Page 17 of Chasing You

Adele sighed. “Come with me to grocery shop for the station. It’s my turn. I’ll drop you home after.”

“Deal. We’ll eat our weight in Chunky Monkey, and you can tell me how bad it is and ignore all the good advice I’m about to give you.” Frey leaned into him again, and Adele wrapped his arm around him. “And please don’t ever forget that I love you, and you never have to do any of this crap alone.”

Adele softened. “I love you more.”

Frey grinned. “I always knew I was the favorite. Now, come on. Let’s go solve your unsolvable problem with sugar and sage advice.”

five

KASH

His will was finished.So that was one thing off his plate. It wasn’t like he had a lot to bequeath to anyone. He had no property, no car, a small savings, life insurance—but Adele had always been his beneficiary for that, so it wasn’t like it needed to change. He had some stocks, which he was giving to Gage for college, and some old books that Adele could keep or toss.

He was a small man who’d led a small life, and there was nothing to be done about that now.

Kash didn’t have answers yet, but he was also running out of faith that this problem was solvable. Or survivable. His doctor had booked his next round of testing at a specialist’s office in DC, which was going to be a long trip and would require a hotel stay. It would be several days in a row, and he wasn’t quite sure if he had the strength to do it alone.

But he also didn’t know if he could bring his best friend with him. He knew Adele would have figured out how to take the time off work if he’d asked, but Kash refused tobe a burden for as long as it was possible. And it didn’t change the fact that he wasn’t ready for Adele to know how serious this thing might be.

If it was terminal, he’d tell him, but only when he had definitive answers. And if life was about to change drastically, he’d fight for what little independence he could keep for as long as he was allowed to keep it. It wasn’t ideal, of course, but it was a good plan.

He could do this, damn it. He could do this one last thing on his own.

And that was his plan…until Adele caught him packing.

“Leaving so soon?” His voice was tense—hurt. He saw pain in his eyes when Kash found the courage to look up at him.

“It’s only for a few days.”

“Do you need a ride, or?—”

“No, I’ve got it.” He was taking an Uber to the train and hoping his body would behave for the few days he was going to be there. DC had a metro system he could navigate, and every few hundred feet from the hotel he was staying at, there were restaurants and little supermarkets. So long as his body allowed him to walk on his own, he’d be fine.

Really. He would.

Adele swallowed heavily. “So. You’re visiting someone?”

Kash closed his eyes and tried to fight back a sigh. He knew Adele was hurt by his silence, but what else could he do? Telling him the truth would only lead to Adele worrying himself sick, and Kash didn’t have the strength to manage his friend’s fear and anxiety. His own was overwhelming enough as it was.

He hated lying. He hated it more than anything. But for the moment, it was saving his sanity.

“I’m not seeing anyone. I’m going to talk to a doctor.”

Adele’s eyes widened. “So why can’t I?—”

“Because it’s none of your business!” he snapped. He regretted the words the second they tumbled out of his mouth, but the damage was done.

Adele reared back, then turned on his heel and stormed out. By the time Kash managed to climb to his feet, he could hear the front door slamming. Fuck, he hated his body. He hated that he couldn’t just get up and run after him anymore.

He hated that this problem—whatever the fuck it was—was ruining everything.

It wasn’t fair he couldn’t enjoy what little time he might have left with the only person he would ever love.

Swallowing heavily, Kash forced his stiff, trembling legs to move—one foot in front of the other until he was down the hall and at the door. He opened it, half expecting to find Adele’s car gone from the driveway, but it wasn’t. Adele was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the grass, smoking.

Kash made his way over, plopped down, then yanked the cigarette from his lips. He took a long drag before crushing it into the damp grass. “Really?”

Adele rolled his eyes. “Don’t you fucking dare lecture me right now.”

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