Dirty Laundry: A Tucker Springs Novel #3

finally arrived at the green lab door marking his journey’s end, he was a ball of nervous sweat. Schooling his expression, he went inside, determined to be easy and light.
    He came face-to-face with a tall, lanky young man with olive skin and tight curly hair. The boy’s nostrils flared at the sight of Denver. “Can I help you?” he demanded in a tone that made it quite clear he had no intention of helping Denver in any way at all.
    Even with his hands full of takeout and a cell phone, Denver could have snapped the guy in half without a moment’s thought, but still he felt himself cringe inwardly. “Looking for Adam Ellery.”
    The man softened slightly. “Oh. I had no idea Thai Kitchen had started delivery service.” He pulled out a wallet. “How much?”
    Jesus H. “Uh.” Denver glanced down at the bags in his hands as if they might contain a way out of this conversation. “Paid for already. He in here?”
    The dark-haired man rolled his eyes and held out his hands. “I’ll take them to him.”
    Whether it was one push too far or what, Denver couldn’t be sure, but whatever it was, he pulled the bags out of the boy’s reach and treated him to the look he saved for guys with pathetically obvious fake IDs. “Adam?” he called out a little louder. “You in here, babe?”
    It was a particular pleasure to see his tormentor’s eyes go wide and his mouth gape open at babe , but it wasn’t anything compared to Adam himself coming around the corner. Denver had just enough time to realize Adam might be embarrassed to be seen with him before Adam beamed, transforming from a harried ball of nerves to a blushing beauty at the sight of Denver.
    “Oh, hi! Sorry, I’d been watching for you but got caught up in something. Come on back.”
    The dark-haired guy appeared to be choking on his own tongue. “ Adam . Is this some kind of joke? Are you trying to prove some kind of point?”
    Adam instantly went back to harried and upset. “What are you talking about, Brad? I’m not joking. I’m eating dinner. And I thought you said forty-five minutes ago you were leaving.”
    Brad aimed a finger at Denver. “That. That is a joke.”
    Before Denver could even think how to react, Adam went red-faced. “Oh my God. Brad, get out. Seriously, get the fuck out of here.”
    “ He called you babe .”
    Denver raised his eyebrows at Adam, who appeared to be discovering new levels of mortification. When his torment seemed to be getting the better of him, Denver decided it was time to step in. “You jealous, sweetheart?”
    It really was a pleasure to watch Brad sputter, but Adam clearly wasn’t much happier. Denver started to wonder if Adam was embarrassed because of Denver or Brad. Maybe he’d do better to get out of there. “Food’s getting cold. Show me where to put it down.”
    “Brad, get out ,” Adam demanded, ignoring Denver.
    Brad grumbled, turned on his heel so sharply it was almost comical, and left in a flurry of muttering.
    “I’m so sorry,” Adam said almost in a whisper, his cheeks still burning. “I had no idea he would be such an ass. I can’t believe I ever dated him.”
    “Ah. An ex. Now everything makes sense.”
    “Not just an ex. The ex.” Adam was a study in shades of blushing today; currently he was blotchy scarlet. “He’s the only guy I’ve ever dated or been with, period.”
    Adam had only dated one guy, and it was that jerk? Why the hell that bummed Denver out so badly, he wasn’t quite sure, but it did. A joke to soften the blow seemed to escape him, so he became busy laying out the cartons and to-go flatware. “Did you get your project finished?”
    “Yes, but something about it feels off. I’m turning it in anyway, but I’ll never forgive that server for failing me.” He leaned over the counter, looking at the spread of food with naked lust. “God, I could just put my face in this. I never did get lunch.”
    “Well, dig in,” Denver encouraged, and Adam did.
    He didn’t relax as they ate, though, still looking like a spring ready to go off. “I still can’t believe what an ass Brad was. I’m so sorry.”
    “I take it he doesn’t like it much that you left him.”
    “That’s just it. He broke up with me. Of course, I moved out, which I guess wasn’t supposed to be part of the deal.” His blush crept back up his neck. “Sorry. You don’t need to hear my petty drama.”
    They’d lived together? Denver hated this more every second. “Don’t people