Page 17 of Splintered Hearts

Okay, I can do this. I look hot. Hunter’s friends aren’t dicks. Checking myself one more time, I see Mark kiss Hunter in the mirror.

“Gross!”

“Jealous.” Mark flips me off and kisses him again.

“I am jealous of no man who chooses to be inside you.”

“Fuck you.”

“Not anymore. Never again. No matter how much you inevitably beg me.”

“Enough. Stop saying Mark’s gross.” Hunter grabs him around the waist. “It’s not true.” I open my mouth, snapping it shut at the spicy look he gives me. “Good boy.”

Oh.

Oh, damn. “You hear that, Mark?” Sticking my tongue between my teeth, I wink. “Praise me again, Puck Daddy.”

Hunter shuts his eyes for three patience-grabbing breaths. “Your friend is an idiot.

Sliding into the back of Hunter’s jeep, I start to get excited. “Is your friend single? Queer? Questioning? Daring to dip a toe in the penis pond? Maybe I’ll see how much of my confidence my father beat out of me.”

“No, you won’t,” Mark says firmly.

“I think that’s up to the man and his penis, Mark. Rude.”

“You are not hooking up with any of Hunter’s friends.”

“Aw.” I sit up between the seats. “You jealous? I’d still be hung up on me too.”

Hunter shakes his head. “Stop it.” Mark pushes me back between the seats.

Hunter adds. “Remember Sawyer? He’ll be there.”

Thinking for a moment, the name registers. “Oh! Bakery booty. Of course I remember him.”

“Bakery boo—never call him that again.” Hunter shakes his head.

“I’m calling him that the second we see him,” Mark mumbles.

“Sawyer’s cute.” Sawyer owned a bakery about thirty minutes from here. “If I remember, though, he’s not my type.”

“If I remember correctly, he turned you down.”

“Exactly. I like men with taste.”

“You know this isn’t a debutant ball? We aren’t selecting a suitor for you, we’re hanging out with some of Hunter’s friends. Keep your dick in your pants,” Mark warns.

Leaning between the seats again, I look at Hunter, who’s trying hard to focus on the road, not the conversation.

“Listen to your best friend.” Hunter’s eyes meet mine in the rear-view mirror. “And please don’t bangmyfriends.”

“Why?” I fall back against the seat, folding my arms. “What else am I going to do at this party?”

“Act like a normal human being.”

“Ew.”

I lean my head against the cool glass as Hunter and Mark talk without me. My wit has run dry and all the adrenaline I felt earlier tonight is depleting. There are too many things I need to do—find a job, find an apartment. I graduated with a degree in a field I hate, though at least it’s paid for, and I know most degreesare bullshit. Fancy pieces of paper to say look at me, I’m in debt.

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