20. Dress Shopping

Charlie continued to stare at Sky and Caleb.

He wasn’t spying on Sky like she always accused him of. He was merely observing. Sky laughed at something Caleb said.

Charlie winced. What was she laughing so hard about?

And then, he heard her say yes to the dance.

Sky’s voice carried just enough to reach him. Clear. Certain.

Caleb blinked like he needed confirmation. “Yes?”

“Yes,” she repeated, louder. Deliberate.

Charlie’s jaw locked.

He told himself not to react. Not to move. Not to let a single thing register on his face. He had stood through gunfire with less visible tension than the way his shoulders tightened now.

Caleb grinned, wide and stupidly pleased. He said something Charlie didn’t hear because all the sound in the hallway seemed to dull, like someone had shoved cotton in his ears. Sky shifted her weight, clearly already regretting nothing.

Charlie looked away. He shouldn’t be annoyed at that. Of course, Sky can go to the dance with anyone she pleases.

Caleb barely had any per