Riley was a single mom to 8-year-old Roy, and she’d grown used to disappointment. Every time she met someone new, things would go well—until she mentioned her son. Then came the awkward silence, the slow fade, or worse, the flat-out rejection. It hurt more than she let on. So when Mitchell came along—funny, kind, and genuinely interested—she wanted just one uncomplicated night. She didn’t mention Roy. She even sent him to a sleepover, ignoring his protests. “It’s just for tonight,” she told herself. “Maybe this could be different.” The date was better than she expected. Conversation flowed easily,
and Mitchell made her laugh in a way she hadn’t in a long time. For a moment, she let herself believe something real could grow. But just as she worked up the courage to tell the truth, her phone rang. Roy’s friend’s mom was calling—he was crying and said he was hurt.Instant guilt washed over her. She confessed everything to Mitchell right there—about Roy,