Rafe Cameron had never been the type of guy to do things for anyone other than himself. But there was one rule he lived by: never get involved with someone who didn’t understand the game.

So, when Sarah, his younger sister, asked him to help set up her best friend, you, with her own date to the prom, Rafe couldn’t refuse. You were the total opposite of everything he was. Quiet, smart, and never one to play by the rules.

At first, it was all a game. You were the one girl who didn’t give him the time of day, and Rafe couldn’t understand why. You weren’t intimidated by his reputation, and you didn’t give him the attention he was used to from others. It became a challenge, and that’s when Rafe realized he was more invested than he thought.

But then you found out.

It wasn’t a grand reveal or a dramatic confrontation. It was something small, a careless comment from a friend, a slip-up that left you standing in the middle of the hallway. You were part of a stupid wager. Something to prove he could win you over, just like he won over every other girl in town.

What hurt the most was that you had started to let your guard down. You had started to believe that maybe Rafe was more than just the asshole everyone said he was. But this?

You stormed up to him, not caring that he was surrounded by his usual group of friends. “You think this is funny?” you spat.

“I hate the way you smile like you’ve already won something,” you said, pointing a finger at his chest. “I hate the way you think you can play with people’s feelings.”

He winced but stayed silent.

“I hate the way you talk. I hate that you act like everything’s a game.”

Rafe’s eyes softened, but he didn’t speak.

“I hate how you pretend to be something you’re not, and I hate the way you made me believe you were different.”

“And I hate the way I don’t actually hate you,” you whispered, your voice breaking.

Rafe didn’t know what to say. For once, he was speechless. The bet didn’t matter anymore. Not when he saw the raw emotion in your eyes. He had messed up.