Chapter 1

The tenth time my best friend ends up in the hospital from raising her kid alone, I grab the phone out of her hand and tear into her husband.

"Are you even a man? She went through the whole pregnancy alone, she’s raising your son alone, and now she’s worked herself into a perforated ulcer. And you don’t even care?"

"Seriously, just drop dead over there and do us all a favor!"

Juliet snatches the phone back, her eyes red, and begs me to stop.

One look at her pale face and my heart breaks for her.

Four years ago, she fell for some executive who’d been posted overseas.

She’s been on her own ever since. The pregnancy, the checkups, the delivery, all of it. That man never showed his face once.

"You can’t keep letting him get away with this!"

I sigh. "Just rest and let the IV do its thing. I’ll go pick up Milo."

I’m still fuming when I get to the preschool. Then I stop dead.

My fiancé, Nolan, who’s supposed to be away on a business trip, scoops Juliet’s son up and swings him into the air like he’s done it a hundred times.

Milo kisses him on the cheek. "Daddy, you said you bought a big house yesterday. Does that mean you get to stay with me and Mommy every day now?"

Nolan ruffles his hair.

"Daddy finished the garden Mommy always wanted. From now on, it’s just the three of us. No more being apart."

It hits me like a truck.

I’m standing there holding the bone broth I bought for Juliet, and it feels like someone just reached into my chest and ripped my heart out.

No wonder she never let me meet her husband.

The deadbeat I’ve been cursing out for four years is the man I sleep next to every night.

My phone buzzes. It’s Mom.

[Wren, honey, which cake did you two decide on?]

My hands are shaking as I type:

[Mom, the wedding’s off.]

I watch Nolan buckle Milo into his car. My mind is completely blank.

My phone buzzes again. Mom’s calling.

"Wren, what do you mean it’s off? Did you two have a fight?"

I take a deep breath and force the words out.

"I’m fine, Mom. I just need some time."

"But the venue’s booked. The invitations already went out…"

She’s getting more and more frantic. "You two were doing so well. How could you just…"

"Mom, I’m dealing with something right now. Can we talk later?"

I hang up. My fingers won’t stop shaking.

Nolan’s car is already gone.

I just stand there with the bag of bone broth, no idea where to go.

Then Juliet’s texts start rolling in:

[Wren, I didn’t want you wearing yourself out, so I had the nanny grab Milo.]

[You don’t need to go. Go home and get some rest.]

I stare at the screen. It’s so ridiculous.

Nolan picked him up. And she’s telling me it was the nanny.

If they had nothing to hide, why lie?

When I don’t answer, she calls, panicking.

I decline the call and text back:

[ok.]

Suddenly, I really do want to laugh.

Is she worried I’m tired? Or worried I’ll find out?

Four whole years.

The whole time, I was furious on her behalf. I went to her checkups with her. I helped with the baby. I got her through those brutal first weeks after the birth.

Nolan always acted like Juliet had stolen me from him. They’d never gotten along to begin with, and after Milo was born, they could barely stand to be in the same room.

I kept begging him to be nicer to her. Being a single mom is hard enough.

He’d pinch my cheek and give a little laugh.

"Fine. For my future wife’s sake, I’ll look out for her."

Well. He sure did look out for her.

He looked out for her so well he gave her a kid. So well he bought them a house.

Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m in an Uber, following his car.

I watch him get Milo a Happy Meal, drop him off at home, then drive straight to Juliet’s hospital like he’s made the trip a hundred times.

He knows the way better than I do. And I’m her best friend.

Her door is open a crack.

Nolan slips inside, and right away I hear them arguing in low voices.

"Why would you just show up like that? What if Wren finds out?"

"She’s so excited about this wedding. We can’t keep doing this…"

Juliet sounds angry, her voice thick with tears.

Nolan ignores her and pulls her into his arms.

"Jules, I missed you so much."

Now she’s crying for real.

"Nol, let’s just end it. Having Milo was a mistake from the start. We can’t keep making it worse."

"Once you two are married, we’re done. For good. These last few years… I’ll just tell myself they were borrowed time."

I sag against the wall, my nails digging into my palms.

Nolan’s voice rises.

"Jules! You’re always putting everyone else first. What about you? Who’s looking out for you? Are you really okay with our son growing up without a dad?"

"You think it doesn’t kill me, hearing my own kid call me Uncle Nolan?"

Juliet pulls out of his arms.

"Stop. Please. I’m not letting Wren get hurt again…"