Page 68 of Unbreakable
“It’s a family affair here,” Dylan assured the couple as his hands slotted into my waist. “Jeannie’s parents own the place, so she grew up here. And I’m her husband.”
“I caught that,” the woman grinned, clearly taking her side on Team Dyl.
“How nice,” the man tittered, still looking like he was anticipating a brawl breaking out.
“You guys need anything else?” I asked.
“All set,” the woman said, widening her eyes at me for ablink twice if you need helplook.
“I’ll be right back. Andy, can you cover for a few?”
Andy’s jaw flexed as he stared, then turned to the handwashing sink. He cast his eyes downward. “Sure.”
One of Dyl’s hands slid down to my ass, gently cupping it and urging me forward. Andy was forever on thin ice with Dylan, always afraid he was just waiting to pounce on me at any opportunity. They’d made nice the summer before when our kids were so enamored with Andy, but Dylan kept one eye on him at all times. Based on Andy’s confession the other night, he wasn’t wrong to feel protective.
And yet, Dylan was making one million percent certain he marked me as his. I reached back to take Dylan’s hand, pulling him toward the office behind the bar.
I closed the door behind us and Dylan bent to lock the handle. Then, without a word, he spun me around and putmy back against it, stepping between my feet and pressing his weight into me.
He crooked his finger to tip my face up to his, eyes flicking over every part of my face. He panted, then held his breath, brow furrowing.
It was no longer the Dylan vs. Andy show. He’d wholly shifted his focus to me.
“Jeannie.” So much hung in the way he said my name. Apology. Pain. Longing. Hope. Fear.
Tears flooded my eyes as all the feelings bubbled like peroxide on a wound. The person I wanted was right in front of me. But there was a distance that we had to resolve or the future for us was muddy.
“Tell me,” he whispered, drawing his thumb across my cheek.
I just kept saying “I—” and stopping. Starting and stopping. Not being able to go on.
“I want to know, J. Everything. I want to fix it.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, sealing out his image so I could focus on myself, what I needed.
“I want you to crawl for me. To kiss my feet because you’re so sorry you abandoned me and ignored my cries for help. To beg and plead for me to take you back. To say you’re going to stop avoiding my feelings and that you’re going to listen and that you actually want to seeme, Dylan.” I opened my eyes and he nodded, eyes rounded. “The real me, Dylan. Not just happy Jeanine or obedient Jeanine or Jeanine who does everything.”
Breath puffed out of his nostrils as he leaned to kiss my forehead. Then slowly, he lowered himself onto his knees in front of me. He put his hands on my hips, looking up at me. He kissed right above where my jeans buttoned, then sat back on his heels. He tapped my right foot and I lifted it. He placed it on top of his thigh, unzipping my heeled boot. He wiggled it, strugglingto get it off. I held my leg up higher, trying to give him a chance. We laughed together.
“Just pull it,” I said, smiling as I ran my fingers through his hair. He tugged the boot off, then went serious again, peeling my sock down. Closing his eyes, he placed a lingering kiss on the top of my foot.
“Jeannie, I’m so sorry.”
I nodded, starting to cry in earnest. “I’m sorry I left, Dyl. I didn’t know what else to do.”
He shook his head, sliding up my body to stand. His eyes were watery. I’d seen him cry pretty much when our kids were born, when we got married. When we lost. But that was about it. “I left you a long time ago. And I’m so sorry. But I’m here now, Jeannie. You’ve got me. I don’t blame you for leaving. But I don’t ever want to let you go again.” His hand framed my face, brushing some hair behind my ear. “Please come home, Jeanine. You’re my home. My twin flame. And I’m lost without you.”
“Those are all things about what I do for you, Dylan. What are you going to do for me?”
“I’ll be better. I see now.”
“It can’t be the same,” I sniffed.
“It won’t. I promise it won’t, baby. I’ll spend my life making it up to you.”
“I can’t wait forever, Dylan. I was drowning out there. I want our old life back.”
He nodded, holding both sides of my face. “I know, baby. I want you to have it back. I’d give you that back if I could, but I can’t. Okay? Know that I miss it too. And I’m sorry I left you feeling like I didn’t. I miss it.”
