Chapter 11
After dinner, my parents took Emma to the park down the street.
Dylan pulled me into my bedroom with this mischievous grin and handed me a photo like he was presenting the crown jewels.
“Check this out-think this counts as our unofficial wedding photo?”
A couple weeks ago, my friend had dragged me to one of those portrait studios for a girls’ day photo shoot.
During a break, Dylan showed up to drive me home.
He’d somehow sweet-talked the wedding photographer next door into lending him a veil, which he secretly pinned in my hair when I wasn’t looking.
Then he called my name and snapped the picture the second I turned around.
I’d never really talked to Dylan about my marriage.
He had no idea this was my first time wearing anything bridal.
The girl in the photo looked genuinely happy-glowing in a way I barely recognized anymore.
They say love shows in your eyes no matter how hard you try to hide it, and I guess they’re right.
While I was lost in the image, Dylan leaned down and kissed me, all gentle and tentative.
He got so caught up in the moment that he bumped his knee against my nightstand.
That’s when Ryder started hammering on my door:
Jess! Open up! What’s going on in there?”
We were making out while my ex-husband was having a complete breakdown six feet away.
The only thought running through my head was:
Why the hell hasn’t Ryder left yet?
esus, what a cockblock.
The pounding got so aggressive that Mrs. Patterson next door was probably ready to call the cops.
Dylan finally broke away and opened the door, wiping his mouth with zero shame: “We’re together, man. Use your imagination.”
When Ryder saw my kiss-swollen lips, something snapped in his eyes.
He pushed past Dylan and barged into my room.
My bookshelf by the door was lined with advance copies of my latest series-now translated into multiple languages.
Dylan’s name was printed right next to mine as co-translator on every spine.
tyder looked away like the sight burned, then his gaze landed on the photo Dylan had shown me. He stared at my radiant smile for an uncomfortably long time.
When he finally spoke, his voice was raw: “I heard what your mother said.”
This kid’s going to Oxford in a few weeks. Emma needs stability-she can’t keep losing father figures.”
‘I know you’re in the middle of some college romance fantasy right now, and you’re not thinking clearly, but I can…”
He swallowed hard: “I can wait until this runs its course.”
Dylan let out this sarcastic laugh:
“Dude, wake up and smell the coffee. She’s not into you anymore.”
