Page 2 of Past Lovers

“And if I didn’t have to see you ever again,thatwould be great. Is he here or not?” she asked before plowing right past him.

Adam turned to see the living room deserted.

Melanie spun to face him. “I know I heard two voices in here. Where is he?” Without waiting for Adam to answer, she marched over to Clay’s door and tried to open it.

Clay had apparently locked it.

Nonplussed, Melanie cocked a look Adam’s way before pounding on the door. “Clay Armentrout, you get your ass out here right this minute! We need to talk!”

“He’s not here,” Adam murmured, assuming Clay didn’t want to talk to her. He knew they’d broken things off before the summer, but hadn’t realized it had become contentious.

She spun angrily, a fire in her eyes. “I see the fucking video game on and set to two players. I know he’s here. I’m not leaving until he talks to me.”

“Okay, Sherlock.”

Adam sighed, shaking his head as she went back to pounding on Clay’s door. A few seconds later, he felt his phone vibrating. Fishing it from his pocket, he eyeballed the text from Clay.

Downstairs. Grab my shoes & your wallet. You’re buying dinner.

Adam chuckled and moved his fingers over the screen.You’re the one who’s running, not me. Why I gotta pay?

You wanted out.

Adam grinned. After shoving his phone back into his pocket, he turned off the TV. He grabbed his keys and his wallet and turned to a screaming Melanie. “I’ve got to leave. You need to go so I can lock up.”

“I saidI’m not leaving until he talks to me,” Melanie seethed.

Adam carefully pulled out the hidden key to Clay’s room, unlocked the door, and showed her inside. “He’snothere.”

Melanie stormed in and looked under his bed and in the closet before turning to the window. She rushed over and peered outside—and Adam sucked in a breath, hoping Clay wasn’t in plain sight. His heart raced a bit as he waited for her response.

After a moment of her frantic searching, she appeared to relent. Without another word, she stalked out to the front door, slamming it on her way out.

Adam let out a relieved sigh, grabbed a pair of Clay’s Chucks, and then headed for the door. He gave Melanie a moment to get out of sight and then headed down, shoes in hand. Once he was out the front door, his gaze swept over the commons.

“Over here,” a voice whispered.

Adam turned toward the voice and saw Clay hiding behind one of the huge topiaries beside the door. Adam tossed him the shoes and walked closer.

“She’s lingering. Head to Paulie’s and I’ll meet you there in a few. I’m taking the long way. You go past her so she sees you’re alone.”

“The things I do for you.Ishould be getting the free dinner.”

Clay chuckled as he leaned against the brick of the building to shove his foot into one shoe. “Get me away from her and I’ll buy you dinner.”

“Deal,” Adam said before taking the two steps down. He headed out onto the path and scanned the commons for Melanie. It didn’t take more than three steps to see her fuming. She sat on a bench near the building—apparently lying in wait for Clay.

He saluted her as he passed, knowing he’d be dead if looks could kill.

After he’d gotten a ways away, he glanced over his shoulder and saw she was still staking out the building. He was free and headed off to Paulie’s, thankful for her presence for once. He’d get something other than cold pizza for dinner.

Paulie’s Cheesesteaks was hopping when he arrived. The pool tables were both in use, the music coming from the jukebox on full volume, and there were enough coeds to fill an auditorium. After wending through the crowd, he saw a trio depart from a table and slid into one of the newly vacant chairs just before a waitress came over to clear. “Can I get you something?”

“Just a beer for now… I’m waiting on someone for dinner.”

She nodded, taking the empties from the table. “I’ve got Heinie’s on special tonight.”

“I’ll take one,” he said.

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