Snapshot (Lessons in Love Book 2)

Present Day

Las Vegas

On Tuesday morning, I find myself on Avery and Finn’s porch, a place that’s always felt like a second home. Before heading inside, I pull out my phone, debating if I should call Dex this morning. It’s already near eleven o’clock in Miami. No doubt he’s awake. He’s probably been buried in meetings since the crack of dawn, still dealing with the fray.

After our confrontation with Denny a few days ago, Dex asked for a little time to himself. We had already agreed that I would go home and visit friends and family in Vegas, but after Denny’s threat, I didn’t want to leave him. Dex was eerily calm and quiet. He didn’t say much after reading Harrison’s letter. Instead, he asked me to stay in Las Vegas until our dive trip.

When Kat’s article hits the media, he knows the reporters and lawyers will be swarming. He wants me far away from the chaos as he handles the shitstorm himself.

Very reluctantly, I agree to his wishes. But I feel like I made the wrong choice. I should be there with him, braving the storm right by his side. I’m not against the whole idea of the damsel in distress. Some call it anti-feminist, but personally, I love when Dex sees me, validates me, and saves me. However, sometimes it’s my husband who is in distress. I think in a healthy relationship, I’m supposed to save him, too. That’s equality. We’re strong for each other, and we’re soft for each other. Balance.

I dial his number when the urge to talk to him wins over my logic to give him space.

“Hey you,” he answers. “How’d you sleep?”

“Not so great without you. Why’d you send me away again?”

He grumbles. “I did not send you away. I wanted you to be with your parents, Finn, and Avery, and not waiting around the penthouse alone while I sort through everything.”

I scoff. “Sure, that’s why.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You didn’t want me there messing more stuff up,” I tease. It was mostly a playful joke, but when Dex doesn’t respond right away, my feelings are hurt. “Sorry…that’s probably accurate, isn’t it?”

“No, not at all. I just didn’t want you to see me like…this.”

“Like what, babe?”

He sighs heavily. “The Denny stuff is bothering me more than it should. I’m upset, I guess.”

I plant myself on the edge of the concrete porch, crossing my ankles on the step below. “You should be very upset. Talk to me.”

“I closed all the bank accounts she had access to. I rescinded my offer to give her Hessler Estate. She’s broke and had to leave the property today. She came out swinging, cocky and overconfident, but she overlooked the fact that my mom was legally adopted. It just wasn’t publicized. Meaning, I’m still Harrison’s legitimate heir.”

“Isn’t that a good thing, Dex? She tried but failed to take everything from you.”

“She was so angry, Len. She hated Harrison so much it bled into her relationships with all of us. That’s what his absenteeism did to her. He drove her to be this unhinged.”

I wiggle my toes inside my shoes, waiting for him to elaborate, but when he doesn’t, I bring myself to ask, “What’s worrying you?”

“Will I do that to our kids?”

I clear my throat. “Well, I’d very much prefer you don’t cheat on me and expect me to raise your love child.”

“You should’ve seen the contract Harrison and his parents made Denny’s mom sign, Len. Hank helped me dig it up. He had a lot more information about the whole situation, being one of Harrison’s only real friends. Believe me when I say Harrison didn’t love Denny’s mom. That contract was a prison sentence. Harrison’s parents even offered to incentivize her to abort the baby so they wouldn’t have to deal with it.”

“Oh, God,” I murmur. “That’s awful of them.”

“I read all of Grandma’s letters, by the way. In one sitting.”

“Oh, for shame,” I tease.

“What?” he asks with a chuckle. “You told me to. You read them all.”

“Um, no. I savored them. A letter or two a day. It was the only thing I looked forward to at the office.”

“You hated it that much?” Dex asks, his tone somber.

“No, I didn’t hate it. Actually, I had a lot of ideas that I couldn’t really see through. I was there to support you, babe. Not move mountains.”

“That’s how Grandma started, too. Just there to support Harrison. And look at what she was able to build. Maybe we should hear some of your big ideas.”

I roll my eyes at the phone. “I’m no Dottie Hessler. And are we forgetting I got fired?”

“Well, I’m the boss now, and I can offer you whatever job you want…or…” he trails off.

“Or what?”

“With everything that happened…it got me thinking. Maybe it’s time for Hessler Group to go public. We can take on investors and hire a board who actually gets to make decisions. The burden wouldn’t be all mine anymore. We could walk away and have a normal life if you want. Move back into the Las Vegas house, be neighbors with Finn and Avery. See your parents every weekend. What do you think?”

What do I think? It’s my dream come true. But I can’t help but wonder if that’s what’s best for Dex. “Going public means pretty much giving up your company, right? If you have a real board in power, they could fire you as they please.”

“Yes, and they most definitely would. Their decisions would be made on the biggest profit margins, not about what’s best for the employees and customers.”

“Then why would you even consider that?” I ask, gripping the phone tighter in my hand.

“Because I don’t want to waste away in an office like Grandma and Harrison. I also don’t want to lose you like Jacob lost Grandma. I want to see you every day I’m alive. I want to be there for our future kids and have priorities that matter. After forty years of marriage, I don’t want to be writing apology letters to you as you pine for another man. I refuse to let the woman I love live a lonely life.”

“Dex, I won’t⁠—”

The front door opens behind me, and Avery peeks her head around the door. “Hey, I thought I heard you out here. Am I interrupting?”

“It’s Dex,” I tell her.

“Oh, okay,” she says, stepping out onto the porch. “I put an alert on my phone every time BuzzLit drops a new article. Kat just published something a few minutes ago.”

I nod in defeat, then tell Dex, “Kat’s article is live on BuzzLit. Do you want to let PR know? I read it over, and if she reported one false thing about Dottie…” I look to Avery. “You said we have a case for defamation, right?”

Avery nods slowly. “If it impacts revenue. We’ll figure it out together. Finn’s grandpa, Senior, has some friends really high up in the publishing industry. We’re all ready to pull some strings and get this taken down.” She squeezes my shoulder sweetly, then gives me a quick, silent wave before retreating back into the house. She leaves the door ajar for me.

“Did you hear that, babe? Avery’s going to help. Same with Finn and his family. You have me. We’re not going to let this pass without a fight. We’re all here for you…and Dottie. And no matter what ridiculous bullshit Kat puts out there, and no matter what anyone says in response, don’t forget who you are and where you belong.”

“And where’s that?” Dex asks softly.

“With me. I don’t care if you’re a scuba diving instructor or the CEO of a billion-dollar conglomerate. It doesn’t matter. Don’t you see? You sent me home, but I’m not really home, am I?”

“So, Miami feels like home now?” he asks with a small scoff.

“No. But you do.”

He exhales long and slow. “I really love you, Len.”

“I love you too.” I peek through the cracked open door, feeling the itch to face the music and get this over with. “Okay, babe, do you want to read this article together?”

“No, I don’t think I can stomach it. I’ll let PR know to take a look, but otherwise, let’s just move forward together. I have to run to my eleven o’clock meeting. After that, I’ll have them warm up the jet. How about I cancel the rest of my week and we head to Cozumel early? I can give you the honeymoon I’ve been promising.”

I smile into the phone. “Sounds perfect, Mr. Hessler.”

As soon as I hang up, I head into the house. I’m intercepted in the hallway by Finn who ruffles my hair in the annoying big-brother way he always does. I’m just about to sass off to him for ruining my hair when he pulls me into a tight bear hug. “Hey, Lenny,” he says and kisses the top of my head.

“Don’t call me that.” My voice is muffled with my face smashed against his chest.

“I really missed you being here and mooching. I have so many snacks lying around without you here to devour them.” He’s teasing me, but his tone is genuine.

“I missed you too,” I say.

He finally releases me. “Want some coffee? Avery says this article is a big deal. Are you and Dex going to be okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, we’ll figure it out.”

I follow him into the kitchen, where Avery’s perched on the countertop, legs crossed. Finn squeezes Avery’s knee as he passes her to fetch me a mug. Her perplexed expression relaxes into a sweet smile at his touch, then she’s right back to scowling at her phone again.

“How bad is it?” I ask, grimacing.

“Are you sure the article about Dex’s grandma was going out today?”

“That’s what Kat said.”

“I don’t know, Lennox. This is about an affair, and it’s certainly scandalous. This man, Scott Ramsie, is running for a senate seat. But I read the whole thing, and this has nothing to do with the Hesslers.” Avery holds out her phone, showing me the title of Kat’s article.

CONFESSIONS OF A GOSSIP COLUMNIST:

One affair, years of blackmail, and the resignation that’s been a long time coming.

By Kat Tearney

My jaw falls open in shock. “Oh my God… Kat actually did it,” I murmur.

“Did what?” Avery asks, tilting her head to the side.

“She set herself free.”

Actually, she set all of us free.