“I'm exhausted,”I yawned when Pia and I arrived at the dormitories.
“I know. And you're welcome, by the way. If I didn't wake you up, then you would have missed Stoll's lesson about combining mental shields with wielding.”
We pushed through Pia’s door. “Sebastian started teaching me that weeks ago. It wasn't entirely new to me, anyways.” I shuffled across the room that looked essentially the same as mine, and slouched into her armchair, releasing another deep yawn.
Pia took a quick shower, and I studied my kingdom history text while I waited for her. She returned wearing loungewear shortly after, indicating that she didn't plan on going anywhere else this evening. She flopped down onto her bed and turned her head so that she could see me. I stared back at her, and we both released a sigh of exhaustion.
“Tell me some good news,” I said, closing my book. I needed something to take my mind off of literally everything in my life right now. “Something that doesn't involve your sex life,” I clarified before she could respond.
Pia laughed. “But?—”
“The last thing I need is a reminder that I don't have one, so please spare me the details.”
“Ugh fine, let me think.” The silence that followed wasdeafening. “Guess things are pretty lousy right now, aren't they?”
I scoffed. “No kidding.”
Pia rolled to her stomach. “If you don't want to talk about my sex life, can we talk about yours?” she asked innocently.
I burst out laughing. “I literally just told you that sex is nonexistent in my life right now.”
She laughed as well. “Well, it doesn't have to be. Maybe a little action will lift your spirits.”
“I’m sure it would. But with who?” I rolled my eyes.
“I'm sure Sawyer would take one for the team.”
“Ouch. Would sex with me really be considered charity work?” I smirked and clutched my chest to dramatize my exclamation.
“I'm kidding about that part, but I'm sure he would, though.”
My head shook with my laughter, but my smile faded shortly after. I had no interest in sleeping with anyone except for one certain individual, and I knew that was never going to happen.
“You could just be straightforward with Seb. Tell him that you have feelings for him,” Pia suggested.
Sometimes I swore that she could read my mind.
“Nope. No way.”
“Come on,” she groaned. “Why not?”
I answered without hesitation. “There's too many reasons why he shouldn't know the way I feel about him. Hell, I don't even know exactly how I feel. Besides, it would complicate things too much.”
“Too many reasons? Care to elaborate?”
“Well for starters, if King Hawthorne found out, he’d replace Sebastian as my guard. With my luck it would be with freaking Sawyer, and I don't think I could handle him full time. He asks too many questions. And if I tell Sebastian howI feel and he doesn't feel the same, it would make for an incredibly awkward year and a half.”
Pia’s eyebrows rose. “Is that it?”
“No. He's like, four years older than me. I'm sure he would want someone who's closer to his age.”
“Four years is nothing, and I’m sure Seb would agree. Try again.”
“He doesn't break down over every minor inconvenience like I do, and he's seen me puke. That's gotta be a turn off for him.”
Pia gave me a sideways glance. “When did he see you puke?”
“Never mind that.” I puffed out my cheeks, then released my breath. “I guess that's all I got.”
