Page 14

ten

Hunter

“ I s he cute at least?”

I laugh, shaking my head and looking out the window of Sawyer’s car.

We’re sitting in the parking lot waiting to pick up Noah and Mark for the game.

I’m excited to have him there. Mark, that is.

Noah . . . well, Noah is. . . How does one even describe him?

I just need Sawyer to tell the insecure parts of me that I’m being dumb. “He’s pretty.”

“Pretty?” Sawyer blinks at me.

Noah isn’t physically Sawyer’s type. I know this. I didn’t actually think this double-date situation would amount to anything. “I just need you to feel things out for me.”

“Do you think this is a good idea if you’re this suspicious of them? After your ex?”

“I’m not.” At least, I don’t think so. Not really. “I don’t know.”

Sawyer gives me a look, and I don’t need that right now. What I need is for him to help me out. “What’s his name at least?”

“Noah.” I think I see them both walking down the path to the student parking lot. “Neither of them knows anything about hockey.”

“Well, that I can handle.” It’s quiet for a moment. “You sure he’s not coming tonight?”

Derrick . Yeah, that may be a problem. “Coach T banned him from practice and said he’s not allowed anywhere in the arena, but I don’t think he can officially ban him, so he might be in the stands even though he’s not really supposed to be.

He’s a dick, but even if he is there, I don’t think he’ll start anything with that many eyes around. ”

“I’ll spear him down the seats. I don’t care.” That makes me smirk. I’m sure he would. Mark and Noah come into view, walking down the stairs.

“He’s cute, I think you might like him.” I really don’t, but I know Sawyer will help me out.

“And I really like Mark, so that’s why I’m taking this chance.

” I get out of his car, smiling as Mark walks up to us.

It feels like my entire chest is popping with fireworks.

He’s just . . . I don’t even know how to describe it.

Words are lost to me, but this firework feeling speaks for itself. I like him. A lot.

I think about the other night. That day had been horrific.

Something had triggered Jamie and he’d broken down worse than I’d seen in the entire year since the accident.

I don’t know what caused it, but one moment we were fine and the next he was screaming and crying.

He punched his mirror and there was so much blood.

Xavi was shaken and I made him step out for air, then after the paramedics had practically sedated Jamie, Mark showed up.

Seeing him on the porch, adorably awkward, had lit me up from the inside out.

He brought me food and wanted to see if I was okay.

No expectation, he just cared. It hit me someplace deep.

I’m always the person who takes care of everyone, and I don’t mind that.

It’s nice, though, to be taken care of for a change.

As they come closer, I can’t help grabbing his hand and pulling him in for a kiss, which he gives me freely.

Noah is wearing one of our team jerseys, which makes me smile, and a pair of tight skinny jeggings with brown boots.

Mark is wearing the hoodie I lent him, and seeing my name across his back makes me feel possessive.

I love it. Mark kisses me again. Fuck, I can’t stop smiling.

“Gross,” Noah mumbles.

Sawyer’s car door shuts and I turn to Mark’s friend. “How are you doing, Noah?”

“As soon as your friend comes into the light, I’ll tell you how I’m doing.” Sawyer walks over to us, stepping into the light from the parking-lot lamp. “Hot damn. I’m doing fantastic, Hunter, thanks for asking.” He holds out a hand to Sawyer. “And how are you, handsome?”

“Um. Hi. Great.” Sawyer takes Noah’s hand reluctantly, then peeling it away from Noah’s grip, he smiles at Mark. “Hi, Mark. It’s nice to meet you.”

“This is my best friend, Sawyer.” Mark stares at Sawyer, something like fear flashing across his face. Or maybe it’s nerves. “Babe?” I place my hand on his lower back. He snaps out of it, and his muscles relax as he reaches his hand out to Sawyer.

“Sorry. Hi, uh, sorry. Nervous. Nice to meet you too.” Shaking his hand, he attempts a smile, but it’s still a bit off. He must be nervous.

Sawyer shoves his hands in his pockets. “Hunter talks about you a lot.”

“All bad things, I’m sure,” Noah mumbles, and Mark rolls his eyes, grabbing my hand. Okay, I need to shake the awkwardness. “I have to be at the arena soon. I’m starving. Let’s go eat.”

“What are you getting?”

“Drilled into a mattress if there’s anyone cute and queer at the arena.” Noah puts his menu down.

“He meant to eat,” Mark mumbles.

“Oh, well if Cake Daddy is up for it, I’m really good with my tongue.”

Mark exhales, loudly. His eyes peer up at me over the menu as he shakes his head slightly. “Noah, don’t call him that.

“Cake . . . Da—”

“Don’t,” I whisper at Sawyer. “If you acknowledge it, it makes it worse. He’s like a poltergeist. Don’t give it power.”

“Why Cake Daddy?” Sawyer asks, because listening is not a skill he’s exercising tonight.

“Because you make cake. You know, if you like cake so much I may have just the—”

“Noah, gross. Stop.” Mark shakes his head.

“Is Pastry Papa better?”

“Uh no, somehow that’s worse.”

Mark puts his menu down abruptly. “Can you stop! You’re being rude.”

“What? Oh my god I’m so sorry. Puck Daddy you are welcome to my cake too.”

Not. What. I meant! “Hunter doesn’t want any of your cake.”

“I think you should let the man speak for himself.”

Does . . . does he want me to answer. “Uh, no thank you.”

Noah looks at Sawyer. “And then there were two.” He winks at my friend who is sinking deeper and deeper into his booth. Finally, our waitress comes over to take our order. Mark orders a burger and Noah orders a salad, then Sawyer and I order. “How would you like your burger done?” she asks Mark.

“Charred to a crisp,” Noah cuts in. “He can’t see any pink or it makes him sick.”

“Just well done please.”

“No onions either. There are onions on it, see.” Noah points to the menu.

“Oh yeah, no onions.”

“You got it.” We finish ordering and hand the menus back to her.

“So, what are you majoring in, Mark?” Sawyer asks.

“Ah, software engineering. I want to make video games.”

“What are you majoring in, gorgeous?” Noah puts his elbows on the table with his chin propped on his hands.

“Oh uh, I’m in the culinary program.” My friend takes a sip of his drink. “So how do you two know each other?” He points between Mark and Noah, and my eyes widen on him with a smile. He knows damn well how they know each other.

“Well, Noah and I, uh, met at the beginning of last year at a party.”

“I had the misfortune of being his fuck buddy for about a year until I came to my senses.” Noah sips his water loudly.

“Now it’s Hunter’s turn to tag in. Just gotta be careful with this model.

” He grips Mark’s shoulder, shaking him.

“There’s a lot of wear and tear, but she gets the job done.

” Noah beams. “Eventually. Gotta stop and choke the throttle once in a while but she gets you through.”

“You don’t even know what that means!” Mark slaps him away. “You’re an asshole. We met at a party and just clicked.”

“Babe, you clicked, I settled. There was nothing else to do.”

Mark closes his eyes for a moment, shaking his head. “Anyway, for some reason—probably mental illness—we remained friends. We don’t um . . . We aren’t that kind of friends anymore.”

“Friends now, with very little benefit.” Noah’s eyes flutter in Sawyer’s direction. “I’m available, though, if you’re interested.”

“Oh uh, no thank you.”

“Very intimated. I got it. No problem.” While I haven’t heard Sawyer’s opinion of them yet, I don’t really need it. There is definitely nothing going on.

“Mark, are you excited to watch Hunter play? He’s very good.”

His face pinkens, and I love the adorable shade it turns. “I can’t wait, uh, I don’t know much about hockey, though.”

“It’s easy to pick up the rules. I’ll help,” Sawyer reassures him.

The waitress brings our food over, thank goodness. I’m starving and we don’t have a lot of time left. “Thank you,” I say to her. Mark lifts his burger up, checking for onions, then looks over to Noah’s bowl and frowns. He reaches over, picking the black olives out of his bowl.

“Hey! Get your nasty fingers out of my bowl.”

“I know you can barely even look at them let alone touch them. You forgot to say no olives. Do you want me to leave them on?”

Noah’s lips purse. “No.”

“Then stop being a brat.” Mark picks off the rest of his olives while Noah looks away. We eat, thankfully in near fucking silence, with only mild bickering between the two.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Noah says to Mark, who gets out of the booth to let Noah slide past, then he stops.

“What?”

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Why would I go with you?”

“Girls always go to the bathroom in groups.”

Mark sighs, shaking his head. “I’ll be right back.”

“You spoil him,” I laugh, and Mark gives me the finger with a tiny smile pulling the corner of his lip.

“Wow,” Sawyer finally says. “Just wow.”

“What do you think?”

“Oh, you don’t want my opinion. Believe me.”

“Noah is a lot.” I finish up my food, watching them walk back to our table. “You like Noah?”

“Loaded question.”

“Just be nice, please. No interrogating them at the game.”

Sawyer loops his arm around me, pulling me in and kissing the top of my head. “I’m happy for you. Mark seems really great.” He squeezes my shoulder and a knot of tension I didn’t realize I was carrying loosens and unravels.

He finishes his BLT. “They may have fucked, but they’re definitely not fucking now.

Just know that man will be in your life as long as you’re in Mark’s.

That is the most fucked-up friendship I’ve ever seen, but whatever it is, the bond is strong.

Noah isn’t going anywhere. You have nothing to worry about with them, though. ”

“Because of the things Noah said?”

Sawyer smiles, shaking his head. “Because of the way Mark couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”