Page 85 of Now or Never

“And now you hate yourself.”

“Yup.”

“Was she upset when you told her you weren’t coming to Ben’s party?”

He closed his eyes, feeling like fifty pounds of shit. “I didn’t tell her.”

“You ghosted?”

Adam nodded.

“Well, that probably did it then,” Max said, standing and gathering up his empties.

“Did what?”

“Ended things. It was a dick move, but it’s still better than keeping her on the hook forever.”

“Ended.” He wanted to cry and puke.

Max grabbed all the empty bottles easily in his two hands, popped them into the box they’d come out of, then grabbed Adam by the arm, hauling him up.

“She’ll forgive you eventually, and you guys can be frie— No, you’re not capable of being friends with her. You can be acquaintances. Right now, I need you to pull yourself together.”

“I can’t be her acquaintance,” he said, letting Max drag him up to standing. “She’s perfection. God queen of the first tier.”

Max blew out a breath. “It’s just the beer talking. The building inspector is meeting us at the pub in thirty minutes to sign off on the work so far. I need you to charm her.”

He threw Adam’s arm around his shoulders, started walking.

“It’s not the beer,” he said, letting Max lead him off the boat and down the dock. “My dad called. Roger got the all-clear from his surgeon, so I won’t be at Ethan’s build anymore.”

“That’s good news. You’ll have more time for the pub. As soon as we pass this inspection, we can finish the kitchen and the brewery.”

Adam nodded. “Maybe you’re right. I heard from the brewer in Churchill. We have an interview set up in two weeks.”

Max nodded, still walking. “Great news.”

Adam walked in silence to Max’s car. Max wrenched open the passenger side, started shoving Adam in cop-style, with his hand on Adam’s head.

Adam stopped. “I really love her.”

Max’s sharp features softened as the hardened mask he constantly wore slipped. “I know. But if you have no intentionsof being with her for real, you need to let her go. It isn’t right to fuck around with single moms.”

Adam nodded. “You’re right.”

“Unless,” Max said, waiting. Adam looked at him. “Unless you’ve changed your mind about relationships?”

Adam shook his head. “How could I?’

Max nodded blankly. “Just talk to her once you’re fully sober, and set it right. Then keep some distance until she moves on.”

Adam stared off into the distance. “She’s going to move on.”

“Yup,” Max said, slamming the door. Two seconds later, he was behind the steering wheel, turning over the engine. “And so will you.”

Adam buckled his seat belt, shaking his head as he watched a couple with a picnic basket walking hand in hand to their boat.

He seriously doubted that he’d move on. But he could definitely pretend he had, for her sake.

---