Once back at the apartment, they stood outside the front door in awkward silence. Adam handed her the desserts. "You can have these. I want you to enjoy them."
Eve looked at him blankly. "Thanks."
"Worst date ever, right?" Adam's lips pursed, curved in disappointment.
Eve let out a slight chuckle saying, "Close. I've had worse."
He laughed. "I somehow doubt that. So… then. Do I still have a chance at a do over?"
"Not exactly. Next time I get to pick the place. We don't need another hoity-toity date night." She swayed on her heels.
"Does that mean I haven't totally messed up?" Adam pushed a strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear, hoping he still had a chance.
"No. It was just an off night. Next time we avoid embarrassing family encounters." Eve giggled.
"Deal. How about Friday? The Riverbats are out of town this weekend for an away game. I assume you are free? You said at dinner you just work at the stadium. No away games."
"Sounds good. I have the weekend off. Greg will be on the road."
Adam narrowed his brows, asking, "Do you schedule everything around him?"
"Sort of. I mean, for years it's just been Greg and me." Eve didn't understand what the problem was, so she just ignored the comment.
"Does he schedule dates around you?" Adam said pointedly.
Eve scrunched her nose. "Hmm… no. I guess not. But he's my best friend. After my parents died, and my ex-fiance left me high-and-dry, he's the only real family I have."
Adam backed down. "Oh. I didn't realize it was like that. I thought maybe --"
"That we're friends with benefits? No. Lots of people think so. Honestly, it's never been like that. Greg will say the same thing. We just aren't into each other in that way. He's like a big brother to me. My brothers are all grown and moved away. My brothers pretty much abandoned me after my mom died. He's all I have now."
"I suppose I should have not just assumed that. I apologize. So… Friday?" Adam said nervously, hoping she would agree.
"It's a date, Mr. Weston. Dress casual. Meet me here and… thanks for the desserts. Are you sure you don't want yours?"
Adam looked up in her bedroom window, nodding his head up in that direction. "No, thanks. Share it with your overprotective brother figure," he said with a chuckle.
Eve moved to look up, seeing Greg glaring at Adam through the window. She scowled at him, scrunching up her face. "I should have never given him that damn key." She turned back to Adam. "Despite everything, I had a nice time. I'm really glad I met you."
Adam leaned over, kissing her cheek. "Me too, sweetheart. Have a good night, Ms. Callaway. See you Friday."
Eve waited for Adam to leave, then turned her focus back to the window. "You're a dead man, Greg Stapleton!!"
She saw Greg run from the window, yelling, "You'll never catch me!"
Eve ran inside looking for him. "Greg! Where are you?"
She looked around the condo, knowing he was hiding. Going to her room, she looked around, hearing a crash in her walk-in closet. Opening the closet door, she found Greg covered in shoe boxes and clothes, looking guilty. Eve put her hands on her hips, looking at him with a disapproving scowl.
He smiled a cheesy grin, picking up a flowered blouse. "I was just borrowing this. Think it goes with my eyes?"
Eve laughed. "You're coming back tomorrow to fix my closet, you bum. Now, get out of there."
He fumbled through the clothing hoard and flopped on the bed. "How was the date?"
"Ugh. Don't ask. It was a disaster."
Greg sat up, suddenly interested. "Let me guess. Bruce Wayne and his bat car were the Joker in disguise."
"No. Not that. He was nice. We went to Volare. He's coming Friday for dinner. It's sort of do over. It's just… his brother and drunk girlfriend showed up and ruined his mood. Adam was weird all evening, to be honest. He kept looking over his shoulder, expecting someone else to show up. He said that he was avoiding the social scene clique. You know how those socialite types can be. Nosey and absolute gossips. He doesn't seem to like that whole thing. We are used to it, but I think it makes him nervous. Adam seems very professional and put together. Maybe even a little bit shy."
Greg chuckled. "A shy sports agent. Doubtful."
"To top it off, guess who showed up." Eve flopped down next to him.
"No idea. Superman?"
Eve snarled her lip in disgust. "Nope. Drew."
"That douchebag bar promoter? He's such a spoiled little primadonna. Did he hit on you again? He's had a crush on you since you first met him."
"He's Adam's half brother. Adam seemed pretty upset with him. I think Drew embarrassed him by showing up drunk and he doesn't seem to be anything like Drew." Eve pulled off her high heels and chucked them over to the closet mess.
"That's good though. You're too classy for someone like Drew. He's a sleazeball. What is your second date? A trip to the Riviera on Adam's yacht?" Greg teased.
"No goofball. A nice dinner here. Maybe a movie or —"
"Sex?" Greg frowned at her.
"No! Greg. Jeez! Stop that. It's not like that. He's nice. I just don't want another night like tonight. I thought something quiet and private would be nice. Maybe he has social anxiety or something?" Eve shoved Greg off her bed.
Greg rolled his eyes, pulling himself back up. "Okay, sure. That's it. A shy sports agent with social anxiety. He probably just doesn't like to be a part of the in-crowd. Maybe he's more focused on his work than impressing the high society folks. Actually, if that's the case, that's admirable. You know as well as I do, that scene can get old quick. We don't even hang in those circles anymore."
Eve laid back. "That's true. The bar hopping and party scene gets old. Okay. Since my date was a flop, let's go watch a movie downstairs. Adam got desserts, but we didn't eat them. There is one for both of us."
"Sweet! Food is always good. I just had a ham sandwich and chips. A gourmet dessert should set it off perfectly." He jumped up, pulling her with him. "I'm not watching chick flicks. Let's watch a scary movie."
"Only if you stay over in the guest room. Those movies freak me out. I'm going to change into pajamas."
"Deal. Let's get to watching the gore!"
Eve shook her head. She hated scary movies, but knew Greg would always stay up late to make sure she wasn't scared and alone. He would stay by her side until she fell asleep. That was just the kind of guy he was. Eve smiled, thinking he truly was the best.