Page 39 of Twisted Needs

“I’m gonna go talk to Seth,” I mutter.

Her mouth pulls into a satisfied grin. “Thank you.”

I manage my way over to the other side of the ice, dodging little kids in tiny Sentinels jerseys and nearly tripping on a little girl using a walker.

Seth watches the entire thing, still dying of laughter as I approach.

“It’s not that funny.”

“It’s a little funny,” he snorts.

“It’s really fucking funny,” Connor retorts.

Seth backhands Connor on his arm. “No bad words. The place is swarming with kids.”

“You’re the one who dragged me here at eight in the morning to volunteer,” Connor mutters. “I’m giving it my best.” He scratches the back of his buzzed head, dragging his eyes from one side of the rink to another. “When the hell is the team supposed to come out anyway? Aren’t they the ones who are supposed to be teaching these kids how to swing their little sticks and shit?”

A little boy with his arm thrown around the shoulder of a small girl immediately starts laughing at Connor as they skate by.

“Dude,” Seth chastises him. “Kids, man. Mind your mouth.”

“It’s fine,” Connor scoffs. “I’m sure these little foster kids are used to hearing a few bad words.”

“That sounds a little offensive,” I say.

He shakes his head. “As a former foster kid, I know first hand what these little shits are exposed to.”

Seth gives Connor an empathetic look, patting him on the back. “You’re right,” he says solemnly. But then his mouth slowly pulls into a loose grin. “No wonder our parents didn’t want to adopt you.”

They both break out into laughter as I watch with amusement.

I don’t know much about their little situation, but I do know Connor and Seth grew up together. Seth’s family fostered Connor and his little sister, I think.

“Let me clarify,” Seth turns to me. “Connie is very loved and has a very loving family.”

“Fake family,” Connor jokes. “Too bad I aged out before they could make it official.”

“Cass is the one they really wanted,” Seth shrugs. “They always wanted a girl.”

“I’m deeply invested in this lore right now,” I tell them.

Seth slugs his arm around my shoulder, though it’s a little awkward considering the three inches I have on him.

“After this, I’ll buy you a beer and tell you my life story.”

“He doesn’t care about your life story,” Connor laughs. “I’m the interesting one.”

Seth tuts. “You were a juvenile delinquent who only found a home because we were paired up as study buddies freshman year of high school.”

Connor gives him a bewildered look, mouth curling into a half-smirk. “I’m about to fuck you up⁠—”

Music starts blasting from the speakers, gathering everyone’s attention. The lights dim, the ice becoming illuminated by the flashing strobe lights descending down from the ceiling. Someone announces the team’s arrival over the loud speaker. A few seconds later, massive hockey players make their grand entrance through the tunnel. The kids around us all start to scream with excitement.

“This is so fucking cool,” Seth mutters lowly, leaning in close. “I can’t believe you know Parker Morozov.”

“Just wait until I tell you who my brother is,” I snort.

I can see the gears turning in Seth’s head. After a second, his jaw drops. “Dude. No fucking way…”