Jackson’s POV
“Do you want some potatoes, love?” Mum’s voice was gentle, her hands tentative as she held out the bowl of creamy potato salad like a peace offering.
I didn’t look up. Just nodded once, scooped some onto my plate, and passed it to Geoff beside me.
The clink of silverware filled the silence like static in my ears. I pushed food around my plate without appetite, mimicking normalcy for their sake.
“Honey…” Mum tried again, quieter.
I cut her off, my voice sharper than I intended. “Please. Don’t.”
Silence descended, fragile and awkward. Everyone was walking on eggshells, tiptoeing around the fallout of my implosion. Kristina cleared her throat once, then went back to stabbing her chicken with a bit too much force. Geoff sipped his water and avoided my eyes.
I couldn’t do
