Karl's head snapped toward Antony so fast it was almost comical.
"What the hell did you just—"
"I said I wanted a date with her."
Antony cut him off without hesitation.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm that only made the words hit harder.
Then he turned toward Kaija.
The sharpness disappeared from his expression almost immediately.
"Would that be okay with you?"
Kaija simply stared.
For a moment, she genuinely wondered whether she'd misheard him.
Maybe she was tired.
Maybe the stress from the festival was finally frying her brain.
Maybe Antony had suffered some kind of fever-induced mental breakdown.
Because there was absolutely no way her notoriously cranky dance instructor had just asked her on a date.
"Bu... bu... but..."
Her mouth opened and closed several times.
"Why?"
Antony didn't even seem embarrassed.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't look away.
"Because I like you."
The answer landed like a brick.
Kaija's brain promptly ceased functioning.
