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Dylan gave a world-weary sigh that was far beyond his years

I didn’t care if they teased me for the rest of my life In that moment, all I cared about was that they’d be there for the rest of my life

CHAPTER 29

June

T he late June sun strea over the kids’ empty desks My last class of the year had already left, but I found myself immobilized I couldn’t take my eyes off Jarrod’s desk It had remained empty for the rest of the year whenever his class caet

It had been hard the past few ain Part of me had wanted to fall back on old habits and create a distance between myself and the kids There was always supposed to be some distance anyway, but it was hard not to care about the about theood teacher

It hadn’t started out as the best year, but the past few un to make up for that One way in which they had was the permanent job offer I received fro as a fully qualified English teacher after the suht I would feel relief that the year was over and that I had the su there inat Jarrod’s desk

Sometimes it still made my breath catch when I reet to grow up and beco man I knew he could have been

I hadn’t realized how hard the last day of school was going to be with that hanging over aze jerked away from the desk and my eyes widened in surprised pleasure, ht of Marco and Dylan walking into rinning happily as Dylan’s steps quickened He reached ed hiive ht maybe you’d want some company Not an easy day for you, babe"

I shook my head in wonder How had he knohen even I hadn’t known? "I love you," I murmured

"I love you, too"

I looked down at Dylan to see hi us I scrunched enuinely curious

"I love you, too"

He smiled shyly and ducked his head

So cute, I could die

"Dylan, what do you say?" Marco chucked his chin

Dylan shrugged "Hannah knows I lu huh" His words becaave Marco a look "He’s four and he’s uncoirlfriends"

Marco laughed "He’s a s"

"You’re a s"

"In public I do"

"You just said you loved me in front of Dylan"

"It’s just Dylan"

"So you’re tellingto say you lovevows?"

"You don’t say ‘I love you’ in wedding vows"

"You do if you write your own" I was co with him and it orth it to see the flicker of panic in his eyes

"Write htened

"Mmm-hmm"

"You want me to write my os?"

I turned ht let you off with it, if you actually get around to proposing soht dawned in his eyes "You rabbed my purse off my chair, ready to leave "Finish that sentence and I won’t say yes"

"I never asked," he argued, ushering Dylan out behind lanced back at Dylan "Your daddy is a slowcoach"

Marco looked at his son for help, but Dylan just looked at him with this "Really, dude" expression that made me love him even more

"Are you sure he’s not my child?" I joked

"Soot a cab back to ’s event It was Lily’s fifth birthday, and Gio and Gabby had generously offered the restaurant as a place to host it, closing off the back room for our private party

Outside the restaurant we buirlfriend, Larissa She was a quiet, pretty auburn-haired psychology student as clearly one hundred times more madly in love with Cole than he ith her

"D-Man," Cole greeted Dylan first The two of thehtness in Dylan’s eyes the only indication that he was thrilled to see Cole While it had taken a few months for Marco to come around to Cole, his son had latched on tohim They shared an overall seriousness that put the of each other

"What d’ye get?" Dylan gestured to the wrapped gift in Cole’s hand

"Girlie stuff You?" He indicated the present Dylan was carrying for us

He scrunched up his nose "Girlie stuff"

Cole patted him on the back of the head and pulled open the door to the restaurant "I hear you"

"Hi, Larissa," I greeted her with a coaxing smile

In return I received a pinched smile I couldn’t quite work out if it was because she was shy or because she, like irlfriends so far, resented my presence in his life I was sure it was the latter

Marco and I held back as the three of therumbled

"You’re hot and Cole loves you Of course she hates you" Marco tugged onand concise suaverooet over it That better?"

"No, because now you’re lying"

He looked up at the ceiling as if talking to God "I can’t win"

"He’s not listening"

He cut me a dry look "Obviously"

"Oh, shut it You love me and you know it"

"You kill me with your sweetness, babe"

"Ah, there you are!" Liv ca room Pink and purple decorations had literally exploded all over the room There were balloons, ribbons, flower chains, and sparkly confetti everywhere Liv gave"Your aunt and uncle are a to do this I think I’ve thanked them so much they’re ready to kill ed "You’re faed out at me and she whispered comically, "I’m family"

I patted her shoulder "They’re not the Mafia, Liv Cal at rabbed his As soon as I lifted hireeted the down to kiss Lily’s silky dark hair "Happy birthday, sweetheart"