Page 138 of Twisted Needs

I grin. “You sound mad at me.”

“I am mad at you.”

I play dumb. “What’d I do?”

“You were supposed to be home already.”

Around me, guys are still talking and moving around, so I lower my voice instinctively. “I’m finishing up at the rink, baby.”

“That was twenty minutes ago.”

“You counting?”

“Yes.”

I lean back against my locker, rubbing a hand over my face to hide my smile. “What’s the emergency?” I ask quietly.

There’s a pause. Then, softer now, “This morning was really fucking mean of you.”

Heat immediately buzzes low in my stomach. “Mean?” I repeat innocently.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

I absolutely do. Unfortunately for him, hearing him frustrated like this only makes it worse. “You’ll survive,” I murmur.

“I don’t want to survive,” he says flatly. “I want you to come home and let me come.”

Jesus Christ. I close my eyes briefly.

“Thirty minutes,” he warns. “And if you stop for coffee, I’m changing the locks.” After that the line disconnects.

I’m still smiling at my phone like an idiot when Vandy drops onto the bench beside me. “Who the hell was that?”

“No one.”

“Cap,” he says slowly, “you’re glowing. It’s like you’re with child.”

“What?” I laugh. “I am not glowing.”

“You are literally sparkling like Twilight.”

“I think you might have a concussion.”

“Nah.” He bends down to untie his skates with a pained grunt. “You got laid.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head at him.

CHAPTER 37

IT’S ALSO MY LIFE

ANDERS

The moment I let myself into Aviva’s apartment, I instantly regret it.

Reading on her Kindle, Charlie has her knees tucked against her chest in the egg chair by the opened window. Lee is sprawled out on the couch typing away on their phone—probably texting Fatin or arguing with some Republican in a TikTok comments section. Aviva is hanging upside down on the loveseat taking pictures of her boobs.

Everyone looks up at once.