MINE, caitlin clark

xviii. double date night

( November 19th, 2022. )
( Leah's POV )

I hadn't put too much thought into what I was going to wear for the dinner with Freya and Kate, deciding to simply put on a silk black dress. It went to my knees, and had a halter type top. Caitlin had decided to match with me, wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt. Florence and Keegan would have joined us on our double date ( making it a triple date, if we're being specific ), but they were in Sacramento for some event.

We were going to Orchard Green, a place that none of us had been before. It was in downtown Iowa City, so it wasn't that far from my apartment building. Caitlin had been staying at my place for awhile now, making me think about what I'm going to do once my lease is over in January. We've only been dating for about a month ( two on the 30th ), and I wasn't sure if moving in together was too soon even though we alternated between each other's apartments already.

Shaking my head, I force the thoughts away. That's something to deal with in December.

"You ready?" Caitlin questions, watching me put on my heels while leaning on the front door. Even though I was ready to go way before her, she always beats me to it.

"Yeah, just give me a second." I walk to my room quickly to grab one of my purses in my closet, stopping stare at something in it that I've never seen before. Caitlin did have some of her things in my closet, but there was no way that she would ever bring a crowbar into my apartment. Especially without me noticing.

"The fuck?" I whisper to myself, looking at the red metal object. It looked new, and only had a bit of paint chipped on the curved part of the crowbar.

"Baby? Are you okay?" I hear Caitlin yell, a bit of concern and confusion in her voice.

I shake my head, my long hair moving with my movements as it's cascading down my back. I step back, grabbing my purse quickly I walk out of my closet, and shut my bedroom door behind me. "Yeah, sorry. I just got lost in thought."

Caitlin's eyes examine me worriedly, before she walks up to me. She places her hands on my cheeks after seeing how out of it I looked, rubbing my cheekbone to soothe me. "You look spooked, are you sure you want to go out? I'm sure that Freya and Kate would understand."

I place my hands over hers, smiling at her reassuringly. "Of course, it's my early birthday dinner after all."

We look into each other's eyes for a moment, not saying anything, but I know that Caitlin's looking for any hesitation in my blue eyes. When she finds none, she nods before kissing me gently.

"Okay, let's go," she holds out her hand for me, intertwining her fingers with mine whenever I place my hand in hers. I enjoy the intimacy we share in this moment, before we go out and act like we're just friends. It was hard, being so open about our relationship to friends and family, but being closed off to the public. It kept me up at night sometimes, but I knew that it was easier this way. Reporters wouldn't be asking questions about her relationship with me instead of asking questions about basketball. It was easier to come out with our relationship in the summer, where the conversation would die out before the season started.

We head out to her car, still hand in hand. She opens the passenger door for me with an exaggerated bow, I laugh before sliding in.