Page 9 of To Love You

Grant’s eyebrows went up and he finished the rest of his drink. “Are you going to?”

“It’s a long way.”

“I like the city,” Grant said with a shrug. He stood up and brushed past Adam into the kitchen to throw away the can. “I miss it.”

“You can go visit him, then.” Adam laughed.

Grant choked. “He’s your kid.”

“Yeah, but you’re the one with city experience.”

“Wyatt has city experience,” Grant said, clearing his throat. “He doesn’t need me.”

“You and he got along fine when he was younger,” Adam remembered.

“He was a kid,” Grant said. “I was doing you a favor.”

Adam scrubbed a hand down his face and reached for the light switch. “Anyway. Areyougoing to play tonight?”

“If Devon is pushy enough, I might.”

“He’s very pushy. And you know he’s going to pull the birthday card on you.”

Grant rolled his eyes. “I know.”

“Maybe Robin will be there?”

“I haven’t slept with Robin in well over a year,” Grant lamented.

“Break the dry spell,” he laughed.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a menace?” Grant snatched Adam’s bag from the floor and carried it toward the front door. “I don’t need you to plan my hookups for me.”

“But it’s fun.”

“I’ll find Robin if you find Cooper,” Grant said.

Adam stumbled over his feet. “Cooper doesn’t want anything to do with me. And even if he did, I doubt he would be there. He’s been avoiding Devon’s house as much as he can.”

“He’s been avoiding you,” Grant corrected. “For nearly ten years, believe me, I know.”

“Are you counting?” Adam reached the door and twisted the knob, pushing it open and shoving Grant onto the porch.

“Just commentating.”

“There’s nothing between me and Cooper,” he said.

“Okay.” Grant gave him a disbelieving look, but shrugged and carried the duffel bag down to the car.

“Okay?”

“If you say so.”

Adam unlocked his car and Grant tossed the bag into the backseat. He listened to the wooden paddles clatter against the metal attachments on his long-unused wrist cuffs and bit back a groan.

It had been too long since he’d played.

Too long since he’d trusted.