Page 24 of Now or Never

Her eyes went wide. “Like the Internet company?” she asked, voice high.

Adam nodded.

“I didn’t know Hartley was a name.”

“My great-grandfather started the business. It grew over the years into what it is today.”

Chelsea looked around, trying to connect the dots. “So . . . but . . . why do you live here? And build houses? And drive a rusty old truck?”

Adam didn’t really enjoy telling too many people about his mother’s family, but he didn’t really see a way out of it. Plus, they were friends now, and friends share things. And he had every intention of finding out about Jasper. It was only fair.

“My mother bought a piece of property on the lake and hired my dad to build her dream beach house back in the eighties. Eventually, they fell in love and had me,” he said with a shrug.

“Eventually?”

Adam smiled. “Well, that’s how the story goes. My dad grew up pretty poor. He taught himself everything he knows, started his company, Vale Construction, from the ground up. He’s very proud to be self made. And my mom was an overprivilegedprincess with sky-high expectations for her house. It took a while for them to like each other.”

“Oh,” Chelsea said. “So they had you and stayed here in Mapleton.”

Adam nodded. “My dad felt strongly about me growing up ‘normal.’”

Chelsea laughed. “You’re not normal.”

Adam couldn’t help the smile. “No?”

She shook her pretty head. “Normal people don’t clear their throat and get whatever they want.”

Adam feigned offence. “I did that for you.”

“I know,” she said, tipping her chin down and smiling up at his eyes. “Thank you.”

His natural inclination would be to touch her, brush her hair behind her ear, or kiss her. At least pull her into a hug. But he took a step back instead and shoved his hands into his pockets, wondering why he was being awkward with her. If she were any other female friend, he wouldn’t have thought twice.

Well, okay, his only other female friend was Amy. And she was more like a sister.

And gay.

And married.

Adam gave his head a shake. “You’re welcome. I told you I’m a good friend to have around. I never claimed to be normal.”

Chelsea laughed. “At least you’re honest. I still don’t get how Lillian knows you, if you grew up in Mapleton, and you’re not involved with the company.”

Adam schooled his features into neutral. Hewashonest, but that didn’t mean he had to volunteer information. As much as he hated talking about being a Hartley, he absolutely refused to talk about his past that had sent him running from that spotlight and refusing to return.

“Lillian knows my Uncle David, who runs the company now, and I get recognized because we look alike. But only by certain people who run in those circles. Most people, like you, don’t know us at all. The Hartleys are extremely private. They try not to draw attention to themselves.”

Chelsea nodded. “I see. And what about your parents? Do they still live in the house they built?”

“Uh, no,” Adam said in a shaky voice before clearing his throat. “My mom died when I was thirteen. Pancreatic cancer.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

Adam nodded. He didn’t enjoy dwelling on it. Best to carry on, look for the positives, enjoy what little time you have on Earth. “Thanks. It was a long time ago. I live in their house now.”

“Mansion on the beach. Definitelynotnormal.”

Adam rolled his eyes. “It’s just a beach house. You’re a Monroe living in the biggest mansion in Mapleton. Don’t reverse-snob me.”

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