Adam isn’t expecting visitors. Which is why he shoos Frankie away to the kitchen and opens the door to whomever it is that’s already made it past the gate. It has to be someone he knows, but that doesn’t mean it’s anyone he wants to see.
Carson.
He can deal with Carson.
Adam hugs him briefly; it’s a Sunday, he’s been doing absolutely nothing, and he certainly wasn’t expecting any company other than the dog.
He’s holding up his phone. “I would have called you, but I don’t trust you to do what I’m about to make you do.” Adam frowns, confused as Carson goes on. “Get me a laptop.”
Adam doesn’t question it as he grabs one from the living room and follows Carson through to the kitchen. He sets it on the counter and watches over Carson’s shoulder as he opens the thing up and sets about clicking on the blue iTunes icon.
And then he begins typing in the search field, Blake Shelt-. Adam slams the lid of the machine shut.
“Carson. Don’t.”
Carson shakes his head, looks Adam in the eye while simultaneously brushing his hand off the laptop. Adam doesn’t resist, not really. “Trust me, Adam. Just listen to four songs, and then I swear to God I’ll leave you alone.”
“Why?”
“Let the music do the explaining.” Adam nods, waits patiently as he watches Carson download a brand new Blake Shelton album. It hasn’t even got any artwork. It’s an EP, all of the songs covers, and it’s a free download. Life After You, is the name of the album, and the name of the first song. It’s by Daughtry, Adam knows that much, but past that, he’s not all that familiar with it.
Carson clicks back to the library and then gets out of his seat. “Hook it up to some speakers, and listen to it, alright? All four songs, and listen to the lyrics. Promise me you’re gonna do it.”
Adam nods semi-reluctantly. “I’ll do it.”
Carson lets himself out.
Adam plugs the laptop into the surround sound and clicks on the first song, letting Blake’s voice fill the room. It’s acoustic, unedited, no autotune. Blake doesn’t need it, and he sounds better than Adam has heard him since-. Ever.
Ten miles from town and I just broke down
Spittin' out smoke on the side of the road
I'm out here alone just tryin' to get home
To tell you I was wrong but you already know
Believe me I won't stop at nothin'
To see you so I've started runnin'
All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
As long as I'm laughing with you
I'm thinkin' that all that still matters is love ever after
After the life we've been through
'Cause I know there's no life after you
Last time we talked, the night that I walked
Burns like an iron in the back of my mind
I must've been high to say you and I
Weren't meant to be and just wasting my time
