Chapter 156 How it works

Chapter 156 How it works
Emma's POV

For the next few minutes, neither of us moves.

Dylan is still holding me against his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around me as though letting go might somehow make everything we just said disappear. My face is pressed against his shirt, damp with tears, and I can feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing beneath my cheek.

I don't know how long we stay like that.

Long enough for my tears to slow.

Long enough for his grip to loosen.

Long enough for the reality of what just happened to finally begin sinking in.

Dylan and I are back together.

The thought makes something warm bloom in my chest.

Back together.

Not just Dawn's parents.

Not just two people who still loved each other but were too afraid to admit it.

Not two exes awkwardly trying to figure out how to co-parent.

Us.

Somehow, after everything, we had found our way back to each other.

Dylan slowly pulls back, but he doesn't let go completely. His hands remain on my waist, and his eyes search my face as if he still needs to make sure I'm really here.

I wipe beneath his eyes with my thumb.

“Are you crying?”

His eyebrows pull together immediately. “No.”

I stare at him. “Dylan.”

“I have something in my eye.”

I glance at the tear still sliding down his cheek.

“Both eyes?”

He gives me an offended look. “It's a very emotional day for my eyes.”

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it.

The smile that immediately appears on his face makes my heart squeeze.

God.

I missed this.

I missed him.

I missed laughing with him.

I missed the ridiculous way he could make me smile even when I was determined to stay angry.

His thumb brushes gently over my cheek.

“So...” he begins.

I immediately become suspicious. “So?”

He hesitates.

I can practically see him trying to figure out how to phrase whatever is on his mind.

Then he asks, “Does this mean I can kiss you whenever I want?”

I blink at him.

A smile slowly spreads across my face. “You were already doing that before you got permission.”

His mouth twitches. “That's not an answer.”

I pretend to think about it.

“Hm.”

“Emma.”

I laugh. “Yes, Dylan. You can kiss me whenever you want.”

His expression immediately brightens.

“Good.”

“Don't look so excited.”

“I am excited.”

“It's just a kiss.”

His eyes narrow. “You know very well it is not just a kiss with us.”

My cheeks heat instantly.

He looks entirely too pleased with himself.

I push lightly against his chest. “You are so annoying.”

“And you're my girlfriend again.”

The words hit me so unexpectedly that I go still.

Dylan seems to realize what he said at the same time.

My girlfriend.

Again.

The smile on his face softens.

“Unless...” he begins.

“No.”

He pauses.

I shake my head. “Don't ruin it.”

His smile grows. “I wasn't going to.”

“You were about to ask if I was sure.”

“I was.”

“Well, don't.”

He laughs quietly, and I find myself smiling too.

It's strange.

Not bad strange.

Just strange.

We've spent the last few days carefully navigating each other's lives. We had learned how to talk about Dawn without talking about ourselves. How to sit beside each other without touching. How to share space without asking for anything more.

Now suddenly, he's my boyfriend again.

And neither of us seems to know what we're supposed to do with that.

Dylan appears to be having the same thought.

“So...” he says again.

I laugh. “You already said that.”

“I know.”

“And you still haven't come up with anything?”

“I'm trying to figure out the rules.”

I stare at him. “The rules?”

“Yeah.” He looks genuinely serious. “Do I get to hold your hand now?”

I hold out my hand.

He immediately takes it. “So I get to do this? Even in public?”

I look down at our joined hands. “Apparently.”

“Can I sit beside you?”

“Dylan.”

“Can I come over whenever I want?”

I narrow my eyes. “You have been coming over whenever you want.”

“Can I call you?”

“You've been calling me.”

“Can I text you?”

“You've been doing that too.”

He nods slowly. “So, basically, I was already acting like your boyfriend.”

I stare at him.

“Apparently.”

His smile turns smug.

“Then this is going to be easy.”

I roll my eyes, but I can't stop smiling.

The rest of the afternoon passes in a way that feels almost ridiculously normal.

We talk.

Not about anything particularly important at first. We sit together on the couch, our hands joined between us, and talk about random things we have missed about each other's lives.

Dylan tells me about one of his teammates accidentally walking into the wrong hotel room during an away game.

I tell him about the time Dawn somehow managed to get one of my earrings into her mouth before I realized what she was doing.

He laughs so hard he nearly falls off the couch. “You left her alone with jewelry?”

“I was right there!”

“Apparently not right enough.”

“Don't judge me.”

“Oh, I'm so judging you.”

I hit his arm.

He catches my hand and kisses my knuckles.

The gesture is so simple that it almost hurts.

There are still moments when I catch myself watching him and remembering that I almost lost this forever.

Then I remind myself that he is here.

He's sitting beside me.

His hand is in mine.

And he loves me.

I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing that.

Eventually, Dawn begins stirring in the room.

The soft sounds coming from the baby monitor immediately catch both our attention.

Dylan looks at me. “Is she awake?”

“Probably.”

“Should we get her?”

I smile. “You say that like we have another choice.”

“We do.” He grins. “We can make out here instead. I think she'll be fine for five minutes.”

“Shut up, Dylan.” I laugh. “What kind of a father are you?”

“A reasonable one who only has eyes for his baby mama.”

I shake my head as we walk into the bedroom together.