Page 75 of The Shots You Take

“God,” Riley mumbled. Then he took a step forward and kissed Adam on the cheek. “You don’t make it easy.”

“Don’t make what easy?” Adam asked around a giddy smile.

“Being normal about you. I can’t do it.”

Adam reached out a hand, and Riley took it. “I’ve never been normal about you. Don’t want to be.”

Riley smiled at him, unguarded and boyish. It made Adam’s legs weak. “Let’s fall asleep together then, weirdo.”

A few minutes later, Adam entered Riley’s bedroom wearing pajama pants, a T-shirt, and his glasses, and carrying one of the paperback spy novels from the bookshelf in his own room. Riley was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, and was already sitting on the bed, looking at his phone.

“I missed a text from Lindsay,” Riley said. “She’s leaving tomorrow.”

“Oh. That’s too bad.”

“I’m going to go to Mom’s tomorrow before she leaves. You don’t have to come, but…you can. If you want.”

Adam smiled and sat beside him. “I’d like that.”

Riley stared glumly at the floor. “I hate thinking about Mom being alone.”

“I know.”

“She’s strong, but still. I wish I could be stronger for her.”

Adam took his hand. “You’re strong as hell, Riley. You’ve fought through so much. And based on what I’ve seen this past week, I don’t think the town is going to let your mom be alone if she doesn’t want to be.”

Riley smiled a bit at that. “True.”

“And Lindsay will be back, right?”

“Yeah. As soon as she can, I’m sure. With the kids, probably. Mom can’t get enough of those girls.”

“And…maybe…I could come back? Sometime soon?” Adam shifted on the bed. “I mean, if that would be helpful. For you.”

Their eyes met, briefly, before Riley looked away again. “I wouldn’t hate that.”

Adam considered this a massive win. “Cool,” he said, as if fireworks weren’t going off in his chest.

“Well,” Riley said. His hand slipped out of Adam’s as he stood. “I need to sleep.”

He pulled back the duvet to reveal crisp bedsheets with a delicate floral print. Adam was absurdly charmed by this. “Are we trying this under the covers tonight, then?”

“It’s usually how I do it, yeah.”

As he got into bed, Adam took a moment to admire Riley’s bedroom. It had a high, sloped ceiling with exposed dark wood beams, a bay window facing the ocean, and another smaller window facing the front of the house. A large chandelier thatlooked like branches holding candles was suspended over the bed. There was a vintage armchair and ottoman in one corner, upholstered in dark blue velvet. A large mirror hung over the dresser, and another wall showcased a moody seascape painting. Like the rest of Riley’s house, it was immaculate and beautiful. It warmed Adam’s heart, thinking about Riley choosing to surround himself with beauty. To create a home where everything looked and felt pleasing. Adam sighed as he slipped between the cool, sleek bedsheets and wondered if Riley had ironed them. Probably. And Adam loved that.

He rested his head on a perfect pillow and waited for Riley to turn out the bedside lamp. He was surprised when Riley said, to the ceiling, “I do have good memories about hockey, just so you know.”

Adam rolled to his side to face him. “Yeah?”

“Some of the best memories. It took me a while to remember the good times, after I left, but there were a lot of good times. Some fucking great times.”

“Hell yes there were. I know I played for another decade, but all my best memories were with you, Riley.” Then, because he had to, he said, “I’ll never forgive myself for ruining the Cup win for you. I’m so sorry for that.”

Riley turned his head and met his gaze. “I made a bad call that night. I should have rejected you. I shouldn’t have let you come back to my place. I knew what was going to happen.”

“No, Riles. It was my fault. All of it. Everything I said after—”

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