In the Present Tense by Carrie Pack

Author:Carrie Pack [Pack, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Lgbt, Fiction
ISBN: 9781941530795
Publisher: Interlude Press
Published: 2016-04-27T18:36:13+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

Adam

Friday, June 19, 2020 • 4:25 p.m.

Dumbfounded, Adam stared at his phone. The sun beat down on his neck. It was hot to the point of stinging, and he’d probably be sunburned tomorrow, but he didn’t care. Right now he needed the warmth of the sun to chase away the icy fear that shot through his veins. Miles had hung up so abruptly, Adam couldn’t tell if he was in his adult state of mind. Had Ana really committed him? He sounded so panicked.

“You okay?” Michaela asked. “You look white as a sheet.” She sat next to him on the bench outside their office building. They often sat here on breaks to get warm; she must have been really cold because she was still wearing her sweater, a fuzzy peach thing nearly the same color as her hair.

Shielding his eyes from the sun, Adam turned to face her. “Remember the old friend asking for help?”

“The ‘not-an-ex-boyfriend’ old friend?” A smile was breaking through her serious expression; laugh lines formed around the outer edge of her sunglasses.

“Miles,” Adam supplied. “And yes, he is an ex-boyfriend... from high school. A very long time ago.”

“And he called again asking for help.”

It wasn’t a question but Adam answered it like one. “Yes. He says his wife had him committed.” He glanced back at his phone. The screen was still black, but it felt burning hot in his hand.

“Like to a mental hospital?” Michaela’s eyebrows shot up when he nodded. “Well... you probably shouldn’t get involved in someone else’s marital problems, but you definitely shouldn’t get involved in their mental health emergencies.” Michaela had a knack for pointing out the obvious, but sometimes the finer points were lost on her.

“It’s more complicated than that,” Adam muttered, shifting his phone between his hands.

“It’s more complicated than your ex-boyfriend’s wife had him committed and now he wants your help? Damn.”

Adam didn’t say anything. He just sat there staring at his phone, wondering what the hell he should do.

“Do you need me to cover for you so you can beg off early? Say you ate something that didn’t agree with you?”

Adam checked the time. It was four-thirty.

“No, thanks,” he said. “I can make it. I need time to think anyway. I can’t go off half-cocked.”

Michaela snickered, and Adam couldn’t help but smile. She could turn anything into innuendo and did so frequently.

“Sorry,” she said, trying to keep a straight face. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Nah, thanks.” He stood, ready to go back inside and finish his day when a thought occurred to him. “Actually, could you drive me to Winter Haven?”

“Now?”

“Whenever. I think I should at least go see him.”

“And you want me to drive you?”

Adam shrugged. “Your car is more reliable than mine, and I don’t think I can ask Anthony to borrow his truck.”

“Yeah, I can see how that would be awkward. Um, I think I could go tomorrow?”

“Thank you,” Adam said. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You’re the best.”

“Easy there, Casanova,

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