Page 44 of To Love You

“Then come back here,” he said again. “You know Grant used to live in New York, too. Right?”

“Yeah,” Wyatt said sharply. “He told me.”

“He’s happy here now.”

“Dad, I make a lot of money in the city. I wouldn’t even come close there,” Wyatt said.

“You wouldn’t need to. You could probablybuya house for less than whatever you’re paying to rent a closet in the city.”

Wyatt muttered something under his breath that Adam knew was confirmation or agreement, even though he’d never say it out loud.

“You can stay with me if you want. Not forever, but for a while.”

“Dad, I’m almost thirty.”

“And I’m closer to fifty,” Adam reminded him. “I don’t particularly want a roommate, either. But you’re my son, and you always have a place with me.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“That’s a no,” he said.

Wyatt laughed. “It’s not a no. It’s a not now.”

“Well, just so you know, the offer always stands.”

“Can you tell me something else?” Wyatt asked. “How are things going with you?”

“Uhm…good,” he answered, debating how much of his private life to share. “I’m seeing Cooper again actually.”

“Wow, really?”

“It’s new. A few weeks is all.”

“How did that come about?” Wyatt asked, obviously appreciative of the change of subject.

“We ran into each other at a party.”

“North Edgewood isn’t a big place, Dad.” Wyatt snorted again. “I’m sure you’ve run into each other often.”

“Not as much as you would think. He was good at avoiding me.”

“You were good at avoiding him, you mean.”

“We were both good at it,” he settled. “But now we’re not avoiding each other.”

“And it’s going well?”

“So far.”

“That’s good,” Wyatt said. “I’m happy for you. Cooper always seemed like a nice enough guy.”

“He’s a better man than me,” Adam said.

“Most men are.”

“Hey!” he protested, feigning insult.

Wyatt laughed, and the tightness in Adam’s chest finally loosened. It wasn’t that he wanted Wyatt to fake it around him, but he wanted there to be light in his son’s darkness. And if poking fun at Adam’s character brought that around, he would take it.