Page 67 of Twisted Minds

Jamie gets up and walks across the deck, going into the house and sliding the door shut with a rattle. “That boy,” Bri groans. “Man is running from his feelings.” She loops her arm over Xavi’s shoulders, kissing the top of his head. “I’m sorry, hon.”

“It’s okay.” Xavi sits down, blinking fast and taking a breath. “Hey, Bri uh . . . can we go home?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“I had a good time tonight.” He smiles at Hunter. “Despite everything.”

“Despite Jamie.” Bri rolls her eyes.

“Yeah, I’ll clean up. Let me walk you guys out.” Hunter stands up.

“I’m going to use the bathroom,” I say, and Hunter loops his arm around my waist. “It was really great to meet you guys.”

Bri grabs me in for another hug. “Be good to him. He’s has a soft heart.” she whispers in my ear. I swallow the shame down as Xavi comes over and gives me a hug, not saying much, but from the glassy look he seems about ready to break down.

Hunter follows Bri and Xavi down the back porch steps. Going into the house, I shut the door softly, walking carefully as if I’m afraid Jamie’s going to come out of the shadows and scream at me. Walking down the hall, I pause, hearing water running. That’s not what makes my heart clench, though.

It’s the sobbing. Heart-wrenching, heaving things. Fuck! I don’t know what to do. Jamie cries and I curse this house and the only bathroom in the place. I have to piss. Whatever, maybeI could find a bush outside. I back away.Creak!The floorboard gives away my presence. The water stops. “Hunter?” Fuck shit fuck! I don’t know what to do.

Jamie peeks his head out, his eyes instantly hardening. “Jamie, sorry I—” His eyes are red-rimmed and blotchy from crying. “Are you alrig—”

“Fuck off,” he snarls, marching down the hallway and slamming his door.

Whatever. Fuck him very much.

As I wash my hands I hear footsteps, and I brace myself for another verbal attack. Instead, Hunter knocks on the door, coming in when I tell him he can. “Hey. Why aren’t you naked?”

“Sorry, uh, I had to wait. Jamie was using the bathroom.”

“Want to help me clean up first anyway? I won’t want to do it in the morning, I know it, and Jamie will have a fit if it stays a mess.”

“Oh, uh yeah. I’ll help.”

Out on the back porch, I help Hunter pick up garbage and cans. Jamie hasn’t come out of his room since I saw him crying in the bathroom. I don’t tell Hunter about it. It feels wrong, and although I don’t care for him at all, I still feel bad. Hunter still hasn’t told me what happened, and I know Jamie’s business is his, but still, I am curious what happened to him . . . what happened to all of them really. While Brianna is so much fun, and Xavi laughed his way through the evening, there had been a shadow over both of them. Something missing.

“I had a good time tonight. I was a little scared, but I think it went about as well as it could have.” Hunter sits on the loveseat, setting down his bag of trash. “So, what are your plans after graduating?” he asks me.

I turn my head to look at him, then decide to sit down next to him instead. Hunter’s going to graduate a year before me, and he’s had his dreams set on hockey. But he’s realistic, and although he talks about not being good enough, I think I know the real reason—and it breaks my heart. Seeing him play is electric. Hunter is vicious, agile, and fast on the ice. I’ve watched a couple of his games since that first one, and I can tell the other teams struggle to keep his pace.

It’s not skill keeping him back, it’s that he’s an out athlete who refuses to put himself back in the closet for the comfort of bigots. As much as it makes me sad, I admire him. Hunter knows exactly who he is. “I’m hoping to get an internship at Venom Edge and test games. It’s my favorite development company. They make incredible media, and some of the best designers and artists work there. I’d like to work my way up and hopefully get to develop my own games one day.” I turn to face him, taking his hand in mine. “I’ll be happy just working on games, but that’s my plan.”

“My sexy nerd.”

“Proudly.” Not much in my life makes more sense than computer science. It’s easy and logical. There’s no room for error. Science and math is fact. “I just love games. The whole idea of making my own is overwhelming, but it’s the only thing I’m really good at, honestly.” I’m pretty much useless in every other aspect of my life.

“Are you close with the rest of your family?”

“My sisters are great, but they have their own lives. They’re a lot older. I was a surprise. My mother had me when she was thirty nine. One of my sisters just has a law firm in Arizona, and the other married this Wall Street looking guy. She’s expecting a baby now. She used to work for the governor there, then she mether husband.” While I don’t like him very much, he seems alright and she’s happy. “We talk sometimes. Usually, we all go home for Thanksgiving.”

“And your parents?”

“Not much else to say about my father. He worked a lot, but he cared for us all. I never felt like I was a surprise or that they didn’t want me.” I can’t complain. We all wanted for nothing growing up and my education is paid for. All the warmth in my family is found in my mother, though. “My mom’s the best. She’ll love you.” I smile at that. My mother will make Hunter feel like one of us.

“So, they’re okay with your sexuality?”

I feel bad because of the bullshit he’s been through. “Yeah, they don’t care. My father is strict and measured with his money, but not with me. It’s never been a problem.” I laugh with zero humor. “I disappoint him in other ways.”

Hunter frowns. “Why?”

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