"I didn't even think about it, okay? My feet just carried me there, and I..." My cheeks go red as I remember every detail of my embarrassment. "I burst in without knocking."
Jessica shifts on the couch, all ears, tucking her legs underneath her. "What did he do?"
"He... took one look at me and knew something was wrong. He…" I pause, remembering the gentle touch, the protective fury in his eyes. I can feel the smile spreading across my face before I even realize it's there.
"Oh my God, look at your face right now!" Jessica points at me, grinning.
"Shut up," I laugh, hiding behind my wine glass.
"No, seriously, you're literally glowing. What did he do?"
"Nothing. He just brushed my hair back," I admit, feeling heat creep up my neck. "And asked if someone was bothering me. He looked ready to tear Oliver apart, but he didn't make a scene. He just... protected me. Called security to have Oliver removed."
"He brushed your hair back?" Jessica clutches her chest dramatically. "Avery. That's like, romance novel level swoon-worthy."
"Stop it!" I'm laughing now, even as my cheeks burn. "He texted me earlier, just to make sure I got home safe."
Jessica leans forward, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Girl, that man isgonefor you."
"You think?" The question comes out more hopeful than I intended.
"Iknow." She reaches across to squeeze my hand. "And more importantly? You're completely gone for him too."
My breath catches.
"That terrifies me," I admit.
"Why?"
"Because letting him in means being vulnerable again and risking everything I've spent weeks rebuilding." I pull my knees to my chest, making myself smaller. "I have a plan, remember? Two years of no dating. None of the danger. Just healing."
"Plans change," Jessica says gently.
"Not this one. I can't survive another Oliver."
"Dylan isn't Oliver."
"I thought Oliver wasn't Oliver either, until he was."
Jessica shifts to face me fully. "Can I tell you what I see?"
I nod, bracing myself.
"I see my sister, who's stronger than before. A woman who ran toward safety today, and that safety happened to be a man who immediately put her needs first. I see someone who deserves to be happy, even if it's scary."
"I'm not ready," I whisper.
"Maybe not," Jessica agrees. "But ready or not, something's already changing between you two. Pretending that it isn't won't make it go away."
She's right, and that's what scares me most. Three months of professional distance, of careful boundaries, and one moment of vulnerability brought it all crashing down. The way Dylan looked at me today, the way he's always looked at me, like I'm something precious and fierce all at once.
"I should quit," I say, not meaning it.
Jessica laughs. "But you love that job. You like the challenge. And maybe you like Dy—"
"Oh my god, stop! You’re unbearable," I cut her off.
"I love you too, sis." She throws a pillow at me.
