Mitchell had whispered those three words directly into my ear, his breath hot and smelling of the scotch he’d been nursing since noon. I sat frozen in the center of the room, surrounded by shredded gift wrap and congratulatory cards that now felt like a cruel joke.

Then he stood up, straightened his silk tie, and walked straight to my cousin, Natalie. The same Natalie who had been helping me plan this shower for months. The same Natalie who was currently holding a clipboard with a list of gift-givers. He took her hand, interlacing their fingers with a familiarity that made my stomach lurch.