Page 22 of Past Lovers

“Oh, he did. I can see it written all over your face,” Hayden said.

“Let it go,” Clay snapped, returning to his laptop and apartment search.

“When did it happen?” Hayden asked as he plopped down on the couch beside Clay. He pointed to one of the apartment complexes on the screen. “I dated a chick who lives there. You don’t want to rent there.”

“Why? Because you might run into her again?” Clay lifted a brow. “And by date, do you really mean date?” Hayden fucked anything that moved. It actually was amazing he hadn’t been the one to screw Melanie.

Hayden shrugged. “Date, fuck… it’s all the same.”

“No, it’s not,” Clay said. “You ever think about settling down with just one person?”

Hayden’s face got a faraway look. Clay sensed there was someone. Amajorsomeone. “You just got out of a relationship with that harpy of yours. You should be ready to play the field. I could set you up with a couple of fun girls I know. You need to blow off some steam. You sound like an old man.”

“We’re not talking about me here. We’re talking about you. What you’re doing is self-destructive, and you know it.”

Hayden was silent a moment. “I’ve thought about settling down… but only one person would do… and that person is impossible.”

“Who?” Clay asked.

“Nobody you know,” Hayden murmured before taking a sip from his cup. He rose and crossed to his bedroom. “I’m gonna go back to bed and sleep the rest of the day away—especially if I have to listen to your nagging. If I wanted a wife, I’d have one by now.”

Clay sighed as the door closed. Hayden was worrying him. He dug out his phone and made a call to a family friend.

One who specialized in substance abuse.

“Hey, Gillam,” Clay said when the man answered the phone. “I need some advice if you’ve got a minute.”

“Sure,” Gillam said. “Shoot.”

“I have a friend who’s about to crash into a wall. I’m really worried for him.”

“Drugs or alcohol?”

“Far as I know, alcohol… and women.”

“Ah,” Gillam said. “Can you get him into a rehab locally? I can recommend a place or two if you need me to.”

“To be honest, I don’t know if it’s gotten that far—I don’t know. I’ve been staying here a few days and it’s definitely in excess… but only seeing a short period of time, I don’t really know what he needs.”

Gillam was silent a moment. “Maybe you come down to visit me. Maybe talk him into coming down with you. I can see if I can get him to open up a little. Give you some kind of idea how bad things might be.”

Clay grinned. “That’s what I was hoping you might say.”

“I’m free the next few weekends.”

“Great,” Clay said. “I’ll see what I can get planned.”

“You’re staying somewhere other than home, I take it?” Gillam said.

“Yeah, Mel and I are officially done. The gold-digger moved on to someone with actual gold in his pockets.”

“I never understood the two of you together,” Gillam said. “I always saw you with someone else.”

Clay frowned. “Who?”

Gillam chuckled. “Anyone but Melanie.”

Clay laughed.

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