I raised my brow, waiting for him to just spit it out. Derek had just said he had good news for me.

“So, the good news is—” he started, then stopped and gave me a look I couldn’t really describe. He tilted his head before relaxing back into the chair and throwing his face to the other side like I had just annoyed him or something.

“What is it now?” I asked, stretching my neck to look at him, wondering about the sudden attitude.

“Mate,” I said slowly, then shook his lap to make ...