The Exception by Lauren H. Mae

Epilogue for The Rules

Dylan flipped a row of burgers, wiping the summer sweat from his forehead. He’d bought himself a new grill with his commission check from the newest Jansen building and it was the talk of the party. At least whenever he brought it up.

When he bought this house, Josh had told him he’d be surprised if the neighborhood association didn’t vote Dylan out by the end of the first summer. He’d had a point at the time, but a lot had changed since then.

Just like that summer, Shawn was beside him mixing his famous margaritas, but there were far fewer glasses than usual lined up on his bar. Minnie was nursing a new baby girl, born on Shawn’s birthday four months ago, and Trav had given up alcohol in solidarity with Sonya who was due this fall.

These days, pool parties had a lot more swimmies and a lot fewer cocktails and cannonballs. The surprising part was how much Dylan loved it.

“You’re gonna burn those,” Josh said from behind him.

Dylan looked down to see he’d let the edges of the meat turn to charcoal while he’d been reminiscing. “Take over for me.”

He handed the spatula to Josh and grabbed one of the drinks for Dani, making his way across the patio. She was sprawled out on a beach chair beside Lucia who was covered in a melting purple popsicle.

Dylan scooped Lucia up and took the seat beside Dani, setting the toddler on his knee.

“Table service,” Dani said, taking the margarita. “I could get used to this place.”

“I’d say you’re pretty used to it seeing as these are your glasses.” Dani had upgraded a lot of his stuff since she moved in, including his entire kitchen.

He pointed to the pool where Sonya was trying unsuccessfully to climb on a float. “How many babies do you think she has in there?”

Dani laughed. “She’s going to kick your ass, and I’m going to let her.”

He shrugged. “All I’m saying is she might want to double check the ultrasound.”

“Why do you have a death wish? You have such a nice life.”

“I do, don’t I?” He smiled and clinked his bottle to her glass. “We’d better be careful, Dani-pie. All these kids running around—I think there’s something in the water.”

“Good thing I’m not drinking water.” She winked and gulped her drink as she adjusted the top of her bathing suit.

Dylan watched, unashamed. Goddamn, his wife was hot.

Wife.

She’d already been living at his place for months before, and the wedding was about as small and unofficial as you could get, but the title got him. It was like Dylan’s heart knew that something had shifted as soon as he’d put that ring on Dani’s finger on the beach.

And now it was knocking a similar pattern against his ribs. “I could get you some of that water. You know, if you wanted.”

Dani scrunched her nose. “How much have you had to drink?”

Not enough to say anything he didn’t mean. As much as he teased, Sonya looked happier than he’d ever seen her. Lucia was the coolest goddaughter anyone could ask for, and Minnie and Shawn’s new baby was damned adorable with her spark of red hair and pudgy cheeks—all from Shawn.

Lucia was starting to look more like Josh too. All of his friends had little replicas of themselves. He did hate being left out of things.

“I’m just saying.”

Dani smiled. “What is with you and turning huge life decisions into casual party conversations? This is very reminiscent of how you proposed.”

“It’s part of my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants charm. And you love it. Most people do. Kids especially.”

As if she was declaring her allegiance to Team Dylan, Lucia pulled up to her knees on his lap and wrapped one sticky hand around his neck in an impromptu hug.

“Awww. Thanks, Lulu.” He squeezed her, pretending to take a bite of her popsicle. She responded with a shrieking toddler laugh and Dani’s eyes did that hopelessly in love thing Dylan recognized. It usually came right before he was about to get his way.

“Did you bribe her to do that?” Dani asked.

“Nah, she heard my pitch. I’m an amazing salesman, Dani-pie. You know this.” He smiled, his voice turning serious without his permission. “It’s been a while since we talked about it.”

“We’ve never talked about it,” she said. “We’ve joked about it.”

He shrugged. “That’s kind of our thing.”

Dani squinted at him, clearly trying to get a read on whether this was another joke.

Dylan set Lucia down on her feet and she took off running to Josh, arms up over her head. He caught her and lifted her onto his hip.

Dani was still watching that scene play out when Dylan stood and kissed the top of her head. “So let’s talk about it,” he said, before heading back to the grill.

* * *

“Let’s try not to spend the whole day here okay, Dani-pie?”

“You’re terrible.” Dani adjusted her dress and got out of Dylan’s new SUV. She could already smell the food coming from Irene’s kitchen and her stomach growled.

Dylan pocketed his keys and took a quick look at Irene’s tires before they headed to the stoop. “You say that because she still loves you. And you’re going to sit in there and drink coffee and eat pastries while she puts me to work.”

She shrugged. “All of that is accurate.”

His mother still wasn’t over the two of them “running off” to Mexico to get married, and since Irene was quite possibly Dani’s biggest fan, Dylan took the brunt of that ongoing guilt trip. It had been his idea, so it was only fitting. And everytime they came, Irene had a bigger list of things that needed “doing.”

Gone were the days of Sundays spent sleeping until noon and hitting up their favorite breakfast place just before it closed. But even though Dylan whined about it every time he had to get up early to come here, Dani knew he would do whatever his mother needed, whenever she called. That was the charm she really loved.

Besides, there was always the food.

They made their way to the front door, and Dylan knocked, pushing it open without waiting for an answer. “Hey, Ma! Dani’s here.”

Irene pulled a towel off of her shoulder and Dylan flinched, but she just used it to wipe her hands.

“Hi, sweetheart,” she said, gathering Dani into a hug.

Dani squeezed her back. Irene was the best hugger. Next to Dylan.

“Come in. I made pasta.”

Dylan shot Dani a look that said: worth it, and they followed her to the kitchen table.

“And I made a cake for dessert,” Irene said over her shoulder. “Since there was no wedding cake in Mexico.”

Dylan rubbed his temples. “Ma, when are you going to get past this? It’s been a year. Besides, this is why I gave you Josh. And didn’t he come through for you? Church wedding and everything.”

Irene waved a hand in the air, exasperated. “I didn’t expect a church, Dylan. But who flies all the way to Mexico to get married on a beach? There are beaches here.”

Dylan let his head fall back on a groan, and Dani took that as her cue to tag in. Her diplomacy with Dylan’s family far exceeded his own. Dylan liked to joke that it was why he kept her around, but they both knew better.

Besides, she knew exactly how to put an end to this conversation. “I promise no more surprises,” she said, wrapping an arm around Irene’s shoulder. “In fact, we wanted to tell you something.”

“Oh?”

Dani smiled at Dylan, and he raised an eyebrow.

“Dylan said he wants to knock me up, and I think I’m going to let him.”

Dylan blinked, his mouth falling open. Irene beamed, giving them both a triumphant smile.

“Well, then.” She smiled and called over her shoulder as she excused herself to the bathroom to get a tissue. “Dylan, you’re officially forgiven for the wedding.”

Dylan’s eyes turned mischievous and he reached for Dani’s wrist, tugging her onto his lap. “What’s with you and announcing major life decisions at breakfast?” he asked, his lips at her neck.

“It’s my getting-you-out-of-trouble charm. You love it.”

“I do. Hey, Dans?” he asked, pushing just past appropriate with his hand beneath the hem of her dress.

“Yeah?”

“Let’s start as soon as we get home.”