Surviving Year One (Grim Reaper Academy 1)

“Is this true?” GC turned to me.

“I… I…” I was at a loss for words. “He’s making it sound way worse than it was.”

“Worse?” Paz chuckled. “Are you saying the kiss was bad?”

“N-no…” Way to go, Mila! Right into his stupid trap.

GC ran his hand through his reddish-blond hair. “I don’t believe this. I’ve dated so many girls. I just thought…”

“That she’s different?” Paz really wasn’t trying to help. “Well, tough luck, mate. That’s on you.”

“Okay, stop. Just stop.” I straightened my back and placed my hands on their chests, pushing them away from each other. “I’m here, and I can speak for myself.” I turned to Paz, first. “Paz, you’re an asshole. You followed me around every day, tried to get me alone in the library, in the Holy Chapel, in the dining room… everywhere! You broke Patty’s heart to… I don’t even know why! To get back at me? It was just one kiss. One kiss that you stole from me, and no, I won’t deny that I liked it, but that’s that. This ends here.” There was shock and surprise on Paz’s face, but I didn’t have time to come to any conclusion about how he’d taken my words. I turned to GC. “I’m sorry. It happened. I didn’t want it to happen, but it did, and I swear to God, it didn’t mean anything. It was just physical. Something mechanical, okay? My body reacted on its own. But I promise you, I don’t want to be with him. I want to be with you. I have feelings for you.”

“You do?” GC’s expression softened.

I looked into his eyes and tried to be as convincing as possible.

“Yes.”

I could sense that Paz had deflated a bit, and maybe he would have walked away if GC had focused on me and forgotten about him. But, no. My life couldn’t possibly be that easy!

“So, you have feelings for me, but when he touches you… your body responds to him.”

The guys exchanged a glance, and I suddenly felt like someone had cut the branch from under my feet.

“I… I don’t know what to say to that.”

“But you’ve just said it.”

“My body responds to you, too, okay?” I blushed deeper, remembering that first morning I woke up next to him. His strong arms around me, my leg up on his hip to pull him in. “You’re making this into something that it isn’t.”

“Am I? Because, from where I stand, you seem to be attracted to the both of us.”

I let out a deep sigh. He wasn’t going to let this go, was he?

“My pal here asked you a question, dearie,” Paz pushed.

“Your pal?! Now he’s your pal? I thought you were going for each other’s throats a minute ago.”

Paz chuckled. “We still might. But you don’t know us very well. We’ve been friends since forever. We might kill each other, or we might…” He shrugged, as if the thought had just occurred to him out of the blue. “Decide to share.”

“Okay, this is going the wrong way!” I turned my back to them, my hand trembling as I tried to unlock my door. Right now, I felt like my room was the only place where I’d be safe from all the embarrassment they were both causing me.

“It’s fine,” GC said with a sigh. “If you’re attracted to Paz, then I’m fine with it. As long as you admit it and you never ever lie to me.”

I snapped back around, my eyes as wide as saucers. Was this another trap? For God’s sake! I could never keep up with them!

“I’m not sure I understand.”

GC reached out to cup my cheek and run his thumb across my temple.

“Mila, I’ve lived for a few hundred years, I’ve dated many women, young and… not so young.” He laughed at the absurdity of what he’d just said. “Though, I guess, when it comes to supernaturals, age is the last detail that’s even remotely relevant. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is: I’ve never met anyone like you.”

“Because I’m human?”

“Because you’re you. And if you like this guy, too, whatever. I can live with that. It wouldn’t be the first time we shared a woman.”

My eyes grew even wider, if that was possible. One more word from him, and they’d pop out of my head and roll on the floor.