Chapter Seventy-Nine
Alicia's POV
When Lily's mother arrived, the relief on both their faces made my chest ache. They clung to each other like they'd been separated for years instead of minutes.
"Thank you," the mother kept saying, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you so much for staying with her."
"Of course," I said. "We couldn't just leave her alone."
The mother looked at us, at the way Malachi stood protectively close to me. At how natural we looked together.
"You two make a beautiful couple," she said with a warm smile. "I'm sure you'll have your own beautiful daughter someday soon."
My mouth opened automatically to correct her. To explain that we weren't actually a couple. That this was complicated and wrong and not what she thought.
But Malachi's hand tightened on my waist. A silent message. I glanced at him and saw something in his eyes that made me close my mouth.
