Chapter 23 : Getting Ready

"Listen, I'm flattered, but I'm old enough to be your dad," Budge whispered.

"What in the world are you talking about?" I hissed back.

"I mean, we both know what's going on here. You were looking for me the other day, without really having a good reason. Now, you're asking to meet me in old abandoned hallways… Really, I think you're a lovely girl, but I'm way too old for this kind of thing," Budge continued.

"Will you shut up for a second? I don't want to be with you," I retorted with a grimace.

Budge's mouth snapped shut, his dark eyes narrowing as he waited for what I was going to say next.

"I need to know that your number one concern is Rowan's safety," I continued.

"Of course it is. Honestly, just what the hell is this about? You mope around the castle for weeks and now all of a sudden you care about something?" Budge snapped back.

I looked around the dim hallway of the lower corridor, confirming that we were fully alone before answering. "First off, I haven't been mo