“Do you ask all your students that?” I asked, gesturing outside as I referred to River, who also hadn’t been wearing a proper coat.
“No, Skye,” he said lowly. “I don’t ask all my students that.”
“I must be special then,” I said lightly.
Wyatt looked at me like he couldn’t tell if I was joking or not, and part of me wasn’t sure, either.
It was easy to be around Wyatt when he was by himself. Zephyr always found a way to make Wyatt’s innocent commentary sound evil, and if I ever checked Wyatt out for too long, a feeling of inadequacy would run through me. Aiden couldn’t hide any of his feelings from me, it seemed, and a lot of times, I found myself trying to adjust to them instead of just allowing him to feel whatever he felt.
Once again, I was pissed Wyatt was being so stupid. That was definitely something I should’ve been able to discuss with a counselor.
“You know what,” I said suddenly. “This is so annoying, Wyatt. I need an actual counselor. Why do you have to be such a dick?”
Wyatt scoffed.
“By all means,” he said, gesturing with his hands, which only had my gaze catching on his veiny forearms. “Tell me your troubles.”
“Well, one of my Links is annoying as fuck,” I said.
“Yes, I happen to be friends with the Prince. I know how annoying he can be,” Wyatt said dryly. “Have you tried bringing it to his attention? When he gets in one of his moods, tell him he’s acting inappropriately.”
“No fucking way that works,” I replied.
Wyatt snorted. “Not a chance. He’d probably get worse.”
I chuckled, and then we stared at each other. The awkwardness grew along with the silence, and I felt like I was going to crawl out of my skin.
“Why?” I asked quietly. “Can you just tell mewhy?”
Wyatt chewed his lip before dropping his gaze. “I’m not sure I know anymore.”
“Then at least apologize to Aiden,” I said, ignoring the hurt I felt athis response. “He needs a counselor, Wyatt, and he doesn’t trust anyone anymore.”
Wyatt shook his head. “I didn’t do anything to him, Skye. I’m not a Telepath. I didn’t get in his head and mess with his thoughts, or whatever he thinks.”
“You tried telling him I would hinder his success at school,” I said slowly. “You were confusing him.”
“I was trying to keep him alive,” Wyatt said defensively. “His mother was breathing down my neck every six days wanting an update on his progress. I had to give her something, and I wanted to make sure he stayed on a schedule.”
“And you can’t lie?” I said, raising my voice slightly. “You lie all the time, Wyatt, why couldn’t you lie to that bitch, too?”
“I do not lie all the time,” he said, shaking his head.
“You pretend you don’t want me,” I said without thinking. “You pretend like you don’t trust me, and–”
Wyatt shook his head, laughing in disbelief. “You lied about your affinities.”
“And you didn’t?!” I threw my arms out to the side. “I don’t even know what the hell you do, Wyatt!”
“How?” Wyatt demanded. “I’m an earth affinate first, then a Healer, then a memory scrambler or whatever the hell it is. How do you not know that about me?”
“You say that like we spend so much time together,” I scoffed. “You were dishonest with me, too.”
“Lying by omission is still lying.” Wyatt gritted out.
It was my turn to laugh in disbelief. “You think, what? That you can come into my café, ask my affinities and I’d just tell you? I had no idea who you were!”
Wyatt scrubbed a hand down his face. “You are infuriating.”
