"Date?"
I blinked rapidly, unable to believe Deck's words. A date with my childhood friend sounded so far-fetched. This was the same guy I played in the mud with, the same little boy I teased and had fun with. Despite having a front-row view of my embarrassing childhood and true self, I couldn't reconcile the idea of Deck even remotely liking me.
More than that, the memory of Vince rejecting me resurfaced in my mind, and Deck's condition began looking like a cruel joke. How could he like me... when even my fated mate didn't want me?
Surely, Deck must be joking.
I couldn't maintain my mask any longer, and the smile on my lips slipped. My heart started crumbling as I stared back at the one person I thought I was safe with. "A date, really, Deck?"
My voice must have come out scathing bec
