Page 31 of Twisted Minds

Sawyer smiles, shaking his head. “Because of the way Mark couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”

eleven

Mark

Why didn’t I put two and two together? I’m stupid, that’s why. I’m stupid and this just became a whole lot worse. What the fuck am I going to do?

Sawyer fucking Liu.

Of course. Of course! This is karma in real fucking time. Sitting down, we watch everyone skate around the rink—for warmups, Sawyer explains.

“I know nothing about hockey. How long is this going to be?” Noah asks.

“Three twenty-minute periods with two twenty-minute intermissions, but uh, they stop a lot, so probably like two and half, three hours max.”

“Three hours!” Noah hisses at me. “Three hours of watching sports, Mark! Are you joking? I didn’t even bring my e-reader!”

“Come on, you’ll have fun.”

I try to ignore Noah because my mind cannot focus on anything but sitting next to Sawyer fucking Liu. This is insane. This is punishment. I probably deserve this. Sawyer Liu, son ofthe owner of the Blue Lotus, the same restaurant that caught fire over the summer because of me.

Or at least, that’s what Derrick tells me.

I know I didn’t do it, I know that. Still, sitting here next to Sawyer my nerves are shot. He kept looking at me at dinner and it was like he knows what I did. He doesn’t know, logically, but still, my mind can’t settle long enough to really focus.

“What the fuck are they doing?”

Well, it’s a good thing I have my insane friend to cut the tension. “They’re warming up.”

Noah gets up, looking onto the ice. “They’re humping the ice.”

“Warmups.” Sawyer grabs Noah’s jersey, pulling it down gently to make him sit. “Just warmups.”

Noah crosses his leg at the knee. “Well, I just love hockey.” He leans into Sawyer. “Mr. Thirty-Five is giving me the eyes.”

“They can’t see up here,” Sawyer says.

Noah stands up, waving his hand. Mr. Thirty-Five indeed looks up, confused, then waves back.

“I love hockey.” Noah sits. “So, Sawyer, how long have you and Hunter been friends?”

“Since his freshman year. I used to do the equipment for the arena full time back then, and he’s just such an easy guy to get along with.”

“Oh, he’s easy. I see. Knew there was a reason he was with Mark.”Why are we friends!?I ignore him, though, because if Noah is talking that means I don’t have to.

“I’ll be right back.” I get up and walk down the steps to the glass as Hunter skates close. He turns as if he feels me, skating up to the glass with something in his hand.

“Impressed yet?” Hunter shouts over the noise.

“Turned on, actually.” The stadium takes that moment to cease all noise as I shout this through the glass. My face burns. Looking around, I hear Hunter laugh. “Not funny.”

“Oh, very funny. Here. Catch.” He tosses the puck he has in his hand, and I reach to catch it. I look at the puck, smiling at the hearts scrawled over it. “First goal’s for you.” Hunter taps the glass before skating off. I make my way back up to my seat to see Noah has taken my spot next to Sawyer, and while I would normally save him from Noah, I need the space, as if the closer I am to him the more he might read my thoughts.

“Does it get violent?” I hear Noah ask as I sit down.

“Yeah, it does, but it’s also super wholesome at the same time. I don’t think there’s any sport like it. They have an amazing coach. He used to play with the Oregon Otters.” I blink at him, not knowing what that means. “The Oregon Otters are in the top of their division in the NHL. He retired a couple years ago. He’s a good guy.” Sawyer looks around Noah to me. “He’s also one of Hunter’s favorite players of all time, so having him as coach is huge for him.

“What does Hunter do?”

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