Chapter 3

3

I almost choked on my porridge. "You got married?" I wasn't being judgmental, just surprised. Ashley had been a staunchly independent, anti-marriage type since high school. We'd even made plans to open a retirement home together someday.

Ashley raised an eyebrow. "Who says you need to be married to have a kid? Catching up with the times, are we?"

She explained that Alex was her son with her "hottest ex." They hadn't lasted, but they'd parted amicably. The father knew about Alex and occasionally sent child support. He'd even been a decent dad. But he'd gotten married last year, and to avoid complications, Ashley cut off contact.

"But what about him?" I asked, worried about Alex. We'd been friends long enough that she knew what I meant. She beckoned, and Alex scamper over, looking up at her with bright, puppy-dog eyes. Ashley squeezed his cheek. "He's got a big heart, takes after me. Doesn't care who his dad is." She gave him a gentle push, and he turned to me, wrapping his small arms around my leg.

"Hi, Auntie! You're so pretty! Can you be my mommy too?"

That one word, "Mommy," hit me hard. Evan was a tyrant at home, his behavior growing increasingly worse. He played cruel pranks on me, enjoying my anger. And somewhere along the way, he stopped calling me "Mom," using my full name instead. It had been so long.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, warmed by Alex's innocent plea. I knelt down and pinched his cheek. "I called dibs on being your godmother before you were even born, sweetie. So, of course."

Alex cheered, hugging my neck tightly. He was like a fluffy golden retriever puppy. Much cuter than Evan.

Ashley's dry voice drifted over us. "I thought someone had forgotten all about our little pact."

Never. You're my best friend. If Ethan hadn't insisted on isolating me after we got married, forbidding me from contacting anyone, we wouldn't have drifted apart.

Speak of the devil. My phone rang. It was Ethan.

"Where are you?" His familiar voice, smooth and laced with irritation, filled my ear. Ashley gestured for Alex to lower the TV volume, then folded her arms and glared at me. Alex, mimicking his mother, copied her pose, watching me with wide eyes. They were adorable. I couldn't help but smile.

Ethan, hearing my silence, softened his tone. "Evan can't sleep. He wants you to read him a bedtime story. Don't be mad at him, Ally."

There it was. Every time Evan and I clashed, it was the same line. Don't be mad at him. As if no matter what Evan did, I shouldn't react. Because Evan adored him, Ethan didn't feel the sting of those tiny, needle-like hurts. He brushed it off as childish antics, something adults shouldn't take seriously.

I sighed, exhausted. And done. "When are you coming back?"