Page 23 of Twisted Minds

“Will you be okay here tonight? You can come back with me.”

He smiles. “I’d love that, but I can’t tonight. I need to give Xavi a break. I appreciate this, though. More than you know.”

“Do you want—”

The sliding kitchen door opens, startling me.

“Xavi, if you’re here—” A tall Asian man stands in the doorway, nearly taking up the entire frame. It’s dim out here, but I can see the exhaustion etched on his sharp features. Tattoos crawl up his neck and down his forearms, exposed by his rolled-up sweater. “Who the fuck is this?”

“Be nice.” Hunter glares. “This is Mark, he came to visit me.”

“You better not fuck on my love seat.”

Hunter groans. “Shut up, Jamie.”

The man’s eyes travel over me, something passing over his face before he looks back at Hunter. “Sorry. About earlier. I’ll pick up the glass.”

“Okay.” Hunter doesn’t meet his eyes, and I wonder what happened right before I got here. Hunter says he’s used to it, but there’s some weird tension here. “Mark was just leaving.”

I was? Sadness fills me, but I guess it’s for the best. Jamie’s glare makes me uncomfortable. “I brought pizza. You’re welcome to it. I brought enough . . . for . . . everyone.” I look to Hunter for help. He just shakes his head. Standing up, Hunter reaches out a hand to me.

“I’m taking him back to campus. You think you can be an adult for ten fucking minutes?” The anger shocks me. I want to ask about it, but I keep my mouth shut.

Jamie doesn’t say a word, heading back inside the house away from us. I follow Hunter to the doorway. “Is he always like that?” I ask, putting my shoes on.

“Yeah, don’t take it personally. Today was a bad day . . . for all of us.”

Hunter slips on his shoes and I don’t want to leave. I glance behind me and see Jamie walking back into the kitchen. His eyes twist in a glare making my stomach flip. A bad day. Not personal.

Then why does it feel very, very personal?

This late at night the teacher’s lot is empty and closest to my dorm. Hunter pulls in and I don’t want this night to end, but I know Hunter’s thoughts have been back home with Jamie since we left his house. He barely spoke the entire ride.

Shutting the car off, Hunter gets out to walk round to my side, and opening the door, he holds out his hand for me. I take it, loving the rough feeling of his hand mine. The sky above chooses this moment to split open, but Hunter ignores the rain, smiling at me. “I had a good day today, despite everything. I’m glad you stopped by. I needed that.”

He reaches for my hand and laces our fingers together, and I relax in his grip as he pulls me against him. I still need to grab my bag, but my arms wind around his neck, and my stomach dips when his palms grab my hips. “Does this mean I get a second date?” I wait, a little on edge. Hunter is so far past any league I’ve ever been invited to.

“Technically, it would have to be a third date, right?” Oh yeah. I laugh, remembering our burger date. “We have a game next Friday. Do you want to come? You can bring Noah. My bestfriend will be there, and I want you to meet him anyway. After, we can hang out for a bit. I’ll ask Xavi if I can use his car.”

Hunter playing hockey. Okay, yes to that. The rain starts to fall harder, and thunder rumbles in the air above us. Hunter’s sweater starts to soak through, and I have the thought that the smell of him will be washed away. “Shit, guess I’m leaving just in time.”

“Drive safe.” Standing close still, I can’t help but take him in, not believing someone like him is actually interested in me.

“You know.” He grins. “I’ve always wondered if kissing in the rain is as great as they make it look in the movies.”

“It seems super overrated to me. Not that I’d know.”

“You’re right. You’re right. Overhyped. Not that I, uh, would know either.”

“Stupid even.”

“Childish.”

I chew my bottom lip. “I mean, maybe we should try. For science.”

Hunter nods. “For science, you’re right. I love research.”

“Research is the best.” Hunter’s eyes search mine before I lean down and meet him in the middle. For a moment our lips hover, both of us just breathing in each other’s air. It’s barely a kiss. Fat droplets pelt us. Hunter tilts his eyes up, looking at me before closing them and the distance between us.

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