Page 36 of For the Record
Adam cleared his throat, his breathing picking up again. “Sounds like a plan.”
I started my car and peeled out of the parking lot. “Are you running right now or something?”
“Yes,” he firmly replied with this puff of air behind it.
“Is someone chasing you?”
“No.”
“Then why are you running?” I sneered.
“It’s relaxing. Calms your mind.”
I wondered what kind of things ran through a mind like Adam’s. Other than the basic necessities in life. Did he dream? Think of future goals in work, family, maybe even marriage? Did he think of his siblings, his parents? Maybe even me?
“I prefer a sudoku for things like that.”
I turned on my right signal, heading toward the area of town where my apartment was.
“I remember that.” His throat cleared again. “The time I came to the record store.”
A smile painted over my lips. That was a cute little memory. Stuttering Adam, back when I didn’t even know his name, much less his relation to my best friend and former roommate. A slither of hope had rested in me at the thought of him asking me out. But disappointment settled in the second I saw him and Layla talking. Luke’s brother. Off limits as anything casual. And casual was all I could ever do. But still, I figured he would be a nice guy to look at. Great kisser. I never pictured an actual friendship blossoming out of it.
“Yes, you gave me a heart attack and made me drop it.”
A sarcastic snort came from my phone speaker, widening my smile. “Why did you have it with you at work?”
I shrugged. “I make sure to do two a day. One in the morning and one at night. Keeps your brain young.”
I would be lying if I didn’t admit it was partially because I was terrified of ending up like my dad. Something that was probably not going to happen, considering his doctors traced it back to his military days, taking too many hits at such a young age. But it felt like a comfort to tell myself it was somewhat avoidable either way.
“Hmm.”
A comfortable, familiar silence fell between us. The kind of silence that settled in when I kept him on the phone while running errands or eating dinner. Where neither of us was speaking, but neither had to, either. It was enough to just be living our lives with each other in the background.
As I pulled into the parking garage connected to my complex and parked, I settled into my seat and leaned back. “So, now that we’re besties—”
“No.”
“Amigos, then. Does this mean you’ll look over what Calla and I come up with before I present it to Arthur?”
He fell quiet for a moment, his breathing leveling out and his fast-paced jog seeming to slow into a gentle walk.
“Of course,” he confirmed with his deep, slow, molasses-like voice that gave me goose bumps all over.
Adam didn’t say much, but when he did, he had all the right words. Even if it was a flat out no.
Currently Playing: Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol
***
I loved Adam’s house in the morning.
It was great last night, especially when I asked where Myrtle would have a little cozy warm spot in his kitchen, and he provided me with this perfect little corner cabinet. But this morning was wonderful too.
Waking up to a note on the counter that said Going on a run. Coffee is ready. Just hit button was super cute. As if the man thought I didn’t know how to work a Keurig. Either way, I tucked away his little note as a reminder to leave him one later. To lock house, key goes in deadbolt and turns. It would probably tick him off, but I liked doing that to him here and there. It usually made this one vein in his temple pop out. I saw it very rarely, like an old friend saying hello.
My hands reached to pull Myrtle out of her cozy cabinet. Behind her were her favorite flour and a bottle of whiskey that cast a soft golden glow against the glass of her jar.