There was an angry answer right there on the tip of her tongue, a snarly comment born out of jealousy and irritation and the way that he tended to leave her pride smarting. But it was too much, and Elia knew it – just another moment of intuition, or maybe common decency (which would have been the more rare thing.) Besides, she didn't mean it; even at her most envious, Elia didn't think she could have really wished for Kennet to experience the loss that he clearly had.
His wording was, as far as she was concerned, just another part of his casual teasing. Dangling graphic ideas of what he didn't intend to give her wasn't his usual style, granted – but she really was tired. There were plenty of things she might have pushed herself to find more energy for, but having an argument wasn't really one of them. "And if I said I needed you to stay, and not do this for today?"