Page 33 of Twisted Minds

“Seeing if he wants company.”

“Sit down!” I tug him back onto the bench. He sits in Sawyer’s lap.

“Um.” Sawyer taps Noah on the shoulder. “Do you mind?”

“Oh, not at all, cupcake.” He winks.

“Get off,” I hiss, shoving Noah off Sawyer.

The rest of the game is intense. Hornets win five to three. While I still don’t understand most of the rules, I do know one thing.

Hunter is an insanely talented athlete.

As everyone leaves the arena, and the opposing team leaves right after they lose, Sawyer volunteers to take Noah back to his dorm, which I appreciate. “Thank you, and um, sorry about him in advance. Well, I mean, for the past, present, and the foreseeable future. Just, sorry, but thank you.”

Sawyer chuckles. “No worries, he’s not so bad.”

“Oh, you may regret those words.”

Noah walks up to us with a little bounce in his step. “Where were you?” And you left me here for nearly twenty minutes in the most awkward fucking silence! “Sawyer is taking you home,” I tell him.

“Oh.” Noah looks at him and pats the side of his face. “I think you’re gorgeous, like really, but I’m a hockey WAG now so this isn’t going to work.”

“What are . . . He’s taking you home, dingus. He wants to make sure you get home safe.”

“Oh, oh! Sure.” Noah winks at him. “Thank you.”

“What are those?” I look at the pieces of paper in his hand.

“Oh, these are my tickets to a good fucking time later tonight.” Noah beams. “I love hockey.” Noah sticks his tongue out, bouncing a little. “Like I said . . .” He shows me the papers. “Mr. Thirty-Five and Mr. Naughty Box himself.”

I don’t even want to know. “Thanks again!”

“No problem.” Sawyer looks to Noah. “You ready?”

“Not yet, but I’ll freshen up when I get back to the dorm.” Sawyer’s brow pinches. “Oh, you mean to go home. Yes. Yes please, Sedrick.”

“Sawyer. It’s . . . it doesn’t matter.”

“Just take him home. Thank you. Sorry.” I shake my head, and they leave. Poor Sawyer. Waiting by the doors, I see Hunter finally come down the hall, and the smile that splits his face when he sees me just fills my heart.

I open my mouth to say something to him, but he grabs me in a kiss. I know how tough being out is in public, especially as an athlete, but I like the way Hunter doesn’t hide his sexuality. It’s brave, even if it shouldn’t be. We should be allowed to hold hands, kiss, anything a straight couple does. Until then, what Hunter does is brave, and I like it. “Did you enjoy the game?”

“I enjoyed you humping the ice in the beginning.”

He pouts and fuck it’s adorable. “We were not humping the ice, it was warmups.”

“Uh-huh, tell yourself whatever, but I was very jealous of that patch of ice you got intimate with.” Hunter laughs, resting his forehead on my collarbone. “You were amazing. Really.”

“Noah enjoyed himself?”

“Oh . . . he’s about to.”

“What?” He shakes his head. “You know what . . . I don’t want to know. Did Sawyer take him home?”

“Yeah, they just left.”

Hunter threads his fingers in mine. “Do you think we could go somewhere, just for a little? I do have to go back home eventually tonight, but I have some time.”