(Julia POV)
I’m standing in my living room, the crumpled engagement party invite clenched in my hand, its cream card-stock edges digging into my palm. The apartment’s quiet, too quiet, with Jake’s toys scattered across the rug like little landmines, dinosaurs tipped over, a red truck he’d bragged about on the phone yesterday. He’s safe with Mom, like always, tucked away where no one can see him, especially not Andrew or Luke. My boots scuff the hardwood as I pace, the invite trembling slightly, Sophie’s sharp voice from the café, “Single mom life, so simple”, looping in my head, cutting deeper every time. I stop by the window, staring at the gray dusk creeping over the city, and grab my phone from the coffee table, thumb hovering over Luke’s name. I need to talk this out, and he’s the onl
