Alicia POV
Kayla and I lounged on the plush, velvet couch of our new apartment. Kayla twisted a curl of her braids around her finger. Then, with the kind of casual curiosity that masked deeper intrigue, she asked, “So… what’s going on with you and Dr. Lucas?”
My spine straightened as my eyes sprang to hers, searching her face for any hidden meaning.
“What?” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.
She barely blinked, her expression flat and unfazed. “Your treatments?” she clarified, her tone even and unbothered.
I exhaled, some of the tension leaving my shoulders as I sank back into the couch. “Oh. They’re… they’re going good, I think.”
Kayla’s lips curled into a knowing smile, her head tilting as she rested her temple against her palm. The beads in her braids clinked softly. “More than good. You’re practically glowing.” Her eyes sparkled, warmth radiating from her expression. “I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time. It’s really nice.”