Page 79 of Wreckage of Us
“You’re not ready for my story,” she laughs.
“Try me,” I counter.
“I was married at some point,” she starts.
I nod in understanding. “To Brett, right?” I only say that to make sure I got the name of her baby’s father.
“No,” she shakes her head and sniffles. “I actually cheated on my husband with Brett. Got pregnant. Tried to pass the baby as my husband’s…”
I am speechless. That is not what I thought she’d tell me at all.
“You were right,” I mumble, unsure of what else to say. “I am not ready for your story,” I burst into laughter, and she follows suit. “Damn.”
“Your man is looking for you,” she points behind me.
I turn around and see Dylan standing on my back deck, staring at us. He lifts a hand in greeting.
“I don’t think he likes me,” Jessica snickers.
“So not true,” I assure her, although, I don’t think Dylan likes her either.
“Ladies,” Dylan’s deep voice startles me. I didn’t realize he was coming out this way.
“Hey,” I jump out of my seat and go to him. “I was just about to head back.”
“No worries,” he waves me off. “I actually wanted to talk to your neighbor here,” he smirks at Jessica.
“What about?” she lifts an eyebrow at him, sounding so condescending. I was going to introduce her to Oliver, but I don’t think he’d be able to handle her.
“I haven’t had a chance to see you since I got out of the hospital,” he completely ignores her attitude. “And I just wanted to thank you for your mad skills with a skillet.”
“Oh,” she snorts in surprise. That’s not what I thought he was going to say either. I am also so grateful for what she did for us on that day when she knocked Snake out with my mother’s cast iron frying pan. I had used it the day before and put it outside to let it cool, then completely forgot about. Thank God I did.
“I’m in your debt for saving Becca and our baby.” He puts his large hand on my belly, and I am about to melt into the ground. “If you ever need anything, you know where to find me.”
Jessica doesn’t say anything for a few long seconds, then finally nods at him.
“I will hold you to that.”
“I’m counting on it,” Dylan smirks, then looks at me. “Ready to go?”
I say my goodbyes to Jessica, and we walk back to my house. We enter the kitchen and I head for the stove, ready to make myself some tea. I feel nervous all of a sudden. My hands are shaking and I’m trying to mask it with the teapot I am holding.
Dylan watches me apprehensively, and I get this bad feeling in my stomach. I put the teapot on the stove with a loud bang, then place both hands on my belly. I am scared.
“We should probably talk…” Dylan starts, and I almost throw up at his feet.
“I love you.” The words burst out of me. They are followed by me bursting into tears. “Please don’t leave me.”
The look of shock on Dylan’s face is one for the history books.
“What? Who said anything about leaving?”
“You said we needed to talk, and I… I… I…” I wave my hands in front of me, unsure of what I’m trying to say.
Dylan takes a couple of steps to reach me. I jump when he grabs me and brings me closer to him, my large belly definitely in the way of us being chest to chest.
“I wanted to tell you that I love you,” he bends down and whispers against my lips. “That I plan on moving into this house permanently,” he continues. “That I am claiming you and this baby even though you may not feel the same,” I gasp in shock. “But I don’t care. I am making you mine anyway.”
