Page 13 of The Shots You Take

Riley knew better.

“Who’s this?” Adam asked.

Riley glanced over his shoulder and saw Lucky enthusiastically sniffing the full-looking shopping bag Adam was holding. “Lucky.”

“Sounds like there’s a story there.”

“No story,” Riley said. “Named him that because he’s lucky to be a dog.”

Adam laughed, quick and nervous. “It does seem relaxing, I guess.” When Riley didn’t reply, Adam said, “I brought lunch. Your mom gave it to me.”

“When did you see Mom?” Riley didn’t like the idea of Adam bothering his family.

“I was just there.”

“Why?”

“I was looking for you.”

Riley snorted. “Why?”

“I thought we could talk, maybe.”

He shook his head, then continued to place hockey sticks in the rack.

“Or not,” Adam said. “If you don’t want to.”

“I’m busy.”

“And I offered to help.”

Riley threw the stick he was holding against the rack. It clattered to the floor with a satisfying amount of noise. A heavy silence followed, then Lucky began whimpering. Riley scrubbed a hand over his own face, feeling like an asshole. He turned and crouched, holding a hand out to Lucky. “I’m sorry,” he said gently. “It’s okay.”

Lucky went to him, pressing against Riley’s bent legs. Riley glanced up at Adam. “I’m not at my best right now.”

“Be weird if you were.”

Riley scratched Lucky’s ears, then stood so he was eye level with Adam. “What is this? What are you doing?”

“Bringing you lunch?”

Riley took a step toward him, then another. He must have looked as angry as he felt, because Adam took a step back. Good. “Leave me alone. Leave my mom alone. Fuckoff.”

Adam nodded, infuriatingly calm. “Okay.” He placed the bag on the counter next to a pile of mouth guards. “You should eat, though.”

Riley glared at him.

Adam held up his hands, palms out. “I just want to help. However I can.”

“You can help by leaving.”

The pain in Adam’s eyes was obvious, but Riley refused to feel bad about it. Adam was a man who wasn’t used to not being adored, and Riley couldn’t do that. Not again.

“Yeah,” Adam said, “okay. I’m sorry.” He took a step toward the door, stopped, and said, “I’m staying at the River Bend, Room Four, and my phone number is the same as it’s always been.”

Then he left. The door chime tinkled behind him. Rileystared at the door for several seconds after it closed, and that’s when the guilt began to settle in. He glanced down at Lucky, who was gazing up at him with questioning eyes.

“It’s complicated,” Riley said. “We’ve got a lot of history. You don’t need to worry about it.”

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