MALIA’S POV

I glanced between them, feeling a surge of affection that threatened to bring tears to my eyes again. They were right. I had been trying so hard to protect everyone, to handle everything on my own, but in doing so, I had pushed away the people who cared about me the most.

“I’ll do better,” I promised, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll lean on you more. I just… I’m not used to needing help.”

Lily smiled gently and cupped my cheek, her thumb wiping away a stray tear that had escaped. “We know, sweetheart. But we’re here now, and we’re not going anywhere.”

The heaviness in...