Page 79 of The Shots You Take

Adam spread his arms. “We’re young and rich, Riles! Who else are they making these things for?”

“Maybe don’t tell all of New York that we’re rich,” Riley said, glancing around the dark sidewalks. “Where even are we?”

“We’re almost there.”

“Where?”

“Times Square!”

“Then why are the streets getting darker? Times Square is bright, Shep.”

Adam waved a hand. “We’re fine. So yeah, when we get back home, I say we hit up a Future Shop and upgrade our TV. We could watch the Super Bowl on it!”

“We’re in Anaheim that day.”

“Oh yeah.” Adam’s disappointment didn’t last. “That’s okay. We can just have really sweet movie nights together.”

Riley’s heart did a weird little flip, and he decided ten thousand dollars might be a reasonable price for a television after all.

A few minutes later, they found themselves looking at water. Adam had led them to a park along what Riley assumed was the Hudson because it didn’t have any of the iconic bridges that spanned the East River.

“So this is it, huh,” Riley said flatly. “Times Square.”

But Adam wasn’t bothered. “This place is so cool!” He grabbed Riley’s wrist and tugged him toward the river. “Come check it out.”

They leaned together on the railing that lined the promenade, gazing across the dark water at, if Riley’s geography was correct, New Jersey. The park’s lights glowed all around them, making the place feel safe. It also felt, he couldn’t help but notice, romantic. Riley’s right hand was so close to Adam’s left on the top rail that it would have been nothing to hook their fingers together.

He watched Adam, enjoying his profile against the lights. When they’d first met, Adam’s hair had been spiky, with the remnants of bleach blond at the tips left over from Adam’s junior team’s Memorial Cup run. Now his hair was shorter, more tapered, and fully dark. His jaw was sharper, and he’d added muscle over the summer. Riley wondered if he was doomed to watch his roommate grow more handsome every year.

Adam noticed him watching and smiled. “What?”

“Nothing.” Riley looked away. Not far from them, a man and a woman were against the same railing, kissing. He felt like the background extra in a movie.

“So where’s the Brooklyn Bridge?” Adam asked.

“Other side.”

“Other side of what?”

“Manhattan. It’s over the other river.”

“There’s another river?”

“Jesus Christ, Shep. You know Manhattan is an island, right?”

There was a long silence, and then Adam said, “I knew that.”

Riley huffed. “Sure.”

“So where’s the Statue of Liberty then?”

“I can’t fucking believe I letyoube the guide tonight.”

Adam bumped his hip against Riley’s. “How are you a New York expert? You’re from the smallest town in the world.”

“It’sNew York. Haven’t you ever seen a movie?”

Adam laughed. “So where’s the statue?”

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