Page 123 of Jinxed Hearts

“Spit it out,” Izzy cries.

My face scrunches with a dozen emotions. “Not Christian… what about Gray?”

Dylan’s brow furrows. “Gray, huh.” A grin tugs at his lips. “No. Grayson?”

“Yes!” I exhale, my heart swelling. “Grayson.” I smile softly, pressing my lips to his. “Strong but sweet… like his daddy. Born where nothing was perfect. Where love was messy, hard, and real. But in that in-between gray space, we found everything we needed. Including him.”

And just like that, Grayson Wyatt Hayes has a name.

Ava giggles. “Grayson Panky Pants,” she declares, before running off with Lily to greet Dylan’s sisters, who showed up carrying gifts bigger than she is.

“Grayson’s definitely getting panky with that name,” Izzy teases, as she takes him from me. “I… I love it so much.” Her voice cracks, tears brimming in her eyes. “Sorry, my hormones are all over the place. Damn babies. Am I gonna be like this for the next ten months?”

I choke on my lemonade, spilling it down my dress. Dylan gives me a knowing smirk.

“You’re pregnant?” I blurt out. “Who the hell is the father?”

Izzy wipes her tears, waving me off. “Let’s not talk about it. Pretend I’m the mother and the father for now.” But her eyes dart to the corner. A flicker of something… or someone she’s not ready to share.

When the house is quiet, I peek into the nursery. I find Dylan rocking Grayson gently, his thumb tracing our baby’s tiny hand. “I’m not going to be like him,” he whispers. “I won’t let you down the way mine did. I’ll be here. Always. Just like Jacob always needs to be for his girls.”

My heart stutters. Because I know he means it. Every word. He’s not only keeping promises to our son, he’s keeping them to me. And I think he knew all along. But he stayed anyway. He chose love. Chose to fight. To protect our family and be the man his father couldn’t. And the one mine never tried to be.

Dylan

I glance down at Grayson, then up—and she’s there. Jenna, leaning against the doorway. Eyes knowing. And more beautiful than ever.

“You know I knew, don’t you?” I say quietly. “That night, when you told me about Ryan and Jacob… I saw it on your face. You were holding something back. And every time you mentioned Jacob, the nightmares. I knew it was him. Not you.”

Jenna steps into the room. “Dylan, I couldn’t…” Her voice trembles. “I didn’t know how to—”

“It’s okay,” I whisper. “You were protecting your kids.” I hold Grayson a little tighter, rocking him slowly. “And I didn’t need the full story. Not even justice. I chose peace. For you. For us. And the girls. Because I didn’t just fall in love with you… I fell in love with them too.”

Jenna

I exhale, everything unsaid lifted from my chest. And my heart overflows with love and gratitude.

“Goddamn,” I murmur, watching him with our son. “You’re hotter than Channing Tatum dancing inMagic Mikeright now.”

Dylan startles. “Oh yeah?” He moves his hips, giving me a ridiculous little shoulder roll. “This doing it for you?”

I bite my lip to keep from laughing. “Stop it.”

“Or what?” He grins. “You gonna come over here and make another baby?”

I step closer, eyes locked on his. “What if I said… we already did?” I kiss his cheek, watching his face. Waiting for the moment it clicks.

He freezes. “Wait… what?”

I nod, smirking. “Oops.”

A beat of silence passes. Then he carefully places Grayson in the crib and turns to me. “Jenna—”

I toss a nearby stuffed animal at him. “I’m kidding. No more babies. No more dogs, cats, or damn horses. I have everything I need.”

He pulls me close. “No more. Got it. Loud and clear.” He winks, his voice dropping lower, “I love you, Jenna.”

I press my hand against his bare chest. “You know.” I sigh softly. “I once Googled how to stop loving you.”

His head tilts back with a laugh. “You? Google something?” He shakes his head. “What did it say?”

I meet his gaze. “Doesn’t matter. I know the answer now. When you love someone—when it’s real—you never stop. Not even if you’re a littlejinxed.”