Expiration Date Read Online Free PDF Page B

temporary visitation agreement, he’ll be with me most of August.”
    “He’ll love it. Just wait till he eats his first Finnish funnel cake. Or an
aebelskiver
with powdered sugar. Those’re the best.”
    Clay’s eyes turned glassy with nostalgia.
    “Listen,” she said, “you can’t let one person’s opinion define who you are. Sometimes things just don’t work out.”
    “It’s not that,” he said a little too quickly. “It just doesn’t make sense. I mean, up till last October, Jenni was still writing me little love notes.”
    “How sweet.”
    “She even carved our names into a pumpkin.”
    “Sounds adorable.”
    “With a capital A.” He swayed, then hugged the post.
“A
as in ‘All the Way Out in Wyoming.’ ”
    “Is she still there?”
    “It’s where Jason was born. He’s nine now. Good little ballplayer.” Clay rubbed his forehead. “The sheriff served me papers on December 18. ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Ryker. Ho-ho-ho.’ Here’s the thing, Summer. I’m a guy, so I admit I don’t have relationships all figured out.” He plopped down on the wooden steps. “But it doesn’t make sense. Even my therapist can’t pinpoint where things went wrong.”
    “Have you told the therapist everything?”
    “Whaddya mean?”
    “Have you held anything back?”
    He tried to level his chin, to look her in the eyes. “Why’re you asking?”
    “We all have histories, don’t we? Our dirty little secrets.”
    With his fist, Clay covered a burp, then lowered his head.
    Summer had to ask. “Clay? How many beers have you had?”
    “A.”
    “Eight?”
    “A,” he repeated. “As in ‘All of Them.’ ”
    She tried to join in with his raspy laughter, but she could think only of Mylisha and Jenni. To take advantage of this good and lonely man before her would be to encroach on others’ territory. An empty victory at best.
    See, Mylisha, my world doesn’t revolve around every guy I meet
.
    As for the other thing Summer wanted to tell him? Maybe she should pass it on and let Mylisha become the bearer of secrets, since Mylisha also had been scarred by the injustice. She owed that much to her friend.
    “Pathetic, isn’t it?” Clay commented. “I don’t even like Miller Lite. Can’t even have a pity party the right way.”
    “Pity party? Whoever put that idea in your head?” Summer turned so that the moonlight could play along her lip gloss. She’d let Clay enjoy the view at least. “You have every right to think about yourself a little. Work it, baby, work it.”
    “That’s right.” He slapped his hand onto the rail and pulled himself back up. “So you wanna go into town? Maybe shoot some pool?”
    “I’d
love
to, Clay, but I can’t. No matter how much I’d like to say yes.”
    He cocked his head as though her answer hadn’t registered.
    “I can’t,” she reiterated. “Not tonight.”
    “Gonna tell me why? It’s an innocent request, you know.”
    “I know it is. It’s Mylisha I’m thinking of. She’s missed you and hasn’t even been serious with anyone else since you left. She should be the one to share a night out with you. Am I wrong?” Summer slipped a hand into his and squeezed.
    He flinched. Jerked away.
    The reaction made something inside her hurt. “I shouldn’t have come,” she said. Turning her face up to his, she was caught by his dark green eyes, dilated and full of fear. “Clay, are you all right?”
    He wobbled.
    “What happened? You feeling sick?”
    “No.” He scrubbed his hand on his jeans. “Nope, I’m fine.”
    “You want me to help you back inside?” She reached for him.
    “Stay back! I can do it myself.”
    “Okay, I’m sorry. I was only trying to … I didn’t mean anything by it. You’re right anyway. It’s getting late, and I should head back. Thanks for talking, Clay.”
    “You betcha.”
    “You know, maybe I could take a rain check.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I might have some free time in the next week or