Page 40 of The Shots You Take

Adam began walking toward him. “I know it’s not an excuse for everything shitty I said to you back then, but I wanted you to know. I owed you that.”

Riley was about to argue that Adam didn’t owe him anything,but that would have been a lie. So he nodded and said, “Thanks.”

“Are you okay?”

Riley let out a shaky laugh. “Obviously I’m great.”

Adam raised a hand, as if he wanted to touch Riley in some way, but then lowered it. “I didn’t want to leave town without saying that.”

“You’re leaving, then?”

“I mean… I’d rather stay. At least to help you get the store back together.”

He looked so hopeful, like tidying up Riley’s shop would be the best way he could possibly spend his day that Riley surrendered. “All right. Let’s get to work, then.”

* * *

Adam had thought things would feel easier, after saying it. Like his big revelation would clear the air between them, that maybe Riley would be sated, learning that he’d been right all along.

It wasn’t easier. They worked in near silence for the first two hours, and things felt more tense between them, not less.

At least the shop was looking good.

“When are you reopening?” Adam asked, needing desperately to talk about something.

“Tomorrow.” Riley stood from where he’d been sitting on the floor, rearranging a low shelf. He glanced around the store, then said, “I checked with the staff and they’re ready. Not that we need everyone tomorrow.”

“You’ve got staff?”

Riley stared at him like he was a moron. “I don’t work here alone.”

“Oh.”

“It’s not a big staff. It was me and Dad and Steve—he’s worked here for almost thirty years. You probably met him during the summers you were here. I’ve got a cousin, Cory,who’s been working here awhile. And we usually have a couple of part-time teenagers helping out. We’ve got Jess and Addie right now. I gave them all the week off with pay.”

“And you didn’t give yourself the week off?”

“I did, technically. I just thought I’d…” He trailed off.

Adam smiled. “You just thought you’d turn the store upside down instead?”

To Adam’s delight, Riley laughed. A single amused puff of breath. “Yeah. Not my best plan.”

“It’s looking good in here now, though. Better than before, would you say?”

Riley glanced around again, then nodded. “I think so.” For a moment, he looked pleased, then his shoulders sagged. “It’s going to be weird, without Dad.”

Adam could picture it, Riley here alone or maybe with Steve while a slow trickle of locals took turns offering condolences while buying hockey tape. It didn’t sound like what Riley needed at all.

“Can I help?” Adam asked.

Riley’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re not leaving tomorrow?”

“Not that I know of.”

Riley huffed an exasperated breath and shook his head. “How long are you planning on staying, exactly?”

Adam squared his shoulders. “My flight home is on Tuesday.”

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