“Have you ever done this before?” he asked, a hint of hesitation playing in his tone.

I tilted my head. “Gone to a town party?“

He shook his head slightly. “Dressed up. Gone out with someone.”

My throat tightened. Not because I didn’t have an answer, but because I did. “No,” I said honestly. “Not really.”

“From moving around a lot with my parents and settling here only to be rejected and forced to stay, I couldn't really find time to dress up and go out with ...