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Renée sighed. “Don’t you think you should talk to him and just put an end to all this?”
“I’ve told him a million times, and my parents have told him a million times, it’sover,and I don’t want to see him. He’s stalking me. Don’t encourage it.”
I wiped a hand over my lips, my heart skipping a beat. I half-expected to turn around and find Adam in the room, staring at me with those hungry, rageful, possessive eyes. It made me shiver and feel sick at the same time.
“He said he’s not with the girl anymore.”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I don’t care. It’s not even about that.”
“What’s it about then?” Renée said, leaning close and putting an arm around my neck.
“It’s about how I love Daniel, for starters, and also about how Adam ruins everything he touches, and he has ever since I met him. Includingme.”
“Is that fair?”
“Are you really defending him?” I asked, taking a step back. Hurt stabbed through me. “After everything?”
“He looked miserable.” Was that sympathy I saw in Renée’s eyes?
“I don’t care. He madememiserable. We made ourselves miserable. He needs to move on. I have.” I turned on my heel.
In the kitchen I found Daniel, and I wiped the scowl from my face before he saw it. This was supposed to be a party, we were supposed to have fun, and I didn’t want to think about Adam. He wasn’t in my life. Not anymore.
“So, he’s okay?” Daniel was asking Barry as I approached. I realized they weren’t talking about the house anymore. The subject became clear with Barry’s reply.
“He’s still positive, nothing will make that go away, but Luke has him in a better place mentally. Has Peter mentioned noticing a change in him lately?”
Daniel shook his head.
I shrugged. I’d had a few conversations with Minty about his situation, but while he hadn’t outright asked me not to tell Daniel about the details of them, it’d been implied. So I’d kept it to myself.
Barry frowned. “I didn’t think it was private. He was talking about it at Tilt-a-Whirl the other night, and he’s expected to be here with Luke tonight.”
“Maybe he didn’t feel comfortable talking tomeabout the details of it, then.”
“I don’t know why not,” Barry said.
“Maybe because he thinks I’m judgmental.” Daniel turned to me as I slipped beneath his arm. “We were just talking about Minty. How’s he been at school?”
“Good,” I said, holding on to his arm and tucking myself in closer to his side. “He’s been freaking out about finals, but he hasn’t done any more stunts likeCream My Face. I haven’t seen any indication of that Kyle guy, or anyone else like him, in his life. He doesn’t ever want to talk with me about the diagnosis, though. He and Jennifer—our friend from class,” I explained to Barry, “just talk about shopping and shoes most of the time.”
“Good,” Barry said, nodding. “I’ll let Luke know he seems to be doing well at school too.”
“And Luke is?” I asked, confused.
“The Dom that Barry hooked Minty up with,” Daniel said, sipping his beer.
“Oh, right. His Sir.”
Curiosity had gotten the better of me at the library one day after Minty had confessed some of his situation to me. So, when someone had returned a copy ofStory of O, I’d read it over the afternoon, half-horrified and half-titillated. That was all I knew about the lifestyle.
Barry raised his pierced brow. “Ah, Puker, you’re still so innocent. Stay that way.” Then he walked away to greet some of our library coworkers, and I was left blinking after him.
“Do you think that’s safe?” I asked Daniel as he slipped an arm around my shoulders. “Minty with a Dom?” I knew what Minty said, but I was curious what Daniel thought.
“Barry swears this guy is a good person. Luke likes to keep things safe and sane and makes sure to get consent for everything.” Daniel sighed. “Minty isn’t open with me anymore.”
I hugged him. “He’s missing out then.”
