Page 24 of Past Lovers

Clay was silent a moment. “When?”

Adam closed his eyes, knowing there was no better time than the present. “Now?”

“I’ll be there in twenty,” Clay murmured before the line went dead.

Twenty minutes felt like two hours passing. He paced up and down the hallway, waiting for the knock on the door.

He checked the clock over and over again…

What if he doesn’t come?

When the knock finally did arrive, he nearly jumped out of his skin. Stomach in knots, he crossed the few steps and opened the door.

Clay stood there, looking as tired as he felt.

“Come in.”

Clay entered silently and followed Adam into the kitchen.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

Clay shook his head. “Just tell me what you want to say.”

Adam paused, not sure how the story would be taken. “That night… it wasn’t just me and Melanie.”

Clay was silent.

“It was us, too.”

Clay didn’t say anything. He just stared at Adam.

“We had sex that night… and Melanie was there… and… and…”

Clay withdrew a cell phone from his pocket and tossed it onto the island. “Melanie had a video of that night… we were so wasted, we didn’t notice. She set her phone on my dresser and recorded the whole thing.” Clay scrubbed a hand over his face. “And she used it to put a leash on me.”

“What? Youknew?” Adam asked.

“Of course I knew. You think I was so blitzed I didn’t remember?”

“Well… you never said anything, so I assumed you didn’t.”

“Melanie told me to keep my mouth closed… or else. She threatened to post it online. Said we’d both be laughingstocks—that the world would see everything—and that you’d never forgive me.” Clay eyed him.

“That would’ve been her fault. Not yours.”

He knew… all this time… he knew…

“I was the one who hit on you that night,” Clay said. “She knew I had a thing for you. And she said she’d tell you I’d set the whole thing up, video and all—when I hadn’t. I couldn’t have you thinking I’d do something like that. So I let her twist me up in knots.”

She knew I had a thing for you.

Adam stared at Clay, shocked down to his toes. “She still has this video?”

“Mel said that’s the only copy, there on that phone. She gave it to me along with my walking papers. Said I was free.”

Adam stared at the phone, feeling half sick.

“I wanted to talk to you after that night. To make sure you were okay—but you seemed so freaked out, I wasn’t sure what to say at first. In the light of day, sober, I was scared you’d run.” He paused. “And then when Melanie showed me the video…” Clay nudged the phone with a long finger. “She told me you were off limits. I was hers and hers alone. Melanie was jealous of you. Always had been.” Clay lifted his stare. “She knew what you meant to me. I stupidly told her one night… I never should have.”

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