Delilah's Pov

The room fell into a suffocating silence. Alyssa blinked, her lips parting as if she couldn't quite grasp what I had just said. Her gaze shifted from me to Brian, confusion swimming in her eyes. Finally, she found her voice.

"What are you saying, Delilah? What do you mean he's... a pervert?"

I forced a smile, brittle and sharp, the kind of smile that tasted like iron on the tongue. "You know what, Alyssa," I said smoothly, "I wouldn't want to spoil your date." My eyes flicked to Brian, then back to her. "Just... be careful."

Brian's steps echoed as he moved forward, too calm, too assured. Alyssa...