Page 44 of The Shots You Take

“I can’t believe you did all this,” Adam said. “Like, you made a house.”

“Ifixed upa house,” Riley said as he turned on the oven. “But yeah. I’m happy with it.”

“You should be.” Adam studied the ornate light fixture above his head. “That another antique?”

“Yes.”

Adam tapped his foot on the gleaming wood floor. “Did you install the floors too?”

Riley opened the fridge door. “I restored the original flooring throughout the house.”

Adam whistled. “You must impress the pants off dates you bring here.”

Riley snorted. “Dates.”

“What? You never tell a guy, ‘Hey, wanna see the amazing house I basically built?’”

Riley set the lasagna on the counter. “Nope.”

Adam tried not to think about howhewas here to see the amazing house Riley basically built. “Never?”

“Are you asking if I ever invite men here to have sex?”

“No?” Adam tried.

Riley’s eyes narrowed. “I do, yeah. A bunch of times. I don’t, like, give them a tour.”

“Oh,” Adam said. “Cool.”

“Anyway.” Riley put the lasagna in the oven, then leaned against the counter with his arms folded, facing Adam. “I’d offer you a beer, but I don’t have any.”

“Right. Of course. That’s okay.” Truthfully, Adam really could use a drink. “So…”

Riley rolled his eyes. “You can’t drop it can you?”

“I can.”

“Okay then.”

Adam ran his hand over the countertop next to him, then said, “So there are men here? Like, men to hook up with?”

“Why? Are you looking for one?”

“No.I just thought it would be harder for you. Here.”

“I’m not the only queer in town,” Riley said bluntly. “But okay. I’m not really hooking up with locals. Like you said, the apps are helpful.”

Adam nodded eagerly. “Yeah. They’re great, right?” When Riley looked away, Adam said, “Sorry. I just haven’t had anyone to really talk about this sort of stuff with.”

That made Riley unfold his arms, and his expression soften. “No one?”

“Not really. Not, like, a friend.”

Riley held his gaze, and Adam wondered what he was thinking. Maybe that Adam didn’t deserve gay friends. Adam had often thought the same thing.

“That sucks,” Riley finally said.

“Basically, yeah.”

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