Page 34 of Splintered Hearts

“It wasn’t about you.”

“This wasn’t his plan when he finally decided to move in with you. He has every right to be upset.”

“I didn’t want you to come last night, and he pushed.”

“Did you even ask me what I wanted to do?” Glowering, he looks away. “I had the best time last night.” Going to bed was hard last night, between them fighting and replaying that gorgeous man and his equally gorgeous dick. “Love me a cut—”

“Shut up.”

“What!” Blinking innocently, I get Mark to laugh. “I’m just kidding.” Mark shakes his head. “He wasn’t circumcised.” I look up at Mark standing by the counter. “What?”

Mark looks away. “How was it?”

“What?” I ask innocently, and Mark rolls his eyes, trying not to smirk. “Oh, do we suddenly want to play the best-friend card?”

“I’m trying to talk to you. Stop being an asshole. I know you love to talk about it.”

I give in with a grin because, yeah, I love talking to Mark about this stuff. “You remember my freshman year, when we went out after curfew and you fucked me over one of the park benches in the community garden?”

“Ew.”

“Exactly like that, only the complete polar opposite.”

“Why did I even ask?”

“If you hear nothing else I say for the rest of my life, hear this. That man’s dick is made of glitter and rainbows.” I want another taste, despite Mark’s warnings. All through college, I hooked up with a lot of men. None made me feel the way I did last night. It’s still so vivid. Jamie kissed me like he was savoring every second of my touch. Decadent lips. Indulgent tongue. “I get why you warned me. That man is gorgeous.”

“He’s not that hot.”

Only he is.“Did you know he has a tongue piercing?” Mark looks away. “Mean! Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“I’ve already lost you, haven’t I?”

“I made it out alive. Calm down.”

“Sometimes we go to Sunday dinner with Jamie’s mom. You can come. She’ll love the shit out of you.” That sounds nice.

“You’d let me go, afterallthatlast night with Jamie?”

“Jamie never goes, so yes.”

“Why doesn’t he go?” That’s odd.

“Don’t know. Don’t care. Not my business.”

“I want to see him again.”

“Noah—”

“Rainbows. Glitter.”

“You’re disgusting.” Mark groans. “And I’m done playing best friend. I’m taking a shower. Get ready, please.”

“You got it, sweet cheeks.” Mark gives me the finger—it’s our love language, what can I say? Mark disappears and I turn to the couch, sinking down onto it. What do I need today? Some clothes maybe, although I grabbed a decent amount when I left. A phone. And I’m giving Mark and Hunter money toward food, whether they like it or not.

I grab my old phone. Just need to find somewhere to get a new plan—the phone itself is basically new. Maybe I can also find some place around town that’s hiring.

I have all these things on my mind—tasks I have to complete, adulting I need to do, and so on. It’s hard, though, because all my thoughts lead back to one place.

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