Page 79 of Jinxed Hearts

I glance around the room, taking in the beauty of what I created. MaybeJenna’s Dream Eventsis the first thing that’s all for me. I snap a photo of the setup and, against my better judgment, send it to Jacob. We’re not in a good place right now, and this stuff doesn’t seem to matter much to him. Sometimes, I wonder if I still do.

His reply comes almost instantly:Looks cool.

That’s it. No excitement. No real acknowledgement of my first big event. Just two flat words that sting. Hard. He might as well have said,I don’t care.

My mind drifts back to when his love felt like everything.

“Jenna Jinx…”

The memory crashes in, and his words echo as if he’s standing beside me again.

“I still remember the first time I saw you wearing those horrible yellow cat PJs and hiding the saddest eyes I’d ever seen. I wanted to burn those pajamas and see you wearing only a smile. But the more I got to know you, I realized Izzy has excellent taste in friends, and I knew I wanted to be your friend too.” His thumb brushed over my shaky fingers as the crowd watched him confess his love.

“Then I wanted more. I wanted to protect you. To keep you safe. To make sure no one ever hurt you again.”

A softawwrippled through the guests, but I barely heard it over the sound of my heart pounding.

“And when I told you those four little words, 'Not for long, Jinx,' I didn’t mean your sadness or terrible choice in men.”

Then Izzy, who was my maid of honor, laughed so hard, breaking some of the tension.

“I meant I was going to spend forever trying to make you happy. All I want is to have you as my wife. To love you, even when I don’t get it right. To stand beside you, and stay forever, loving you the best way I can. Always.”

His voice was steady, full of certainty. His words overflowing with love.

And my vows? A total mess. I’d practiced them for weeks, but my fear of public speaking took over, and the second I saw all those eyes on me, I froze.

“Jacob… I love you so much,” I’d blurted, my voice trembling. “But I will not burn my pajamas for you… maybe just our house.” I managed a nervous laugh. “And I’ll tell you how much I love you—tonight, on our honeymoon, and every night after that, without three hundred people staring at me.”

And that’s exactly what I did that night…

“You’re welcome.” Izzy’s voice jolts me back to the present. “You know, for saving the day with the snow globes.” She grabs her coat, already halfway through the door. “Keep your phone on in case I need you to save me from my date tonight with that hot caterer outside.”

Izzy’s energy shifts mine, and I can’t help but smile. “And why do you need saving?”

She groans. “His name is Donald.” She pauses, cringing. “How the hell am I supposed to get in the mood and scream, ‘Oh, Donald, yes, lick me just like that,’ without picturing Donald fucking Duck between my legs? Donald with rock-hard abs. And yes, he has a lisp too. Just… no. Who names their kid Donald anyway?”

I laugh, my brow furrowing. “Really? Donald Duck?"

She smirks, hugging me as she heads out.

Before I can finish processing the absurd image of Donald Duck having sex with my best friend, while I fix the last few table numbers, the door eases open.

Dylan.

He steps into the room, looking handsome as ever, wearing a sharp tux. His eyes sweep the space until they land on me. My stomach knots, bracing for his response.

“Wow, Jenna,” he murmurs. “This is… so damn incredible. I came early hoping to see you in action.”

There’s something in his voice, sincere and unexpected, that cuts through all my insecurities. And for a second, I wonder if maybe there’s hope for something real between us.

The corner of his mouth lifts. “Gabriella’s going to kiss you. A lot.” His teasing hangs in the air, the low hum of the snow machine amplifying the tension.

Guests will be here soon, but right now, it’s just us. And all I can think about is kissing him.

“Thank you. If she kisses anything like you do, I—” I stop short as the lighting technician steps in.

“Hey, Jenna. Are the spotlights working now? Jimmy said there were some issues.”