"Mark! It's good to see you again! Derek is still stuck in office. Freshen up, hopefully he should be home soon," Deborah welcomed Mark, who had left office without asking Derek's status, which was definitely a first in so many years. Not that he was angry with him or anything, his mind was just preoccupied.
"That's okay," he replied a bit distracted and gave a tight smile.
"Are you okay? You are not your usual self. Something bothering you?"
"Y... Yeah I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?" Trust aunt Deb to be this observant, he inwardly thought.
"Okay... I'm not convinced. What is it? Spit it out."
"Uh there's nothing, aunty. Maybe your instincts are running overboard."
"Mark Xavier Smith, you better stop lying right now."
"Well... I honestly don't know what to say, how to say."
"Just
