Read Online Davis, Liz - Slivers of Moonlight (Siren Publishing Classic) by Liz Davis - Free Book Online

twice in a lifetime, if you were really lucky.
    As she set the card back down on the counter, she realized there was something greasy on the tips of her fingers, and as she looked down at them, she saw there were black smudges there. She figured he must have been working at the garage on the evening he’d towed her car because the front of the business card was all smudged with oil. Feeling a twinge of sadness, she rubbed the tips of her fingers together, dissolving the oily smudges into her skin. She didn’t know why she was pining for him so badly. They’d only known each for four days, and here she was acting like a lovesick fool. He hadn’t even been inside of her apartment, and yet there were vestiges of him here, reminding her of their short-lived time together.
    Tossing the card aside, she got up from the table and walked over to the sink. She poured the remainder of her coffee out and then grabbed her purse and house keys. As she was passing by the table, her eyes were once again drawn to Evan’s business card, and she felt an irresistible urge to pick it up. Although she felt silly doing it, she brought the card up to her nose and took a deep inhale. As the scent of WD-40 entered her nostrils, she briefly closed her eyes and thought of him. Then she opened her lids once again, and set the card down. She would always associate that smell with him, and have bittersweet memories of their time together. Releasing a little sigh, she left the house and headed toward her rental car, with the scent of WD-40 still lingering in her nostrils.

    * * * *

    The day had been brutally long, and as Maya entered her apartment, she tossed her keys on the kitchen table and then stepped out of her shoes. After grabbing a soda from the fridge, she plopped down on the couch and began flipping through TV stations. She spent a few minutes channel surfing before finally settling on a classic old movie. As a melodic ringtone filled the air, Maya gave her phone a look of annoyance and thought about whether or not she should answer it. She really didn’t feel like being bothered right now, but she supposed she could at least glance at the display screen to see if it was someone she wanted to talk to. When she picked up the phone, she saw that the number belonged to her friend Amhara, so she hit the call answer button and offered a greeting.
    “Hey, girl, what’s up?”
    “Hey, sis, do you have anything going on tonight?”
    Amhara, who was a beautiful Ethiopian girl, always called Maya “sis.” From the very first day they’d met, it seemed they had a special bond, and the friendship they shared was nothing short of rock-solid. “The only thing I’m doing tonight is watching a movie. Why?”
    “I was thinking about going out to a club. Think you might wanna come along?”
    “No thanks, I’ll pass.”
    “Come on, Maya. You need to get out of that apartment and have some fun.”
    “Sorry, but I’m really not in the mood. I’d rather just be alone tonight.”
    “Sitting at home on a Friday night feeling sorry for yourself? Hmmm, sounds like Dylan’s been screwing you over again. When are you going to get rid of him?”
    “This isn’t about Dylan.”
    “You met someone else?”
    “Yes, but it’s already over, so please don’t start grilling me with questions, all right?”
    “Oh, okay. Well, can I at least ask what happened?”
    Still feeling dejected, Maya struggled to keep her voice from wavering. “It’s a long story.”
    “I’ve got time.”
    “I really don’t feel like talking about it.”
    “Okay, I won’t press you, then. But hey, the best way to get your mind off of one guy is to find another. So get your butt up off the couch and let’s go clubbing.”
    “Amhara, you know I don’t do clubs. I hate being in crowded places with loud music.”
    “Oh really? Then why did you go to that rock concert with me last month?”
    “That was different. We went to see the Rolling Stones. No one turns down a free