Lucas’s POV
“Are you okay?”
Avela’s voice pulled me back from the edge.
I blinked, forcing my eyes away from the phone before she could see anything on my face. My chest felt tight, like someone had wrapped a hand around my lungs and squeezed.
“Yeah,” I said quickly. Too quickly. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
I slid the phone into my pocket like it was nothing. Like my entire world hadn’t just tilted off its axis.
She tilted her head, studying me. Her eyes—soft, trusting—searched my face like she could see right through the lie.
“You sure?” she asked gently. “You kind of froze.”
I smiled. Or at least, I tried to. “It’s nothing,” I said, turning toward her. “Probably a spam message.”
She hesitated for a second longer, then nodded. “Okay.”
She turned back to the pot, stirring slowly. I watched
