Page 11 of The Shots You Take

She turned to face him. “He’s not the easiest person to help. Sometimes you need to stay on him, y’know?”

Adam held her gaze, but barely. He was so ashamed. “I wish I had.”

She nodded. “Is that why you’re here now?”

“Something like that.”

“Because I don’t really know what the deal is with you and him, but I do know that he doesn’t need anyone adding extra pain to his life right now.”

Adam wanted to argue that he’d never do that, except obviously he couldn’t promise that. Pain seemed to be all Riley and Adam had been able to give each other in the end. “I’m not here to hurt him,” he said, because that, at least, was true.

“Good.” She turned back to the sink and began washing another container.

After a moment, Adam gathered some courage and asked,“So he’s doing better, you said? Since…” Since he’d completely fallen apart, at least according to hockey gossip.

“He’s a lot better. I won’t get into it with you, because it’s not my place but, yeah. He’s better.”

Adam took the container from her and began drying it. “Glad to hear it.” Then the question that he’d been determined to hold back burst out of him. “Does he…have anyone? Living with anyone, like? Um…”

“He’s single, if that’s what you’re asking.” She ducked her head so Adam couldn’t see her face. “He doesn’t share everything with me, but no real boyfriends that I know of.”

Boyfriends.It was ridiculous that after everything, the easy acknowledgment that Riley was gay was so shocking. “That’s too bad,” Adam managed.

“Is it?” Lindsay’s tone was light, almost teasing.

Adam’s cheeks heated, and at that moment Susan Tuck entered the kitchen.

“Adam Sheppard,” she said brightly. “My god, look at you. Come here.” She embraced him in a hug, her head level with Adam’s chest.

“It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Tuck,” he said. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. And it’s Susan, of course. How are you these days?”

Adam was surprised by how cheerful and steady she sounded, given the circumstances. “I’m good. Retired now, so that’s different.”

“I heard. I also heard the Hall of Fame rumors already. It’s a legacy to be proud of, that’s for sure.”

“Thanks,” he said, because hewasproud of his career. He may have fucked up the rest of his life, but his hockey career had been close to perfect.

“We missed seeing you here in the summers,” she said.

“I got busy with the kids and all that,” he said apologetically. Adam had loved those summers, spending days at the beach or puttering around the bay in Riley’s family’s boat. The first few years Adam had simply enjoyed being away from his own stern parents, who would have focused solely on his conditioning and on marketing opportunities. He’d been enchanted by Riley’s family, by this small town, and by Riley himself. And that fifth summer…god, if Adam could choose one part of his life to stay in forever, it would be that fifth summer in Avery River.

“You could have brought the kids,” Susan said, “but I suppose there were other reasons.”

“There were,” he agreed, and hoped she didn’t expect him to explain those reasons, because that would be impossible. What could he say? That he’d maybe accidentally broken Riley’s heart? That he was here now to try to fix it?

He knew it was unlikely that anything he could say or do would repair the damage he’d caused, and maybe Riley was years past caring about him at this point. That would make sense. Why would Riley still be carrying a torch for a man he hadn’t spoken to for twelve years? It was ridiculous.

Except Adam knew it wasn’t impossible. Adam wasproofthat it wasn’t impossible.

He blinked when he realized Lindsay had asked him a question. “Hm? Sorry.”

“How’s your shoulder?”

“Oh. You know. Better some days than others.”

“You had tendon repair surgery last year?”

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