Page 53 of Splintered Hearts

“Sounds really fucking familiar, doesn’t it?” Hunter yells. Closing his eyes, he takes a breath. “I don’t want to fight. Noah can do whatever he wants to. This is his choice, not ours.” He glares hard at Mark, and the room becomes uncomfortable. Hunter rolls his eyes, grabbing Mark’s wrist and tugging him roughly onto his lap as my friend pouts and looks away. “This is going to be okay. It’s not like Noah’s going to walk into that house and sit on his dick.”

“Of course not!” Seriously, who does he think I am? “I always say hello first. That would just be rude.”

Mark softens. “It’s not that I’m worried about you, Noah. I’m worried about how he’s going to treat you.” The only thing this conversation’s doing is making me want to talk to Jamie evenmore.

“He’s not that bad,” Hunter says. “He’s just—”

“Been through a lot,” Mark mocks. “Doesn’t give you a free pass to be an asshole.”

While I have to agree, I also know Mark better than anyone. Once he’s mad at you, that’s it. There’s no going back. Hunter is more easygoing. Grabbing my phone, I see a message from Jamie.

Jamie: Are you coming?

Noah: Not yet, but hopefully soon if you’re up for it

Jamie: Funny

Noah: I’m serious

Jamie: Mark pissed?

Noah: Elated actually. Currently planning my going-away party

Jamie: That bad

Noah: Mom and Dad are fighting right now

“What are you doing?”

“Telling Jamie I’ll be over once you’re done treating me like a child.” Tucking my phone away, I give my bestie a huge grin. “Look, I know you think this is a bad idea, and if you bring up that one time in college again I will stop talking to you for a while because that’s not fair and I think you know it’s different.”

“College?” Hunter looks confused.

“Derrick.” It’s all I say and all I need to. Hunter’s brows pinch before turning on Mark, and yeah, that was a low blow to bring up but I needed to. Mark comparing this situation to that is unfair. That was years ago, and yeah, I fucked up with a guy Mark warned me against.

A huge mistake that could have turned catastrophic if it wasn’t for him saving me, even at the risk of his relationship with Hunter. That’s a story for another day. “Are you seriouslycomparing Jamie to a rapist?”

“It’s not like that. I was just saying—”

Knocking Mark off his lap, Hunter stands. “Let’s go, Noah.”

“Hunter—”

Maybe I’ve made this worse, but seeing Hunter this mad only confirms for me that Jamie’s not like that at all. The hurt on his face is clear. “I’m going to take him and when I get back we need to talk.”

Mark flinches. “Are... are you breaking up with—”

“Will you grow up! No. Noah, get your shit and go to my car. I’m fucking mad and we need to talk about it. Not right now. I’m mad, and I love you. I don’t want to hurt you by saying shit I don’t mean.”

Mark concedes, turning his glare on me. “Have fun with your new roommate.”

“Mark—”

Ignoring me, Mark walks down the hall and toward his game room. I knew he wasn’t going to throw me a going away party, but this is insane.

Hunter shakes his head. “He’ll get over it.”

After one of the most uncomfortable rides ever, Hunter picks up the rest of his things without saying much to either of us, and when Jamie asks, I just shake my head. “They’ll be fine.” I hope.

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