Page 65 of As the Years Pass

“You do realize we’ve seen each other naked plenty of times.”

“Yeah, but that was…”

“Waswhat?”

“I don’t know—different.”

“Well, nothing on me is different. All the same stuff is there.”

His gaze drops from my eyes, down my body. “Yeah…”

With a shake of my head, I go into the bathroom. It’s steamy and hot from his shower. I brush my teeth, wash my face, and fix my hair.

“Are we getting breakfast?” I call out.

“I don’t really have time,” Adam says.

“Then you shouldn’t have taken so much time in the bathroom.”

He gives me the middle finger. “If you want to wait, I can go with you after.”

“You want me to wait here?” I ask.

“No, I want you to come with me.”

That smile? I keep it to myself. Adam is being shy. It’s best I pick and choose what to call him out on. And admitting he wants me to go with him? That isn’t one of them.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Adam

“I can’t believe I sold my house,” I say, reaching for the shot glass the bartender put in front of me.

“Here’s to selling houses,” Emmet says loudly, raising his glass.

I tap mine to his, and we take the shots. It burns as it goes down, so I chase it with a sip of my Jack and Coke which is less harsh and not nearly as strong as the ones Pete makes.

“I haven’t drank this much in years,” I comment with a shake of my head, which only makes me feel dizzy.

“Why the hell not?”

The alcohol is warming my body from the inside out, and though there isn’t anything to smile about right this second, all I want to do is smile.

“Because I’m fucking boring,” I admit.

“Nah, you’re not boring.”

I nod, grabbing my drink. “I’m definitely boring. A boring, nearly-divorced jobless dad.”

“Hey,” Emmet says harshly, pointing a finger at me. “Some of those things may be true, but you’re not boring. Also… whynearlydivorced?”

“I don’t know.” I rub my forehead. “I haven’t gotten around to it.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to do that? You know, get things in writing?”

“Not if things don’t go in my favor.”

“What do you mean?”