Closing the door to the bathroom, I go into the kitchen and see that Dylan is sitting on one of the stools waiting. “You can go play a bit,” I say. “Mom is going to take a shower.” Before he moans that he’s starving, I tell him, “Get a cheese stick.”

He walks over to the fridge and grabs two and then runs back to the room. I grab my phone and dial Matthew.

“This has to be a record,” he says, answering the phone with a laugh, and I hear people talking all around him.

“Yeah,” I whisper and then look to make sure I’m alone. “I need your help.”

“Shit,” he hisses, and all of a sudden, the background gets quiet, and I hear a door close. “What happened?”

“I have a …” I say, pinching my nose. “Let’s say Karrie was living in an apartment.”

“Negative,” he says right away, and I groan. “Okay, okay, fine. Let’s play pretend.”

“She lives in this apartment, and it gets vandalized,” I say the word, and I could swear Matthew stops breathing altogether. “When she wasn’t there.”

“Justin.” He says my name. “I have to say I’m done playing pretend. What the fuck have you gotten yourself into?” I close my eyes. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“What, would you just leave Karrie?” I ask him.

“I love her,” Matthew says, then stops. “Wait.”

“Yeah, whatever,” I say, not addressing the question.

“Dude, you have to just move her shit into your house,” he says. “Just don’t even tell her.”

“What?” I whisper, looking back again.

“Just don’t tell her and move all her things in,” he says, and I look at the phone. “Or I mean, this worked once …” he says. “Just handcuff her to the bed and don’t let her out until she agrees.”

“How are you even married?” I ask, and he laughs.

“She never stood a chance,” he says. “But seriously, Justin, I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m assuming if you are this in, then you are all in?”

“Yeah,” I say softly. “I’m all in.”

“I’ll see you next week,” he says. “Things just got pushed up.”

“There is a lot I haven’t told you,” I start to say. “Dylan’s dad”—I sigh—“um, he’s not really involved, and when he is, let’s just say it’s not good.” I wonder if by telling him this, I’m breaking her trust.

“What?” he whispers.

“I swear, Matthew, the kid is the best,” I say. “He is hands down the best kid I’ve ever met.”

“Then that’s all I need to know,” he says. “Get your woman ready for us.”

“There is not enough time in the year to get anyone ready for my family,” I say with a smile.