Page 99 of Now or Never

Adam rolled his eyes. “Max agrees with me,” he said, pointing across the room as Max stepped back into the doors.

His dad slowly tipped his head toward Max, who’d crossed his arms in front of his barrel chest. “What?” he said in an icy voice.

Max stared back, unintimidated. “What?”

“You don’t think my son should be with the person he loves?”

Max glanced at Adam, his brows drawn, then shrugged. “Adam has a good point. Is it really responsible to start a family when you know you don’t have that long to live?”

“That is the most ridiculous—”

“It’s his life and this is how he feels,” Max said in a cold, inflexible voice. “I grew up without my dad, so I can see where he’s coming from. I support his decision not to get involved with someone who has a kid.”

“Ohhhhh,” said Antonio, making all eyes turn to him. “Sorry, I just realized that your tier ranking actuallyisright. Your tier oneisa tier one. You just won’t let yourself have them.”

“Ranking?” Denise said, dripping disappointment and shaking her head. “Oh, Adam.”

His dad ignored all this, seemingly stuck on the “not marrying someone” business.

“You can’t seriously think that marrying someone is wrong, Adam. When I married your mother, she was in perfect health.We lost her too soon, but I wouldn’t trade those years with her for anything.”

Adam shook his head and laughed without humour. “Oh, really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Bullshit.”

His father’s face hardened. “Excuse me?”

“You are still totally fucked up about losing mom. You won’t even come to the house.”

Another silence stretched, with his eyes locked on his father’s, until Denise broke the silence. “I’m going to let you guys talk alone,” Denise said.

Adam immediately regretted everything he’d just said. “Sorry, Denise. I didn’t mean to—”

She pulled him into a hug, cutting him off. “I married your father because I love you both, and I’m incredibly happy with my life. Remember that,” she said. She patted his dad’s shoulder, then walked out of the room.

His dad rubbed his hands down his face. “You stopped going to therapy, didn’t you?”

Adam rolled his eyes. “Lots of people don’t get married. I don’t need that.”

“But it’s what you’ve always wanted.”

“Not anymore. I can have a great life without getting wifed up.”

His dad shook his head. “You know, for someone who’s always going on about how life is meant to be lived, you’re sure leaving a lot on the table. Starting a familyisliving.”

Adam shook his head. “I’m happy.”

“Oh, yeah. You sure look it, too. What about you?” he said, directing his attention to Ethan. “You agree with this?”

Ethan gazed at Adam for a few beats before calmly answering. “No. I don’t agree. But . . .”

“But what?”

“Well, Chelsea is technically my sister-in-law now, and I’m Ben’s uncle. I want what’s best for them, too. She wants a partner, and she deserves that. If Adam refuses to be that for her, then he should let her be.”

They all fell silent, introspective.

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