Isla is still talking. Something about how I should just charge Matthew for the emotional damage but her voice fades into the background.
My fingers tighten around my phone.
“Fuck,” I say, too fast.
Isla immediately straightens. “What? What’s up?”
“It’s Colton.” I swallow. “His mom’s sick again. She was diagnosed with lupus two years ago and now she’s in kidney failure…”
The words feel wrong in my mouth, like I’m borrowing someone else’s bad news.
Isla’s face changes instantly. “Oh fuck. I hope she’ll be okay again.”
“Me too,” I murmur, already typing. My thumbs move before I fully decide what I’m saying.
Jenna
I’m sorry. Bring Livy anytime.
I hit send and set the phone down like it’s suddenly too heavy to hold.
Around us, the apartment is half-empty, half-chaos. Matthew’s life is boxed up in cardboard like it can be reduced that easily. We’ve already moved everything outside—clean break, no contact, no lingering conversations at the door. Isla promised to stay with me tonight and watchThe Bachelorwhile he comes and fetches his things.
“Okay, but this is bad, right?” Isla collapses into the cushions on my couch.
I nod before I can stop myself. “It’s not just bad. It’s very… complicated now.”
She gives me a look. “That’s lawyer-speak for ‘we’re fucked now,’ isn’t it?”
“Pretty much.” I run a hand over my face. “We’re arguing in court that his mom is a reliable support system for Colton when he goes back into season. That she can help with Livy. But if she’s in hospital?—”
“Then that falls apart,” Isla finishes.
“Exactly.”
I take a deep breath. As if this case wasn’t difficult enough…
“What about his dad?” Isla asks.
“He works full-time. And he’s not exactly the ‘drop everything for grandkid emergencies’ type.”
“Okay,” she says slowly. “Nanny?”
“Yeah, he could hire one,” I admit, already seeing where this goes. “But then Botox Batman will argue it’s better for Livy to be with her mother. A stranger versus a parent. It’s an easy emotional angle.”
Isla lets out a low whistle. “God. This is fucked up.”
“Yes. It is.”
I text him again.
Jenna
Wanna talk?
Colton
Would love to, but I’m at the hospital and no phones allowed… but thank you. I hope we can figure this out.
