Page 36 of Splintered Hearts

All I do is tap it. Just checking to make sure it’s not broken. That’s all. When it lights up, proving it’s working, I swipe up. I’m both glad it works—for Hunter’s sake—and impressed there’s no password.

Hunter truly keeps nothing from Mark.

Hunter’s wallpaper greets me—a photo of Mark, shirtless. “Gross.” I accidentally stumble upon his contacts, scrolling randomly to the Js, when surprise hits me upon seeing Jamie’s name.

So random.

Grabbing my own phone, I save his number into my contacts. I still don’t hear any noise. My finger slips, accidentally hits the call button, and before I know it it’s ringing randomly.

So weird.

A flurry of butterflies flit around my stomach. It’s destiny. I was just thinking about talking to him, and now Hunter’s phone has a mind of it’s own, calling Jamie. I mean, it’s practically fate.

The phone rings a few times and I almost hang up before the ringing stops. “Don’t you have a boyfriend to bother?” It takes me a moment to realize. No shit. This is Hunter’s phone.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have one, but I am taking applications.”

“Who’s this?” Jamie snaps.

“Um... Noah. I’ve borrowed Hunter’s phone without his consent.”

“You stole his phone?”

“Borrowed. Temporarily.”

“And why are you calling me?”

Okay. Ouch. “I am asking myself that very question right now. I’m sorry I bothered you. Good night.”

“No, wait.” Jamie sighs. I hear shuffling before he’s back on. “Sorry, it’s just late. I’m surprised. Is everything okay?”

“Well... I don’t know. Hunter either violently murdered my best friend or fucked him to death. I can’t be sure, but I don’t want to go in there and find out.”

Taking another sip of my drink, I swing my legs under the table. His warm laugh makes me smile. “Which one are you hoping for?”

“Both sound really messy. Can you come over here and help me clean up?”

“I’m very squeamish.”

“It might be the second. Why is that the worst option?”

“I don’t think either is a good option.” Why do I feel so nervous? Why? “Why did you really call me?” he asks.

“Oh, um...”I wanted to hear your voice, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you or your laugh or smooth voice or the way your head threw back as you came down my throat.“I um... I—”

“Noah?”

“I . . . just wanted to talk to you.”

I almost think Jamie’s hung up, from the following silence, but my nerves ease with his deep voice. “It’s after midnight.”

Fuck, that’s right, why didn’t I think about that? “Sorry—”

“You called me after midnight because you wanted to talk to me?”

Being subtle and shy just isn’t me. I’m not hiding any more of my truths from anyone. “Yeah.” I think I hear a noise down the hall, but after a second, it goes quiet.

“How have you been?”

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