“In the last four years, I’ve never seen you fret over your outfit.”

I groaned. She was right.

“Be strong. You can do this. Yell at him, shut him out forever, fuck his brains out. Whatever your decision is, it will be the right one.”

Owen picked me up as my parents were out running errands with Austin. I’d set it up perfectly so my nosy little boy didn’t get any crazy ideas.

There was a new café a while away that was situated in the middle of the botanical gardens that we thought we’d try out. It also helped that we left the vicinity of Acacia Falls, knowing that gossip would make the rounds by the end of the day if we were spotted.

As Owen drove, I discreetly scanned his profile. Believe it or not, he had grown more handsome since I’d left. In my head, he had turned into some fat ogre with no teeth, fitting the villain role well.

However, sitting beside me with the sun beaming over his chiselled features, I knew I was in trouble.

He looked like my husband. Smelt like my husband. Yet he was not my husband.

A melancholy aura stained the air, blatantly displaying my wayward thoughts.

Owen glanced over in concern. “I have an idea. Why don’t we just catch up for a bit, ease into it? Talk about what we’ve been up to. Based on your boy, you’ve had an eventful few years.”

He cocked his head as I gave my first genuine smile. Austin, I could talk about.

And just like that, I poured out the story of the stranger, the accidental pregnancy and the life-altering change of birthing my baby into the world. I wasn’t ashamed. I’d never be. All my decisions led me to being the mother of the most magnificent boy.

When I came to an end, Owen was beaming, catching on to my contagious enthusiasm, which made me pause. It’s amazing what your mind can shut out until you’re slapped with the reminder directly across the face, the imprint leaving an indentation so deep there’s no way you can ignore it.

Owen was my best friend. He used to be the one I would run to, to celebrate in all my wins and comfort me in my losses.

He was who I would confide in, cry on, complain to or love on. He was my everything for a while.

I miss him. I miss him so fucking much.