Page 69 of Piece By Piece

“You could’ve slept anywhere yesterday,” he protests.

“Either way, I can’t stay dependent on you forever. Especially not when it comes to something as vital as sleep. I’m a big girl. I can stay in my own bed.”

His frown deepens. “So where does that leave us?”

“Nothing has to change. We’re still friends, and I’m not opposed to the whole physical thing we got going on. The only difference is that I’ll go to my room once we’re done,” I say, trying to soften my tone when a shadow of hurt crosses his eyes. I’m the first one who gets how rejection can sting, and I don’t mean to hurt him after everything he’s done for me.

Slowly, he asks, “And what if I don’t want that?”

“Don’t want what?” What if he doesn’t want me anymore? Is that what he’s about to tell me? The tables turn and already, the rejection churns in my gut. I grit my teeth, steeling myself against the full force of it.

“I’ve learned that I’m quite fond of having someone to hold at night. What if I don’t want to give that up and act like a simple one-night stand?” he challenges.

Despite the fuzzy feeling that replaces the fear of rejection inside of me, I force myself to say a string of words that leave a bitter taste in my mouth. Interesting how he’sopposed to being a one-night stand but doesn’t want to be something serious either. “Then I guess you better start looking for a new person to do that with.”

His eyes narrow. “No.”

“No?” I repeat, dumbfounded. What does he mean, no?

“No. You said nothing changes, so we’re still exclusive. I told you a long time ago that I don’t share and that goes both ways. Besides, you know I want no one else.”

I sigh, equal parts content to let the soothing words wash over me and panicked. “You can’t say stuff like that. That’s boyfriend talk,” I protest. Finally, Seb shuts his mouth firmly, looking like he agrees with me and doesn’t like it one bit.

“Fine. We’re justfriendswho mess around, but I’m serious about the no-sharing part. Another guy touches you and I break his hand.” With that, he turns around and flees the bathroom, leaving me alone with my conflicted feelings.

Chapter 31

Sebastian

“There you are, birthday boy. I know you said no presents, but it’s not wrapped so it doesn’t count,” Lily says, hugging me tightly before shoving a box into my hands. A look confirms that it’s from my favorite bakery.

Despite hating presents, with the exception of the one Aliena gave me, my chest warms at the sight. The bakery is across town so I rarely go, but my mom used to take me there a lot as a child, knowing the owner and all that, so it holds some sentimental value.

I lean down to kiss Lily’s cheek before she can saunter deeper into the private room to greet her best friend.

“Damn, Babe, you look fantastic,” I hear her tell Aly, who’s waiting on the couch. I don’t have to turn around to know she’s right. The memory of her coming down the steps to meet me in the living room before the party started is burned onto the back of my eyelids.

I thought green was my favorite color but after seeing her in that midnight blue, I might have a change of heart. The dress, while beautiful, is risky as hell. The slits on the outside of her thighs up to her waist make me wonder where the hell her panties are, and her low back makes me know with certainty that she’s not wearing a bra.

To say that I got hard just thinking about it would be the unfortunate truth. She drives me crazy. Even more so because my attraction to her is now clouded with a mess of conflicting feelings.

Despite her brushing me off whenever I tried to mention it, I feel like absolute shit for having let her down after she let me tie her up. She might say she doesn’t care, but it’s clear I broke something vital between us in the way she’s been distant.

I miss her. I miss waking up with her in my arms and most of all, I miss seeing the trust in her stunning eyes.

With her breaking the news that she no longer wants to sleep in our room anymore before I could say everything I needed on my fuck up, it then slipped my mind. Now, things are still strained, and unspoken words hang in the air between us. I don’t know how to fix it.

Even less so because as much as I try to understand that it’s my fault we’re in such a strained place, I’m still fed up with her for what she said. She refuses to communicate, insists we’re all good but still creates new rules that neither of us wants. No more sleeping in our bed? Her insistence of calling me a friend. It helps neither one of us.

“What got you scowling like that, Will?” Andrew teases me, clasping my shoulder in a way of greeting. From behind us, I can hear Aly ask about my nickname.

“Will? What’s that all about?”

“That, dear Aly, is Sebastian’s favorite nickname of all time,” my best friend provides.

“Oh? How come I’ve never heard it?” she asks, intrigued.

“Sebastian hates it. His middle name is William, you see, which is also his father’s name. Andrew likes to tease him with it,” Mattheo explains, waking past me with a paton my shoulder before leaning down to kiss Aliena’s cheek. “Hey, Amo. Long time no see,” he adds, a sultry note to his voice that wasn’t there a second ago. I grit my teeth against my growing irritation and look away before anyone can notice it, getting myself a drink.

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