“Wow,” I muttered, half under my breath. “Thanks for that, Mr. Hale. Really, it’s good to know where I stand.”
He didn’t react. Of course, he didn’t. Mr. Hale wasn’t exactly known for being the most emotionally aware person in the world. Still, something about the way he leaned back against the pillows, his gaze flicking toward me with what might’ve been mild amusement, made me feel like I was part of some unspoken joke I didn’t fully understand.
“Don’t take it personally,” he added after a beat, his voice annoyingly calm. “It’s just how I am.”
“Yeah, sure,” I shot back, forcing a tight-lipped smile as I turned back toward the mirror. Don’t take it personally? Are you kidding me right now? Who says that to someone they’re about to share a bed with? Oh, right—Mr. Hale does. Because ap
