The moment hung in the air, sharp as broken glass. Lily’s eyes locked on mine, wide and trembling, then darted under the table where Mason’s foot had been pressed against me only seconds ago. She didn’t say a word at first, but the silence was heavier than any scream.

I pulled back in my chair, my lips parting to explain, to plead, but nothing came out. My throat was dry. Mason just leaned back, his expression unreadable, the faint curl of smoke rising from the cigarette between his fingers like he was watching a movie he already knew the ending to.

“You-” Lily’s voice cracked before she steadied it. “What...