Page 1 of Past Lovers

Chapter One

The beginning of senior year…

“I see another summer of practice hasn’t helped your hand-eye coordination one bit,” Clay murmured as his fingers moved over the controller.

“Is that all you do when you’re home? Play video games?” Adam asked, the living quarters dark except for the light coming from the screen. He stared at the screen, seated beside his quad mate Clay, trying his best to defeat his rival. He and Clay had spent many an hour in front of the TV, battling for supremacy instead of studying, so maybe it wasn’t as good a thing.

He always had Benji to help tutor him.

He’d lucked out his first year and shared a quad with Clay, as well as Jesse and Hayden. Now all four of them had gotten a larger senior apartment to share on campus.

Clay shrugged. “I work for my dad each day during breaks—but the nights? I’m from Bumfuck, man. Out in the middle of nowhere. It’s fuck, get drunk or high out in the middle of a cornfield, or play video games. While I’m not against the occasional foray into the middle two, that first one can be a problem.”

“Getting ass is a problem? I’ve never seen you have an issue here,” Adam said without looking away from the screen. He snuck a glance, eyeing Clay in profile before looking back.

Clay’s character got in a good swing before he continued. “Getting itisn’tthe problem. It’s gettingridof it that’s the issue. And since my county has the highest rates of teenage pregnancy and venereal disease in the state, I’m careful who I stick my wick into.”

“Ugh,” Adam winced. “Double bagging it would cover you. Literally.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them. He didn’t want to think about Clay fucking someone. He wasn’t sure why… but he felt uncomfortable discussing sex with his best friend.

Clay chuckled. “Yeah, but then the good ones want to get all clingy and try to talk you into putting a ring on it. Safer to hang out at home, masturbating and playing video games.”

Adam looked down at his controller for a second. “Please tell me you wash your hands before grabbing these.”

Clay chuckled. “Sometimes.”

Adam wrinkled his nose. “For that, I’m about to stomp your ass,” he said, confident he’d do just that. Things started off great. He got in two power moves and took almost a quarter of Clay’s character’s life…

And then the tide turned.

Clay went on the attack and killed him within seconds. “As I said…”

“Damnit,” Adam cried, tossing the controller to the floor. “I don’t know why I bother playing with you.” He rose and crossed the small living space, heading for the small kitchenette.

“Don’t be like that,” Clay said. “Play me again and I’ll let you win.”

Adam frowned and looked over his shoulder as he swung the refrigerator door open. “Letme win? Asshole.” He turned back to the fridge and peered inside.

Half-empty pizza boxes and beer. Dinnerandbreakfast of champions. School had only started a couple of weeks before, and he was already over pizza and beer. “Let’s go grab some food somewhere. Maybe get a drink or two.”

It was Clay’s turn to wrinkle his nose. He could be the biggest homebody Adam had ever met. In past months, Adam wasn’t much better. He’d partied himself to death his senior year of high school and nearly lost his baseball scholarship. When things had gotten a little too wild near the end of his freshman year, too, his coach and parents had dropped the hammer on him.

Since, he’d spent much of his time hanging out with Clay or studying—or both.

“I need more than cold pizza and beer,” Adam added, shutting the fridge.

Clay turned and smiled. “Order a fresh one. Then you can havehotpizza and beer.”

“Seriously, dude. You’re the introvert of introverts.”

“I have no energy topeopletonight.”

A knock came to their door seconds later, and Adam walked over as Clay started a new game.

He swung the door open and saw Clay’s favorite person leaning on the frame. “Hiya, hot stuff.”

Melanie rolled her eyes at Adam. “Is he here?”

“No hello? No how was your summer? You haven’t seen me in months,” Adam said.

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