Page 16 of Past Lovers

“Take care of your shit… find some time to come hang out with your friends,” Jesse said firmly. “We all haven’t been out together in a long time.”

“I said I was busy,” Clay said. “Next time. I’ll catch ya later.”

He clicked off, not feeling like dealing with that shit.

And hating how alone he felt.

* * * *

Later that evening…

After a day spent trying to give Clay a wide berth, avoiding his father, and attempting to get caught up from the day before, Adam was exhausted. Clay had ducked out earlier, allowing him to relax a little. He worked well past close, and was thankfully alone. Day was beginning to turn into night, the moon and stars visible out his office window. Finally, he was nearly caught up and ready to go home.

Alone.

If only I’d been able to keep my mouth shut.

Adam’s cell rang. He lifted it from the desk to see it was Jesse. He clicked the Call button and lifted it to his ear. “Hey, man… sorry about yesterday. I was out of it.”

“Come out to guys’ night and make it up to me,” Jesse said from the other end.

Guys’ night? Clay would likely be there. He wouldn’t cause drama. “Can’t go. Sorry.”

“I didn’t say when.”

Adam sighed.

“Clay won’t be there,” Jesse said. “So you can come.”

“What have you heard?”

“Nothing, but I guessed,” Jesse said. “And you just sort of confirmed it, I think. What happened?”

“I didn’t confirm anything. You guessed wrong,” Adam lied. There was no way he was going into what he and Clay did with anyone else.

“Okay then… either way, you need a night out. We’re going to do dinner and drinks after.”

Adam winced. The thought of drinks curdled his stomach.Doesn’t mean Ihaveto drink.

Jesse prodded. “Come on, man… we haven’t all gone out in ages.”

He’d already ruined one friendship. No reason to push everyone else away, even if he did feel like shit. And if Clay wasn’t going to be there… “When and where?”

“Friday night,” Jesse said. “I’ll text you the details.”

“Alright. Hasta luego.”

He ended the call and tossed his cell to the desk before leaning back in his office chair. He had four good friends… and now he risked losing them all because of a bad choice he’d made years ago. If Clay told them what he’d done…

* * * *

“Hey, Clay,” Benji’s voice called from the other end of the line. “How’re you doing?”

“Been better,” Clay answered as he lay across Hayden’s couch. Hayden and some chick were banging in the bedroom. Loudly. He was already regretting leaving Adam’s.

As if I had a choice.

He splayed a hand over his pocket, feeling the item lodged in there…

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