Page 77 of To Love You

“Well, no, but…” Adam sighed. “It was just the vibe.”

“It’s the vibe,” Grant parroted.

“You’re not helping me at all.”

Adam licked his lips, eyes rolling behind his still-closed lids. He supposed he needed to spend some time deciding if he wanted it to be a proposal or just some emotionally-charged conversation like Grant was implying. The thought of marrying Cooper wasn’t horrible, but it felt a little rushed. They’d barely moved in together, and even that was only meant to be temporary. Talking about getting married felt like ten steps ahead of where they should be.

“Do you want to marry him?” Grant asked.

Adam snorted. “I was just thinking about that.”

“If you don’t know, then it’s a no.”

“It’s not that,” he protested, slowly opening his eyes to the room…and the truth. “It just feels rushed. Like it’s out of order.”

“Rushed to whom? You or…”

“Not me,” Adam admitted.

“You do want to marry him, then.”

“I do,” he whispered.

“That’s the part you say to him, not to me.”

“You are proving to be entirely unhelpful.” Adam scrubbed a hand down his face and spun his chair to face the window.

This changed things. It was okay, but it changed things. Adam wanted to be with Cooper. He wanted tomarryCooper.

Shit.

“I have to talk to him,” Adam said.

“I know.”

“Am I too old to get married again?”

“You’re the same age as me,” Grant answered.

“Are you too old to get married?” He smiled and laughed under his breath. They were both in their mid-forties. He knew the answer to this question, too.

“There’s only one person I’d ever marry, Adam, and they don’t want me, so it doesn’t matter.”

“What? How is this the first I’m hearing of this mystery person who has your heart?” Adam tried to think of a time Grant had been involved seriously with anyone for long enough to invoke that kind of comment out of him, but he drew blanks. He already knew Robin was off the table because of their last conversation, but there had to be someone. Maybe it was an old flame from when Grant lived in New York, but Adam thought that was a long time to carry a clearly unrequited torch.

“It’s ancient history. Water under the bridge. Things went weird before and it is what it is.” Grant sounded forlorn. He cleared his throat. “We aren’t talking about me. We’re talking about you, and no, neither of us is too old to get married if we have a willing partner.”

“How does this feel more terrifying than submission?”

“Marriage is a tax break,” Grant said with a laugh. “If you’re committed to building a life with a person, then build a life with them. You don’t need four toasters, a new knife block, and a piece of paper with a notary stamp on it to make it count.”

“That was terribly insightful of you,” he said.

“Yeah, well.” Grant sounded like he didn’t believe the things he’d just said, more that he’d convinced himself they were true.

“I’m going to talk to Cooper about it,” he said.

“Good. Now can I get back to work?” Grant teased.