Page 66 of Jinxed Hearts

Dylan grips my bare thigh, grounding me, unfreezing me. And I melt under his touch, under his stare.

“So stop,” he says, firm but gentle. “Let it go. Stop trying to reach the end of that fucking bridge. What if the place you’re chasing doesn’t even exist? What if you stopped in the middle and built something you love right there?”

His hand loosens, fingers tracing light circles against my skin. And all I can think about is how I want that hand to slide higher.

“You don’t deservefine,” he murmurs, his words sinking deep. “You should have the best.”

I swallow hard, my pulse hammering.

“You need to shut out the noise in your head,” he continues. “Close your eyes. Imagine the world you want to live in.”

He places a hand over my eyes again. His other hand finds mine and presses it against my chest, just above my heart. I shiver with his touch, exposed in ways I haven’t felt in years. Reluctantly, I let my eyes fall shut.

Images flood my mind. My children laughing. My wedding day. My father working in the fields. Then I flinch when I see Ryan towering over me.

A tear slips before I can stop it. “I can’t let go of my past. I don’t know how.”

Dylan’s thumb brushes the tear away. “The dreams are not only about the bridge,” I admit, my breath catching. “They get darker, more terrifying, and—”

“It’s okay,” he says, his forehead pressing against mine.

But it’s too close. Too much. Too intense.

I straighten up, pulling back slightly, needing space. “Your turn.” My voice is unsteady.

He exhales sharply. “No. You don’t get to run because it’s hard to say.”

But I do like running. A heavy silence hangs between us, just as Dylan’s phone vibrates. He glances down at it. “We’re not done,” he mutters, stepping outside to take the call.

I catch snippets. Something about a party and his sisters. When he jumps back in, his excitement is palpable. “Ready to get to the other side of the bridge?”

“And how would I do that?” I ask, confused.

“You have another job forJenna’s Dream Eventswaiting. My sister Gabriella’s wedding... and her baby shower!” He grins. “She’s pregnant. Good ol’ shotgun wedding.”

I raise my brow, a small smile tugging. “Did you just name my business, give me another event to plan, walk me to the end of my scary bridge, and make me a damn picnic all in one day? Are you trying to get me to fall for you, Mr. Hayes?” The words slip out before I can stop them.

Dylan throws his head back, laughing that same loud, ridiculous laugh from the first time we met. It really does sound like an extinct bird calling out into the wild—absurd, but somehow endearing. I try to glare at him, but it’s useless. His laugh is infectious, wrapping me around him and pulling me in close.

Fuck. Am I falling in love? Can I even be in love with two people?

“Why are you laughing so maniacally?” I giggle and cover my face with the blanket, sending grapes and Cheetos sliding off it.

“Is that even a word?” He leans in, brow furrowed as he wipes the dust from the chips off my legs. “Maybe because I forgot to mention the most important part. She needs the wedding planned in, oh… about a week.”

The blanket drops, along with my stomach. “A week? That’s impossible.”

“You got this! At least her expectations are already low, right? No pressure.” His grin widens. “And don’t worry, I’ll keep my extinct bird in a cage next time. Wouldn’t want you mocking me again.”

Of course, he remembers. He remembers everything I say.

“Shit, okay. One week.” I smile, shaking my head. I don’t know how he does it. But, somehow, he makes me feel like I can do anything. Like I can believe in myself.

God, I feel so exposed. Vulnerable. Risking everything I’ve built for a man who isn’t mine.

Dylan lies back. “So,” he says, reaching for my hand and pressing it to his chest.

I hesitate for a second, then lie down beside him. My body turned toward him. “So,” I echo, barely breathing, as I feel his heartbeat pounding under my shaky palm. I trace the hard lines of his chest, and for a moment, everything fades. There’s no noise, no chaos, no looming bridges to cross. Just Dylan, soaking in the sunshine, and the slow burn between us.