I looked down at my hands, feeling a sudden, heavy ache of reality settling over the fleeting magic of the last hour.
"I... I appreciate the thought, Gabriel," I said softly, looking back up at him with genuine honesty. "Really. But I can't go."
Gabriel’s brows drew together slightly, a subtle shift of concern touching his forehead. "Why not?"
"Because I live in the real world," I said, letting out a small, tired laugh that held no humor. "I work late shifts at The Rusty Spoke just to help my parents pay the rent. My dad is still trying to rebuild his reputation, and every spare cent we have goes into making sure we have a sustainable life here."
I paused, swallowing down the quiet knot of pride in my throat.
"I can't ask my parents for money for a lavish gala dress," I continued, loo
