Page 84 of Twisted Minds

“I have to say, those squats you’ve been doing are working. Keep it up.”

Sawyer glares, pinching his lips together. “Thank you.”

A knock on my door makes me jump. “Hunter?”

“Come in.” Jamie opens the door, peeking his head in. “What’s up?”

He looks between Sawyer and me. “Freedom screecher is here? Can I punch him in the face?”

“What?” What the hell is he doing here?

“Let him in,” Sawyer says.

“Is that an executive decision?” Jamie asks me.

I think for a moment, which is useless because I already know what I’m going to say. “Yeah. Go ahead.” I’m too curious to turn him away.

“Do you want me to leave?” Sawyer asks.

“No. Please stay.” I look at Jamie. “You can go.”

Jamie rolls his eyes and disappears, and I don’t have a second for the nerves to settle in before Mark is meekly opening my bedroom door, stepping inside the same bedroom where we slept together for the first time. Where we played video games and talked and fuck . . . I can’t do this.

“Hey.” He looks between us then smiles softly at Sawyer. I know he’s innocent, but I’m still pissed. It’s hard for me to figure out what’s real and what’s fake. I am grateful we got Derrick, though, and that fucker won’t be getting out of this anytime soon.

It’s only been weeks since I last held him, but that feels like a whole different timeline. Looking away, I busy myself with my phone, which is a dumb move seeing as Mark is still my lock screen.

Yes. I am pathetic.

“What’s up, Mark?” Sawyer talks for me.

“I just wanted to know if I could talk with you quickly. Just really fast, I promise. Then I’ll leave you be.” I chance a look up at him, watching him. Those blue eyes feel so heavy. His blond hair is tied up in a little ponytail, and in his hands, fuck, I swallow hard seeing him hold my jersey.

My jersey.

I won’t be wearing it for the rest of the season. At least not while I play.

That isn’t on Mark, though. I blame him for a lot of shit, but I don’t blame him for that. That was Derrick and his jealousy. “Hunter?” Sawyer asks me.

“Uh yeah, whatever.” Looking back at my phone, I feign nonchalance, and Mark takes the computer chair while Sawyer sits next to me. He sits for a moment, looking at his hands as he plays with his fingers, bouncing his knee. “I’d appreciate if you don’t send my nudes through campus. Um. I, yeah—” He laughs a little.

I freeze, looking up. “I wouldn’t do that,” I snap.

“I know. It’s a joke, uh. Sorry, I’m nervous.”

“I deleted them all,” I lie. Abiglie. I have them all saved, and yes, I still look at them. I would never do something like that anyway, no matter how angry I am with him.

“Right um, okay.” Placing the jersey on my desk, he takes a deep breath. “Did your mother contact the insurance company?”

“Oh yeah, it should be easy now. Thank you.”

“I hope she’s able to rebuild it. I don’t deserve her kindness.”

“What?” I look between them.

“Mark went to my house and personally apologized to Mom and told her everything,” Sawyer says. “She forgave him, and understands he was put in a scary position. Even if he did the wrong thing at first.”

“I don’t deserve it.”

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