Lucian
Dinner at Mara’s home had been… eventful.
Her father pushed every button I had at first, and if Mara hadn’t been pregnant, I might’ve sat there and let him vent. But the second I saw how much it was affecting her, I knew I had to shut it down. She didn’t need stress—not now.
Still, I understood where her father was coming from. I had said horrible things to Mara that day on the porch, and knowing her parents had overheard them? That shame stung. Add that to the rumors about Tina, and I couldn’t really blame the man for thinking the worst. I’d earned some of that anger.
But by the end of the night, things had settled. Bridges hadn’t just been rebuilt—they’d been tested and held.
When we returned home, Mara was exhausted. She got ready for bed while I turned off the lights and ch
