Page 64 of Twisted Minds

I can’t imagine, and while I had my own little doubts at the rink earlier today, I’m grateful I don’t have to mask myself like that. “That’s sad, actually.”

“Is that what you wanted to say?” I look up, completely forgetting why I asked him.

“No, uh . . .” Fuck, I hate this. “You know how I told you about that guy who got kicked off our team . . . Derrick?” I watch his features flash quickly with an emotion I can’t place until it forms into confusion. He just nods. “One of my teammates, um . . . he said a week ago he saw you talking with Derrick in one of the alleys between buildings.” He frowns, and I think I see fear flash quickly in his eyes, but when I look up it’s gone. Maybe I’m just projecting.

“Derrick?”

“That guy who got kicked off my team. Tall, reddish-brown hair. A teammate said he saw you both talking, And that you looked pretty mad.”

Mark’s quiet for a moment, but he looks confused. “The guy who got into a fight with Sawyer?” I nod. “Yeah, he um, he approached me a week ago. He was pissed that he was off the team and basically was just talking shit to me because he saw us together. I yelled back.” His voice is wooden, and I feel like shit. Of course Mark would fight back if someone talked shit about us.

“I’m sorry.” Mark chews his bottom lip like he wants to say something but just nods. There’s a faraway look in his eyes, and I hate that my distrust may have caused it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to accuse you of something, it’s just—”

“No, hey . . .” Mark smiles more genuinely now. “No harm, alright? I get it. He’s a piece of shit. I’d be suspicious too.”

“No, no.” I grab for his hand, pulling him into me. “I wasn’t suspicious, I just thought it was weird you didn’t mention it.”

Mark shrugs but softens in my hold. “I know he upsets you. I didn’t want to upset you.” That makes me smile, and he leans down to kiss me. The front door swings open and we pull apart. “Get it, Hunter! OW OW!” Bri squeals from the door.

Shaking my head, I can’t help the wide grin that splits over my face. Bri comes bouncing out of the house, running up and attacking me with a hug. I let the warm smell of jasmine invade my nose, hugging her close. I haven’t seen her since she went back to cosmetology school over the summer, and fuck, I’ve missed her. Bri is the light in all the darkness we’ve experienced this year.

Xavi walks up to me and gives me a quick hug, and I definitely notice the absence of someone probably sulking inside the house.

“This is Mark, my boyfriend.” He shakes Xavi’s hand, but Bri rolls her eyes, pulling him in for his own hug. “This is Bri . . . and Xavi, Jamie’s brother.”

“Brother?”

“Adopted brother,” Xavi corrects.

“He’s hot,” Bri leans in to whisper at me, and I see Mark blush.

“Where is—”

“In the house,” Bri and Xavi both say.

“He’s sulking,” Bri adds, but with none of the teasing lilt.

“Would you guys mind taking Mark out back? I’m going to talk to Jamie real quick.” I squeeze Mark’s arm. “Do you mind? I just want to see him.” Mark takes a moment but then nods, throwing on a smile. Before I can say anything, Bri’s already looped her arm through Mark’s and is carrying him away. “If she brings out a baby-blue toolbox, run for your life.”

I smile as she holds up a middle finger and carries my boyfriend off.

“Can I come in?” Jamie’s lying on his back, his hands under his head, starring at the ceiling, and seeing him on the full-sized bed almost makes me laugh at how big he is. Jamie’s six feet tall and broad as hell. I’m not sure why he got himself this bed when the queen bed sat unused until I moved in. I’d offered to switch but he didn’t want to, maybe because it was supposed to be hers. I walk in without waiting for an answer and take in the black walls. He’d painted them three months after he’d gotten home from the hospital, and the agony he was in afterwards still haunts me to this day.

Thinking about what Mark said about Noah earlier makes me wonder about Jamie. Looking at him now, no one would believe the easygoing guy he’d been before, exactly a year ago today. When I first met him, we were in high school, and he was the new kid that everyone whispered about. There were mentions of foster homes and abuse, but Luci made sure to include him in everything and not let anyone give him shit. She was his protector, and in Jamie’s eyes—and his eyes alone—he’d failed her. “What do you want?”

“Just seeing how you’re doing. Are you going to come out later?”

Jamie’s quiet for a moment, still not looking at me, and from here I can see the faint sheen of his eyes. “Did you bring the boyfriend?” I ignore the tone in which he says that. Jamie likes to use being a dick as a shield against talking about anything meaningful. If he pisses people off, they’ll leave him alone.

Too bad for him we’re all immune to the bullshit.

“Yes, I broughtMark.” I walk over to his bed, ignoring his scowl as I sit next to him. “Don’t be a dick, please. I really like him.”

“You know nothing about him.”

“Jamie—”

“Whatever, it doesn’t matter.”

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