Not yet, I silently reply.

I cut the ignition and slide into the backseat. Feels familiar and foreign, all at once.

Our gazes lock. My pulse marches in my ears.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “So sorry for the things I said. The way I behaved. But more than that, I’m sorry for not being the partner I promised I’d be. The man you needed. I thought I was doing the right thing by providing in my own way. I see now that I was wrong. You and I had different interpretations of what being a true partner meant. I thought that meant providing for y’all financially. Giving y’all the best of the best.”

Julia nods. Reaches for my hand.

“And I was wrong not to tell you what I meant by ‘real partner’ in more honest terms. I thought it was universally understood what that meant, you know? I thought everyone had the same understanding of what co-parents did and how the whole thing worked. Turns out we all have very different definitions. Which makes perfect sense now that I think about it. We all come from different families. We have different needs. I’m sorry I made such a dumbass assumption.”

I give her hand a squeeze. “Not dumbass. But thank you for saying that.”

“I recognize that you were trying in your own way to be there for me and Charlie Brown. That house search you did—I get that it took a lot of time and effort, and I sincerely appreciate what you did. You do think about us. You love us deeply, and you do work your ass off to show it. So thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t say that at the house—thank you.”

He nods. “You’re welcome.”

“I really do appreciate you putting that time in. The effort. Even though it was a bit…”

“Off,” he says. “I get it. Since my divorce, I’ve felt this pressing need to be a workhorse. I caused everyone so much pain, Julia. So much fucking grief. I guess I kind of wanted to make up for that the only way I knew how—by working my ass off so Ford could be there for his daughter, and my parents could be there for Ford. I’d take care of the financial piece of the puzzle so they could take care of each other.”

Julia’s brow curves upward. “And you thought you’d do the same for Charlie Brown and me.”

“Exactly.”

“Grey,” she says. Voice rough with anguish. “I hate how much you’ve beaten yourself up. I hate that you’ve put yourself through hell these past few years.”

“But something needs to change.”

She swallows. “Yeah. Yeah, it does. For us to work…”

I wrap my hand around hers. “And it will. Things are going to change, Julia. No more trying. No more empty promises. I’m making real changes. Big ones. So I can be there for you and the baby the way you need.”

She raises her brows. “Really?”

“Really. I’m stepping back at Montgomery Partners.”