate taking a chance on him, and he wanted to avoid it, not wanting to hear the inevitable ‘it’s not you, it’s me’.

Adriana shook her head. “I know you don’t believe that” she quipped, a half-smile on her face.

Iker shrugged, something which made the blonde woman roll her eyes. “Iker” she noted gently.

Iker spared her a slightly shy look before he nodded. “We need to have a conversation, don’t we?” he posed.

Adriana reached her hand across the table and placed it on his, squeezing it gently. “I think so” she noted gently “I mean, we can avoid it and enjoy these awkward little meetings if you’d prefer, but I think it would be better if we actually talked about it at some point” she teased half-heartedly.

Iker quirked a feeble smile before he nodded his head. “You’re probably right” he noted.

“I normally am” Adriana quipped gently before the sound of her phone buzzing against the table filled her ears, causing her to let out a sigh as she read over the text on the screen.

“You have to go?” Iker posed.

“I do” Adriana noted “But I still think that we need to…”

“We will” Iker interjected gently “Why don’t I come by your apartment later? We can talk then” he offered.

Adriana mulled the offer over for a moment before she nodded. “That sounds like a plan” she noted “I’ll see you then” she added before she pressed a kiss to his cheek, stepping away from the table.

Iker glanced after her briefly before he shook his head, knowing that the conversation that they would have that night had the potential to change things between them, something which more than worried him.