He looks like he’s trying his best not to acknowledge my presence at all, but he’s as curious as the perky little brunette by his side.
Jessa glances up at me with the biggest smile on her face. “I’ve been really good, actually. Really good.”
“You look good,” Dane says with the grudging tone of a man who’s disappointed that his ex hasn’t fallen to pieces without him.
“She does look good, doesn’t she?” I say, inserting myself into the conversation. “Almost as though she has a glow about her.”
Of course, the brunette’s eyes go even wider as she picks up on the little hint I’d just dropped. “Glowing, like… ? Oh my God, Jessa. Are you pregnant?”
Jessa nods. “We are.”
The ex’s jaw drops instantly. “You… you’re pregnant?”
“Did she stutter?” I growl.
“But… we… the wedding was only a few months ago.”
Jessa’s smile turns stony. “As you might recall, Dane, the wedding didn’t end up happening at all. I left the yacht club and ran into Anton on the beach that evening.”
“The… the same day?” he exclaims, gawking at her.
I stay silent. Jessa is handling this remarkably well. She doesn’t need me to intervene—yet.
“Yes, the same day,” Jessa says without any shame. “You can’t exactly fault me for my timing when yours was so bad, can you, Dane?”
The brunette is looking at her stolen man with new concern in her eyes. I can practically see the thoughts flitting through her mind.
Why is he so concerned that she’s moved on? Does he actually think she looks good? Is he jealous? Does he still have feelings for her? Was he hoping to get back together with her at some point? Do I mean anything to him?
“I called and texted and wrote to you like a million times,” Dane says, as though Jessa is the one who has something to apologize for.
“I know,” I say, answering before Jessa can. “They were interesting to read, if a little bit pitiful. She doesn’t need that simpering shit in her life, though.”
“Maybe you should let her speak for herself,” Dane hisses.
“He’s speaking for me because he knows what I would say,” Jessa snaps. “And since you want me to speak for myself, I will. Goodbye, Dane. Goodbye, Salma. If we run into each other again, feel free to pretend we don’t know each other.”
Then she grabs my arm and we stride away together.
She’s got the biggest smile on her face as we exit the airport. “You okay?” I ask as Yulian drives the car up.
“Never been better actually,” she says. “That was the closure I never knew I needed.”
“Felt good, did it?”
“Good?” she repeats. “It felt fucking great. Did you see the way Salma was salivating over you?”
“Actually, I was more focused on that tool next to her. He was salivating over you.”
Jessa snorts. “Please. He was just upset that I had the audacity to move on so fast. He was probably hoping I was a broken mess without him.” She grins up at me. “Thanks for having my back.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I do, though. You’ve been really great to me, Anton. These past few weeks… I’ve never had anyone take such good care of me. I didn’t know that was something I needed.”
“It’s my pleasure, kotyonok.”
The craziest thing of all is… that I really mean that.