Page 6 of Splintered Hearts

I barely make it to the door before Hunter swings it open. “Couldn’t sleep without me, huh?” I grin widely at him, but Hunter just rolls his eyes. Someone’s pissy.

Shit, did they really break up? Not likely, unfortunately.

“Did you replace my mattress already?”

“I got one today.” It was my first step in accepting this is happening. Soon, some other asshole will live here too—with me. Joy. “I have some people to interview next week.”

“I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“You and Mark broke up?” Fingers and toes crossed.

“No, and fuck you for thinking that.”

“I was giving it at least a week.”

“You know, Jamie, you’re kind of a dick.”

Clutching my chest, I fall back into my comfy chair. “I love you too.” Hunter glares. Sleep deprivation is not a good look on him. “What’s up with the insomnia? That’s my thing.”

Rubbing his temples, he sinks onto the couch and I start to feel bad. “Just shut up, please.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s three in the morning and I’ve barelybeen to sleep yet.”

“You two fight?”

“Mark’s best friend showed up about an hour ago after his father beat him and kicked him out of his house. When Noah comes calling, Mark goes running—” His lips purse. “It’s fine. I’m just tired.”

“Why did he kick him out?”

“Noah’s gay. Information his dear old dad did not know until he caught him sucking a dick tonight.”

“Oh, fuck.”

“Yeah, he looks pretty bad.” Hunter shakes his head. “Can I just stay here for a couple of nights? To let him get some sleep. I won’t interfere if you have people looking at the room. I can stay on the couch, I don’t give a shit. I’m going to drop.”

“Why didn’t you sleep—” His brows rise to his hairline. “Ew.”

“Excuse me. I was enjoying living with my boyfriend until Noah showed up not even an hour after we passed out.” He takes a deep breath. “It’s fine. Everything is fine.”

“Sleep in bed with me.”

“Now now, this isn’t high school anymore.” He winks.

“You wish I’d let you have this again.” Standing, I reach out a hand to help him off the couch.

“I didn’t have it nor want it the first time.” Smacking my ass, he walks around me, beating me to my room. “Dibs on the inside. I promise it’s only for a couple of nights.”

“As long as Mark isn’t here, we’re fine.”

Hunter stops dead, and yeah, I shouldn’t have said it. It slipped out. A lot of words slip out when we talk about Mark. “You can act like an asshole to me, but don’t talk shit about him.”

Hunter walks into my room. It’s not my fault he has questionable taste in men. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m too tired to fight. Turn the light off.” Hunter gets in, lying up against the wall. This all feels so strange, yet normal at thesame time.

When Hunter first came to live with my family, we often slept together. He’d still been in shock over his mother’s death and then finding all his things on the front lawn one day after his father changed the locks to the house. His mother had accepted his sexuality, and his father had bitten down his hatred for her sake, but once she died, so did his father’s reason to keep him there.

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