~Narrator’s~

“Avocados help with hormonal balance,” Reo mutters to himself, squinting at his phone screen as he leans over the marble kitchen island. His eyes are puffy. His hair’s still damp from a rushed shower. But his fingers scroll steadily through another parenting article, tabs open on everything from postpartum iron levels to toddler-approved lentil soup.

It’s barely past six in the morning.

And he’s pacing around barefoot in grey sweatpants, his designer life has been traded momentarily for the quiet pressure of caring.

The fridge beeps when he leaves it open too long. Inside, everything is arranged like a rainbow exploded in there. Fresh spinach stacked neatly beside pre-sliced...