Epilogue
Jenna: Two Years Later
Some truths are meant to burn. Some lies are meant to last forever.
I wake up drenched in a cold sweat. But for once, I’m smiling. Dylan’s beside me, snoring like a bear and hogging the covers—again.
“I made it,” I whisper. “The bridge… it’s gone. Burned to the ground. No more shadows. Black crows turned to doves. Just… calm.”
My fingers trace the slight curve in his belly. He swears he grew it when I carried a watermelon in my belly for ten months. God, I love him. Somehow, he’s even sexier. Maybe because he’s mine, all freaking mine.
Almost two years after we reunited at my business launch, we’ve got a newborn baby, a blended family, and a wild, joyful life.
“Mommyyyyyy! Dilly!” Ava storms into the room, launching herself onto the bed. “It’s my birthday! Can we go horseback riding?”
Dylan groans, rubbing his face. “Only if Mommy lets me ride with my eyes closed again.” He lifts a brow. “And you stop calling me Dilly.”
“Absolutely not.” I poke him in the ribs. “Eyes wide open, Dilly.”
Then the baby monitor blares. Great timing. The tiny boss of the house demands immediate attention.
Lily crashes in next, dragging Wobbles along like an emotional support animal who probably needs more therapy than I did living in this house. Her face is set in full teenage mode—bored, mildly annoyed, and way too dramatic for seven-thirty in the morning.
“Ugh, I’m starving. Can we make pancakes? Or do I have to settle for soggy cereal?”
Just as I open my mouth to respond, our three dogs come charging in like furry missiles. Tails wagging. Barking loudly. Instantly sending Wobbles into full-on defense mode.
“Oh my God,” Dylan says, shoving a hand through his messy hair. “We’re under attack.”
It’s pure chaos. Beautiful. Noisy. Wonderful chaos. And I wouldn’t change a second of it.
Later that day, Ava’s tenth birthday takes over the ranch.
Balloons float in the breeze, horses graze nearby, and the scent of barbecue hangs in the air.
Dylan’s mom laughs with mine, bonding over their grandkids.
Jacob’s parents are still too busy to be here, but at least he’s here with his new wife, Calista, the dental assistant.
She’s sweet. Quiet. Follows the rules. The kind of woman he always felt safe with. I’m truly happy for them.
Dylan and Jacob? They’ve kept it civil. Cordial. No drama. But they never bonded over my mediocre meatloaf. Turns out, ex-husbands and ex-lover baby daddies don't become besties in the end. It’s just ‘pass the salt… thank you.’ Life’s moved on.
As for Dylan’s dad, he’s living in the guest house on the ranch, staying close yet far enough to give us space. He’s still the same grumpy, functional alcoholic, but he stays out of the way.
Izzy’s the loudest voice in the room. “Alright, alright, can we talk about the baby’s name?” She bats her eyelashes dramatically. “We can’t keep calling him ‘Baby.’”
Ava chimes in, “Mr. Pank! Because I like pink. And Pank sounds more like a boy’s name.”
Lily rolls her eyes. “That’s not even a real name.”
“Is too! We can call him Panky!” Ava insists.
Dylan chuckles, eyes full of amusement. “She already vetoed Diesel and Boone. But maybe we can convince your mom with that one.”
Izzy never misses a beat. “Yes, Hanky Panky. Love that one, Avie. Or…” She pauses, raising her brows. “What about something sexy? Denzel… mmm, like Denzel Washington. Or… Christian! Like Christian Grey from Fifty Shades of Grey . You’re welcome. Ladies will be lining up at daycare.”
“Ugh.” I let out a sharp breath. “No Hanky Panky. No motor oil. And no sexy names.” I hesitate… then it hits me.
“Oh my God!” I whirl toward Izzy and kiss her! “I got it!"
“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 in Magic Mike right 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 little jinxed .”