Page 17 of Twisted Minds

My face heats. “Sorry. I uh . . . I love video games. I’m actually hoping to become a tester. I want to make my own games one day.”

“Really?”

I nod. “I can bring my console; I have some new stuff. Not that what you have isn’t . . . I’m just saying, I uh . . . have stuff too I can bring.”

“Are you making your own game now?”

Embarrassment hits me like it does every time I talk about it. My family is great, but none of them really understand why I love games so much. I have two sisters, and while both of them are amazing and supportive, they just aren’t into it. I don’t have friends back home, and my parents wish I was doing something “more productive” with my degree.

My grandfather understood, though.

Swallowing hard, I take a breath. “I am. It’s just . . . it’s in the planning stages, like it’s not even—” I almost saygood. That hits me like a punch to the chest. “It’s just not there yet.”

“I’m not asking for perfection; I just want to get to know you. I just want to hang out a little.”

“Saturday?”

“Yeah. Come over any time after two. I have hockey practice in the morning then I just have a couple of things to take care of. I’ll send you my address. I don’t have a car, or I’d pick you up, I’m sorry.”

“I’ll get a ride, no problem. I’ll bring pizza, okay?”

“I guess that leaves me drinks.”

“Your roommate won’t mind?”

“With any luck he’ll stay in his room. He won’t care.”

“What’s your major? I don’t think you said. Are you hoping to play hockey professionally?”

Hunter laughs. “I wish. That would be a dream, but I’m more realistic unfortunately. I’m majoring in humanities. I want to be a social worker. With kids.”

“Oh wow, that’s amazing.”

I watch his red lips grow into a slow smile, and I don’t just see him smile, I can feel it. It feels like a sucker punch to the chest,shocking me back to life. “Can I ask you a personal question really quick?” he says.

“Uh, yeah.”

“That guy who stormed into your room . . . you said he’s not your boyfriend. He’s not, right? Like, honestly?”

I nearly choke on my drink. “No. God no. No.”

“I don’t like liars and cheaters. I’d feel awful.”

“No, he’s a friend.” Hunter doesn’t look like he believes me. Which, fair. Noah had stormed into my room like a hurricane. “He was a friend with a very special benefit, but that’s over. We’re regular friends now.”

“You sure? He seemed pretty upset.”

I sigh. “He was upset because he wanted to stay over, and I was being a dick. I needed space and I kind of lashed out at him. I deserved that anger. We made up . . . platonically,” I correct. “That’s the truth. We’re okay now. There are no romantic feelings there at all, there never was. I promise.”

“My last boyfriend cheated on me. It was a year ago but it fucking sucks. Second-guessing every single moment you’re with someone after you find out they lied to you sucks. I would never want to be part of that.” What person in their right mind would cheat on him? Did they hate muscles? Dimpled grins? Soft brown eyes that felt warmer than my winter coat? What loser would do that?

Although it’s not any better than what I’m doing now, is it? In fact, what I’m doing is much worse. Derrick doesn’t need to know I have actual feelings for Hunter. I’m going to trap his ass somehow in the next two months before I even have to break up with Hunter. I will. It will all work out.

I hope.

“Can I have your number?” Hunter takes his phone out. “I better get home.” I pull mine out, sending a text to the number he gives me, then smiling, I lift the phone to snap a picture. Iwatch heat dust his temples before I let him do the same for my contact. “So, two then?”

“Oh, yeah.” I have breakfast with Noah in the morning anyway. “That’s perfect. What kind of pizza?”

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