Keeping Me (Spy Chronicles Book 2)(26)

“And what do you have to say for yourself?” Jaxon asks.

“One, I'm seventeen. Two, I am focused on Spy School and my future,” Sebastian says. “My job right now is to train Serenity and keep her safe. I'm here to do my job. Period. There is nothing more to it.”

I'm just a job to Bass.

And I know that.

But his words still hurt.

I'm such a girl.

“You know, I think I've had enough for one day,” I say, getting up. I walk towards my room. Mostly because I don't want all the guys to see me cry. Or my dad.

I hate that Bass can hurt my feelings so easily. I hate that I let him have this power.

I shut my bedroom door and lock it behind me. I doubt locking it will keep anybody out, but I feel better with it locked. I lie down on my bed and allow myself to cry. Not just because of Bass, though that is plenty enough reason to cry. It's just everything. All the traveling, all the running... all the fighting... I’m tired, and it’s all piling up. I just wish I could get used to it all, and for it to feel normal.

There is a knock on my door.

Of course.

“Go away,” I say, trying not to sound like I'm crying.

“Serenity, open up,” Hunter says from the other side.

Hunter hasn't done anything to piss me off today, so I get up and let him in. I close the door and lock it behind him. If my dad finds out, chaos will break out in this house. But Hunter and I have a completely platonic relationship. I wish my dad could see that.

“Are you okay?” Hunter asks, sitting on the bed beside me.

I just shrug, wiping some tears from my cheeks. “I'm so stupid.”

“No, you're not. Sebastian is,” Hunter says.

Which makes me smile. Just a little. “I mean, he kind of is.”

But not all.

Sebastian is one of the smartest people I've ever met.

“You like him, huh?”

I nod. “I don't want to. But I kinda do.”

“You know, when I first met you I knew you'd probably, eventually, date somebody at Spy School, but I've got to be honest... out of every person I could've imagined you dating, Bass is not even close to making the list,” Hunter says. “On paper, you two seem like complete opposites.”

“Because we are completely opposite,” I say. “And there is no way that he would ever see me as anything more than a job.”

“Opposites attract.”

“Attraction is a such a small part of a much larger picture,” I say. “You can't have a relationship with somebody just because you're attracted to them.”

“How are you so much smarter than me?” Hunter asks. “I suck at relationships.”

“I've never had a relationship. So I can’t be smarter than you when it comes to relationships.”

“I think you and Bass will work this out and eventually date,” Hunter says.

“Why?” I ask. “I don't have anything to offer. I'm not pretty. I'm not strong. I can't run or shoot a gun or speak five different languages. I'm too skinny and probably need years of therapy to be normal.”

“You're pretty,” Hunter says. “I know Sebastian is attracted to you. And strong isn't just physical. It's emotional, too. And you're one of the strongest people I've ever met. You'll learn to run, shoot a gun, and speak a new language. You've been gaining weight, so you won't be so tiny forever. And, to be completely honest, we all need therapy at Spy School.”

Hunter makes me smile.

“What messed up relationship do you have?” I ask him. “Or have you had?”

“Ah, well, I'm kind of dating somebody. Though not really,” Hunter says. “She wants to date me, but how can I when I'm literally on the other side of the world?”

“She's still in school?” I ask.

“She's a senior,” he says.

“Maybe you should give the long distance thing a shot,” I say, pulling my feet off the floor and crossing them. “I mean, you can go home for the important things, right? Like prom and birthdays?”

Hunter laughs. “Karlie, we go to Spy School. There isn't prom.”

“Oh,” I say. “Well, that doesn’t mean you can’t dance with her anyway, right?”

“I guess I could make time to visit,” he says.

“Maybe you should give it a shot then,” I say. “Just a trial run.”

“Maybe,” Hunter says. “What about you? What are you going to do about Bass?”

“Learn how to kick his butt in a fight,” I say. “Pretend that I definitely don't have feelings for him. Try not to cry every time he hurts my feelings, because then I would pretty much be crying all the time.”

“I like the kicking his butt part. But the rest of your plan sucks,” he says.

“Well, that is what I have to do until I figure something else out,” I say.

There is a knock on the door.

“What?” I yell at the closed door.

“You have ten seconds to open this door before I bust it down,” I hear dad yell from the other side.

I don't doubt his words, so I quickly get up and unlock the door.