Page 21 of Past Lovers

You know you love someone when you can’t hate them for breaking your heart.

Tossing it into the center console, he turned on the engine before heading back to Hayden’s couch.

Chapter Seven

Saturday morning…

While Clay appreciated a full night’s sleep without the noise, the fact Hayden hadn’t come home the night before worried him. He’d sent a few texts and found out the guy had spent the night on Jesse’s couch. He was thankful to hear the news—he’d already been worried about the amount of partying Hayden had been up to in the past weeks. After staying with the guy, that worry had elevated a notch.

A couple hours after that text, Hayden came home hungover and looking like shit. He didn’t smell much better. Clay looked up from the apartment search he was in the middle of and eyed Hayden.

Why he was even bothering looking for an apartment when he might not have a job in a couple of weeks was beyond him.

“Another hard night?”

Hayden mumbled something incoherent under his breath as he passed.

“You’re pushing yourself mighty hard. Aren’t you tired? I’m tired just watching you.”

Hayden smiled slightly. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

“There’s no reason to drink yourself into an early grave, man.” Clay shook his head. “And that chick you’ve been with? Delilah? What’s that about?”

“I have an open-door policy,” Hayden said. “I’m anequal opportunitylover.”

“More like you’ve already gone through all the eligible females in your age range and you’ve had to move on to others.”

Hayden chuckled. “Maybe. Older women are wild, I’ve learned.”

“You need to slow down. Seriously.”

Hayden waved him off. “I’m good, man.” He poured himself some coffee from the pot Clay had made earlier that morning. “What’s the deal with you and Adam?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“Oh, so you can dive into my personal bullshit but yours is off-limits?”

“Yeah,” Clay said. “Especially when your bullshit is getting dangerous.”

“Adam’s your best friend. I saw the way you two looked at one another last night. You saw red. What in the hell did he do to make you look like that?”

Clay wasn’t going there. “He did something I can’t forgive.”

Hayden leaned in the doorway and scratched his scraggly beard. “Fucked an old girlfriend?”

“No.”

Hayden’s eyes narrowed. He was silent as he drank from his cup. “But I think I’m close.” He took another sip from his cup, staring at Clay over the rim. “Fucked someone in your family? Fucked someone you liked?”

Clay gave him the finger.

“Fucked Melanie.”

Clay’s jaw set.

“Oh my god… he fuckedher?” Hayden asked. “Oh shit… what in the hell was he thinking? I wouldn’t have even gone there.”

“I didn’t say he did. You’re the one with the mind in the gutter.”

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