Family. Friends from work. Neighbors. Everyone smiling. Everyone holding phones like the moment mattered more if it was recorded.
Pastel lanterns swayed along the fence. Pink and blue ribbons fluttered. Cupcakes sat on a table like little question marks.
Blake worked the crowd like he was running for office.
“I’m going to be a dad!”
“Can you believe it?”
“Rowan’s doing amazing.”
People congratulated him endlessly. Handshakes. Back pats. Laughing like he hadn’t been sending my sister texts about deleting evidence.
His mother hugged me and whispered, “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”
I almost shattered right there.
Her genuine kindness felt like salt pressed into an open wound.
Harper arrived in a soft blue dress carrying homemade pastel cookies like she was innocence in human form.
She hugged me and whispered, “I’m so excited for this.”
I whispered back, “Me too.”
Her hands were ice cold.
My aunt leaned close and murmured, “Harper’s been so helpful through all of this. You’re lucky to have her.”
I nodded, biting my tongue so hard I tasted blood.
Then everyone gathered around the big white box in the center of the yard.
Phones rose. Cameras rolled.
My uncle shouted, “Alright! Let’s see what we’re having!”
Blake slid an arm around my waist and beamed for every lens pointed at us.
Harper stood a little too close on Blake’s other side, smiling like she owned part of this moment.
Blake leaned down and murmured against my ear, “Ready, sweetheart?”
I looked up at him and smiled.
“More than you know.”
Someone began the countdown.
“Three!”
My heart pounded steady.
“Two!”
The air felt sharp in my lungs.
“One!”
We lifted the lid.
Black balloons surged upward like a dark tidal wave.
Not pink.
Not blue.
Black.
And stamped across every balloon in shiny silver letters was one word:
CHEATER
Black confetti blasted into the air—tiny broken hearts raining down onto hair, shoulders, frosting, drinks.
The entire backyard froze into a silence so sharp you could hear someone swallow.
Then the whispers began.
“What does that mean?”
“Is this a joke?”
“Oh my God…”
Blake’s face drained of color so fast it was almost impressive.
