Theodore's Pov
I sit at the table, a fork idly prodding at the scrambled eggs on my plate. The scent of pancakes and syrup fills the air, but I can’t bring myself to fully enjoy it. My mood sours with every bite, like a bear with a sore paw.
The morning had been… perfect. Too perfect. That brief slice of time with Juniper, laughing, splashing in the ocean, felt almost like old times. Then, Liam showed up, the ever-present reminder of the reality I keep trying—and failing—to ignore.
Across the table, Juniper sits next to him, her head tilted slightly as she talks to Emily about beach games or something equally carefree. Her laugh, light and genuine, twists in my chest. I tear my gaze away and focus on my plate, trying to muster up the energy to participate in the conversation swirling ar
