TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 153

One hundred and fifty three

Lisa POV

The clothing store was quieter than I expected for that time of day. I moved past a section of fitted tops and paused in front of a mirror to check my reflection, as most of my clothes no longer sat the way they used to.

I picked up another top and held it against my body. The hem barely reached where I needed it to.

“I think I need to change everything,” I said. “I’m so fat.”

My mom glanced at me from where she stood, flipping through a row of dresses. “You’re not fat, honey. You’re carrying a baby. Getting bigger is expected.”

“I know,” I grumbled. “It’s just inconvenient.”

She picked out a piece and held it up. “Try this.”

I took it from her and checked the cut. It would work. Not my usual style, but it would work. I added it to the small pile in my hand and moved along the rack again.

“Mom, I have an idea,” I said.

“That usually means I won’t like it,” she replied.

“While I go to the festival, you can go spend some time with Alpha Kieran,” I said. “You keep staying around me when you could be with your mate. I hear you on the phone with him. You miss him, so go.”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” she said.

“I’m not telling you what to do. I’m pointing out that you have options.”

“My option is staying with you. You are my priority. If Kieran cannot understand that, then that is on him. I’m not taking that risk.”

I shifted the clothes in my hand and picked another one from the rack. “That doesn’t mean you have to pause your life. I’m fine now, and it’s not a risk to stay a few days away from me.”

She took a dress off the hanger and handed it to me.

My phone rang before I could respond. I checked the screen. Dr. Harry.

I picked up.

“Hello, Doc.”

“I dropped by, but security informed me you stepped out with your mom,” he said.

“We’re out shopping. It’s not too far from the house,” I said, wondering why he stopped by since I visited the hospital today. I shifted the phone to my other hand and stepped away from my mom, moving toward a quieter section of the store.

“Just wanted to check on you,” he said, noticing I was waiting for his response. “I also wanted to ask about earlier.”

“What about it?”

“Has Alpha Cameron adjusted his visit patterns?”

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“What do you mean?”

There was a short pause.

“At the hospital, his behavior was different from what I’ve observed before. He was more contained.”

“That sounds like him,” I said.

“No,” he replied. “Not in that context. I’ve interacted with him before. He is usually more responsive.”

“So now you’re analyzing him?” I asked.

“I’m observing patterns,” he said. “It’s part of what I do.”

“And how does that involve me?”

“Because his behavior shifted around you,” he said.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re reaching.”

“I don’t think I am,” he replied. “I was there when he set boundaries with you. Yesterday did not reflect that same structure.”

“That’s your interpretation,” I said, picking up a piece of clothing from the rack beside me and looking at it without really seeing it.

“It’s based on comparison, Lisa,” he replied.

“So what exactly are you trying to say?”

“That situations like this don’t usually remain contained,” he said. “Especially when roles are already defined.”

“There is no ‘me and him.””

“Lisa, I’m not trying to overstep,” he said. “I just don’t want you caught in something that complicates your position, or makes it worse.”

“You’re reading into things that are not there.”

“I hope that’s true,” he said. “I’ll see you at the next check-in.”

The call ended. I stared at my phone before lowering it. The sound of footsteps across the floor made me lift my head.

“What did he want?” my mom asked when I returned.

“Nothing important.”

I placed the clothes in my hand on the counter and picked up another set. “And I’m going to the festival.”

“Lisa…”

“I am,” I said. “You told me to take my mind off things. This is me doing that.”

“This is not the same thing,” she replied.

“It is exactly the same thing,” I said. “I’m not sitting in one place waiting for everything to happen around me. I think I’ve been following instructions long enough.”

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She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “If something happens again, you won’t be protected the same way.”

I met her gaze. “Nothing is going to happen.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know I’m not going to keep living like I’m waiting for something to go wrong,” I replied.

She held my gaze, then shook her head slightly. “If you’re going, then I’m coming with you.”

“That defeats the point,” I said. “I don’t need protection every second. Besides, Cameron’s guards are driving mé to the pack.”

“Still not leaving your side.”

I huffed. “Fine, then.”

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