Chapter 59

• Cal’s POV
• The familiar, insistent knock on the door jolted me from my reverie, even before Olivia’s cheerful call of “Malik’s here!” reached my ears. Instantly, an itch began to spread across my chest, a prickle of unease that quickly escalated into a full-blown sensation of protective instinct, paternal anxiety. Whatever you called it, it had its claws in me, digging deep.
• I watched from the hallway, arms folded across my chest, my jaw tight, as Tamara opened the door. Her face lit up with a soft smile, one I hadn't seen directed at anyone outside our immediate family in years. Then came the hug – a hug that lingered a little too long for my taste. Malik’s hand rested on her lower back, a gesture of quiet intimacy that sent a fresh wave of unease through me.