Page 83 of For the Cameras

I tapped out another text to him, pushing past the pounding of my heart.

Adam Richardsen: Well, I happen to have all the makings for s’mores and a very comfortable couch, if you want to come over and get rid of your boredom.

It was so far out of my comfort zone. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d extended an invitation for someone to casually come over. It was such a simple thing for so many people, but for me, it was huge.

I was sure Chase would say no. But I’d asked.

When my phone buzzed again, something leapt in my throat.

Chase Blau: S’mores… salsa?

I laughed so hard, relieving any tension that had built up.

Adam Richardsen: I hate you. Not s’mores salsa. The old school, real deal.

Chase Blau: Now we’re talkin’. I’ll come over.

It was as simple as that.

All of the uncertainty that had bubbled up in me after Chase left earlier this afternoon was erased in a moment, just because I’d had the courage to ask him to come over.

The courage to tell him how I was really feeling.

To tell him that Iwantedhim.

Adam Richardsen: Front door’s open for you. Any time.

Chase Blau: I’ll admit, I was secretly just wanting to be back there with you since I left earlier, anyway. I’ll be over in an hour.

21

CHASE

“I think we may be about to get in a fight,” I told Adam, plopping down onto his couch next to him. I put down the bowl of popcorn I’d brought in from the microwave and set it alongside some fresh-cut watermelon.

Adam grinned at me, leaning forward on the couch. “I’ll fight you any day about Batman and Superman.”

“How can you think Superman is boring?” I asked him, giving him a look like he was out of his mind.

The new Batman movie was paused on the big TV screen in front of us. We hadn’t started playing it yet. I’d been over at Adam’s place for about twenty minutes, but when I’d heard him say that Superman was boring compared to Batman, I knew I had to have averyserious talk with him.

I popped a piece of cold watermelon in my mouth as Adam formulated his thoughts.

“I just don’t know what Superman’s actualproblemsare,” Adam finally said. “Batman is so flawed, but Superman is so perfect.”

“No way in hell,” I said, shaking my head. “First of all, he has just as much childhood trauma. Ripped away from his planet at a young age.”

“Not quite as intense as Batman’s childhood trauma, but okay,” Adam said, and I reached over to playfully shove him.

“Superman’s whole appeal is that he feels like an alien,” I said. “Heisan alien, even if he looks human. I love that his whole story is that he’s trying to figure out what it means to feel human. To fit in, even though he’s so different. To fall in love.”

Adam’s face softened, and he considered it. “I’ve never thought about it quite like that. It’s kind of beautiful.”

Your face is kind of beautiful, I thought silently. I felt warm inside, being next to him. I loved the way he looked when he was comfortable, and it felt like some sort of small miracle that he actually seemed that comfortable having me here. He was relaxed on the couch, smiling and bantering with me like we’d known each other for years.

Compared to the Adam I’d seen on the first day I met him, this man was a different person entirely.

And I was secretly so fucking glad he’d wanted me to come back over.