Matteo grins. "See? You get it."

I shake my head, laughing softly, but the conversation lingers. And maybe it's the wine, maybe it's the fact that I actually need to talk about this, but before I can stop myself, I ask⁠—

"How did you know?"

Matteo glances at me. "Know what?"

"That Sophia was the right one."

His eyes immediately soften as he looks over at Sophia, who is still at the table, bouncing their baby on her knee. She's laughing, her head tilted back, easy and unguarded, her dark curls bobbing with each movement.

Matteo smiles at the sight.

And that's when I realize—it's the kind of smile that's just for her.

The kind of smile you can't fake.

The kind of smile that means home.

"I dated other girls before Sophia,” Matteo finally says, leaning against the counter. "Some lasted a couple months. Some lasted years."

I stay quiet, listening. The clink of glasses from the dining room punctuates the silence.

"And every time," he continues, rubbing the back of his neck, "there was something wrong. Sometimes it was obvious—we fought all the time. Everything was a battle, a disagreement."

He shakes his head, exhaling.

"And other times? It took me a while to realize it."

I bite my lip. "How?"

Matteo shrugs. "Because I was trying to make something work that wasn't meant to. I'd excuse the fights. I'd convince myself that love was supposed to be hard."

He turns back to me, expression softer now.

"And then I met Sophia,” he says simply.

I glance toward her again.

Sophia, who is now making funny faces at their baby, who is giggling uncontrollably, drool glistening on her chin.

"And everything was just...easy," Matteo says. "It felt right."

I let out a breath, quiet.

"We fight sometimes, sure," he admits. "Everyone does. But not like before. Not in a way that made me feel like I had to win. We don't scream at each other. We respect each other."

He looks at me now, voice steady.

"She makes me feel special," he says. "And I want to take care of her."

My throat tightens. I run my fingers along the edge of a glass, feeling the cool, smooth rim.

And then he says the thing that shatters me.

"If you're questioning whether Evan is the right guy," he says, "then he's not."

I swallow. Hard.

"Because when you meet the right guy?" he continues. "You won't be able to stop yourself. You'll just know it's him."

And that?

That's the problem.

Because when Matteo says it, when he describes the way it's supposed to feel...

The first face that pops into my head?

Isn't Evan's at all.

It's Cal again.

NOW CHATTING WITH CALEB

Pretty Girl

hi

Caleb

Hey, pretty girl.

Wanna do another sexy bedtime story?

actually

i wanted to get your opinion on something serious

Oh?

Of course. Tell me.

i think i need to break up with evan

…

I’m listening.

i don’t know

it just hit me tonight

at sunday dinner my brother said something to me that i can’t get out of my head

What did he say?

he told me that when you meet the right person

you don’t question it

you just know

And that made you think of Evan?

no

that’s the thing

when he said it

i thought of cal

and that’s insane

because i barely know him

Do you?

i mean

logically, no

but it feels like i do

Because you’re drawn to him.

Because your body and your mind already trust him.

but what if i’m being stupid

what if i’m throwing away years with evan for some… infatuation

Infatuation and love aren’t the same thing, pretty girl.

And what exactly are you holding onto with Evan?

i don’t know

the time we’ve spent together?

the idea of him?

The idea of who you thought he was.

Not who he actually is.

…

yeah

You already know he isn’t right for you.

You’ve known for a long time.

but what if i’m wrong about cal?

what if he’s just being nice to me because he feels bad for me?

or worse

what if he’s love bombing me?

That’s not what’s happening.

how do you know?

Because if he was, you’d feel like you owed him something.

You’d feel like he was trying to trap you.

Not like he was giving you a way out.

…

You’re not trapped anymore, Izzy.

You’re free to make whatever decision is best for you.

But you already know what that is.

i think i do

Good girl.

so i should just do it?

Yes.

but i should do it in person, right?

You owe him that much.

But you don’t owe him anything else.

yeah

okay

i’m going to call him tomorrow

set up a time to meet

and i’ll end it

I’m proud of you.

thanks

So, what about Cal?

what about him?

You’re about to be single.

Are you planning to do something about this feeling you have for him?