Chapter 40

My mother’s call came right on time—early evening, just as I was pouring myself a drink. Her voice was sharp and cold, like always. “If Haley’s moved on so quickly, perhaps you should start dating too,” she said. “There’s no point clinging to something that’s clearly over—” I didn’t let her finish. I just hung up. No goodbye. No arguing. Just silence. She didn’t deserve anything more than that. I stared at the glass of whiskey in my hand, still untouched. My grip around it tightened until my knuckles turned white. She didn’t understand. No one did. It wasn’t about Haley “moving on.” It wasn’t about her finding peace or someone new. It was about what she left behind. Me. Jordan. This house. Our life. And now Joey. She disappeared again. No warning. No goodbye. No texts or calls. Just a note. A damn note, like the last time she left me. It was like I didn’t matter at all. Like I was something she tried, then tossed away. I sat down on the edge of the couch, breathing hard. My anger felt