Jake went still.
Completely still.
The color had drained from his face.
Alice stared at him.
He looked guilty.
Not I cheated on a test guilty.
Not I forgot to do homework guilty.
The serious kind.
The kind that sat heavy in your chest.
Alice crossed her arms.
"...Jake."
No response.
"Jake."
Still nothing.
Students moved around them in the hallway, laughing and talking, completely unaware that Alice felt like the world had just tilted again.
Finally, Jake looked at her.
"Alice..."
Nope.
Absolutely not.
She already knew that tone.
It was his I don't want to tell you something tone.
"What happened to your last mate?"
Jake looked genuinely confused.
"My what?"
Alice blinked.
"Your last mate."
Silence.
Then Jake stared.
Then—
Jake laughed.
Actually laughed.
"Alice
