Julian laughed through his tears.
“Yeah. Definitely mine.”
For a moment, I remembered the man I had loved.
That was dangerous.
Love can make accountability feel cruel when it isn’t.
Julian looked up.
“Can I know her?”
“Yes.”
His lips parted.
“You can be her father.”
Hope flashed across his face.
I stopped it before it grew.
“But I’m not taking you back.”
The words hurt me too.
He nodded slowly.
“Not now,” I continued.
