Page 53 of Twisted Minds

“Daddy dearest paid for you to have your own dorm room. I think you can leave that poor man alone for a night.”

“It’s not that.” Hunter has to be at his house, and while I understand it, it still sucks. “There’s a lot of shit to it. He can’treally stay over, but I just want to spend more time with him alone.” While I don’t think I’m good enough for Hunter, I will at least try to be the best version of myself for him. Hunter deserves to know the truth. Sawyer deserves to know the truth. I just need more time.

“You should totally buy a plug and take sexy pictures for him. Something for him to look at while you guys are apart.”

“I can’t do that.” I feel my skin heat a bit at the thought. I’ve never really experimented with toys and don’t have any of my own. Noah gets up, grabbing his phone. “What are you doing?”

“Buying you a plug, anal beads, and a vibrator.” His fingers fly across the phone. “My favorite shop out west. They’re incredible, and shipping is fast. They should be here . . .” He lifts his pointer finger, clicking the phone. “On Tuesday.” He grins.

“You did not!”

“Oh, I so did.” He turns the phone to me. I grab it, curious, ignoring the pit in my stomach when I see the total.

“Let me pay you back.”

“No. My treat. I can’t really go crazy with toys anyway. I already hide myself, I don’t need to hide anything else when I go home.” Noah sets his phone down and sits next to me. “Just tell me all about it so I can live vicariously through you.”

“Thank you.”

“So . . .” Noah grins. “How big.” Holding his hands up, he slowly moves them out. “Say when.” Moving his hands out further, his eyes grow wider until they’re comically far apart. “No, that’s too much. That’s a hospital visit.” He does it again and I roll my eyes. I know he won’t stop until I give him something.

I wait, watching his hands. “When.”

“Holy shit.” Shaking his head, he folds his hands in his lap. “Just like the men in my romance books! So jealous. Does it take two hands to hold it?”

“Can you stop now!?”

He grins like a maniacal pixie. “Look how cute and in love you are.”

I freeze, hearing the L word. No. No way. Whatever, I want to stop thinking about it. “You want to watch a movie?” It is late but I don’t want to leave “I’ll have to walk back after.”

“Or . . .” Noah smiles. “You can sleep over? Your morning class is on this side anyway. If you want. You don’t have to. I know you don’t do sleepovers.” I can tell he’s teasing, but still, it doesn’t make me feel good.

“I’m a dick.”

“Yes.” Noah laughs and I join him. “You look like you need a cuddle. I’m a fantastic cuddler. I almost don’t want to cuddle you because you may fall in love with me for real.

“Okay.” I give in, and Noah grabs his laptop, setting up a movie on my lap. He fits himself against my body, lying in the crook of my arm, and I melt into the soothing touch. “You’re right. You’re a great cuddler.”

“I know.”

“I’m sorry I was awful to you.”

“Don’t worry.” Noah squeezes me tighter and buries his face into my side. “I’m going to make you pay for it for the rest of your life, bestie.”

nineteen

Hunter

Monty grabs his phone then flops onto his bed. I’m exhausted. We played our asses off, and while the adrenaline of a win is always the best feeling, I can’t help wishing Mark was here. Travelling sucks, but at least I get to room with Monty. He’s the closest friend I have on this team, and I like rooming with him. “What are you doing?” he asks me.

I look up, watching Monty as I slip on sweats and a T-shirt, then grab my hoodie. “Going to call Mark. Just going out on the balcony.”

Monty nods. “His um . . . his friend uh . . . has he said anything about me?” I almost laugh. Like, I get it, Noah is . . . Fuck, how do I even begin to put him into words. He’s shameless, flirty, and absolutely outrageous. That’s why seeing him with my very quiet, very reserved, and apparently closeted friend makes me laugh a little.

“Uh, yeah actually. He said hi when I saw him with Mark this morning.” And that he can’t remember your name, but that’sokay because it’s better than him giving you a nickname. “Can I ask what the deal is there?”

He shrugs, grabbing his phone and typing. “I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening to me.” He looks up at me with his brown eyes. “All I know is that I haven’t had sex that good in like, ever. Man is a magician.” Monty looks away for a moment and I wait patiently. “Don’t say anything, please.”

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