Page 50 of Twisted Minds

Hunter laughs, pulling me in for a kiss. “I’m going to miss you. Call you as soon as we check in.” He gives me a kiss, and Noah leans forward pursing his lips. Hunter pushes his head away.

“What? I thought we were handing out kisses?” Noah pouts.

Hunter shocks the hell out of me, leaning in and kissing Noah on the cheek. Surprise hits Noah’s face.

“Why thank you, Puck—” Hunter holds a finger up in warning. “Hen—”

“Hunter. It’s Hunter. My name is Hunter, and I really like your friend. Please keep him entertained until I get back.”

“Is Marvin going to be there?”

“Um, Monty? Yeah, we’re rooming together.”

“Well, tell Matthew I’m thinking about him.” Noah beams.

“Uh, yeah. Yeah, no problem. Call me later, or text if you’re busy.” He gives me one last kiss, leaving me with the maniac I’ve decided is going to be my best friend . . .

“I bet he has a fantastic ass.”

“You’re an idiot.” I walk in the direction of his dorm room. “But yes, he does.”

It’s a long walk from my dormitory to his on the other side of campus, where he lives on the third floor, and Noah is thankfully silent the entire way here. I feel like shit, though, for all the times I made him walk this on his own after we’d hooked up.

My stomach churns with guilt. Why was I so awful to him? I really need to change.

He lets us both inside, and Noah drops his bag onto the floor. “Hey, Noah.” He turns to me, and I just need to get this out. “I’m really sorry. I mean, for everything. For everything I’ve done to you. The way I took advantage of you. Making you walk home alone every time. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just—” I swallow the clog of tears in my throat. “Thank you for giving me another chance to be your friend. I don’t deserve it.”

Noah inspects me for a minute, and the scrutiny makes me burn. “It’s okay, Mark. I know I can be a little bit much.” My brows rise. “A lot, some have said.” He laughs. “Look, I just want a fresh start. A real fresh start. I don’t have any real friends and you don’t have any friends. Let’s just start over, okay? I’m okay, really. I forgive you.” He gives me a slight smile and I let that be that. I don’t feel good about it, or feel that it’s enough, but it is a start.

“Dinner is my treat,” I say because that’s all I can really offer him.

“Sounds good.” Flopping onto his bed, he sighs. “How did you not get a roommate? I mean, mine isn’t the worst, and luckily he has a girlfriend, so he’s barely even here anymore. Still, wouldlike to know how you managed that. Not that it didn’t benefit both of us.”

“Money talks.” I shrug. Nerves begin to eat at me.

“I am way richer than you,” Noah says. “But my father thought it would be a good experience for me to meet other guys around my age. Little does he know.” He winks. “Be thankful I’m spending my free time with you and not getting laid.”

“I don’t want to know.”

“I have a date this weekend.” Noah grins.

“What?”

“Don’t be mad.”

“Why would I be mad?” I eye him and he looks away. “Why would I be mad, Noah?”

“That guy that you hang out with . . . he asked me on a date.”

“What guy?”

And although I ask, I already know.Jesus, Noah.“The sexy redhead.”

“Derrick?” No. No. What the hell? “What do you even like about him? How? No. Noah. Come on, you can do better. How did this even happen?” Even though I ask, I know how. Derrick approached Noah to get back at me.

“He asked me out. I think he’s cute, so I’m going to give it a shot.” There’s no way. I don’t trust him not to hurt Noah to get back at me.

“Noah, please don’t go out with him.”

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