Dylan

By S. L. Scott

Scorned and Jealousy of the From the Inside Out series should be read before Austin or Dylan. Austin and Dylan: One woman. Two endings. You decide who you want to read or read both.

Dylan -

Four years ago, I was tempted with money, prestige, and power by a woman who offered to give me the world. That lifestyle came with a price. I had to leave the love of my life—the one person who had already given me everything I would ever need.

Today I watch Jules Weston in another man's arms. Wanting... needing her back in my life again. But there are obstacles that keep us apart. Her boyfriend. Her best friend. Her anger that has raged inside her over the years.

Despite those, I’ve returned to take back what's mine. The one thing I regret leaving behind—her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S. L. Scott
• Release date: Sep 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502274618

S. L. Scott

New York Times and USA Bestselling Author, S. L. Scott, was always interested in the arts. She grew up painting, writing poetry and short stories, and wiling her days away lost in a good book and the movies. With a degree in Journalism, she continued her love of the written word by reading American authors like Salinger and Fitzgerald. She was intrigued by their flawed characters living in picture perfect worlds, but could still debate that the worlds those characters lived in were actually the flawed ones. This dynamic of leaving the reader invested in the words, inspired Scott to start writing with emotion while interjecting an underlying passion into her own stories. Living in the capital of Texas with her family, Scott loves traveling and avocados, beaches, and cooking with her kids. She's obsessed with epic romances and loves a good plot twist. She dreams of seeing one of her own books made into a movie one day as well as returning to Europe. Her favorite color is blue, but she likens it more toward the sky than the emotion. Her home is filled with the welcoming symbol of the pineapple and finds surfing a challenge though she likes to think she's a pro.

Book preview

From the Inside Out—Dylan

First Edition

Copyright © S. L. Scott 2014

The right of S.L. Scott to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

ISBN: 978-1-940071-22-0

Cover design: Melissa Ringuette

Cover image: rilueda 

Interior Design: Angela McLaurin, Fictional Formats

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

SIX YEARS BEFORE SCORNED…

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

To everyone who has supported this endeavor. Thank you.

IT HAPPENED SO fast. I’m here, putting my heart fully on the line and hoping not to be rejected. I kiss her. I can’t resist the temptation any longer. It’s the only way I can show Jules how much I love her. Then she kisses me back.

The blow to my chest sends me backward and she’s ripped from my arms. Austin. I’d forgotten about Austin. I don’t care about him. Jules is all that matters, so when I see Austin’s driver is manhandling her, I run to save her. I’m blindsided by a punch to the face, which knocks me to the side, stumbling to find balance.

Despite the pain, I only think of Jules. I need her. I need to help her, to make Austin understand. I straighten back up, seeing I’m going to have to get through him to get to her. Austin, I love her, I warn.

Through gritted teeth and narrowed eyes, he yells, You barely know her!

This won’t be easy. "She loves me."

His laugh is humorless, more threatening. You’re deranged, Dylan!

When Jules cries out, Pleas— I punch him. I take the cheap shot when he’s not looking, but it’s the only shot I’ve got. Dylan! Noooo!

Austin falls to his knees, but I know he’s strong and will fight back. I want him to. This situation coming to blows once and for all.

He shouts, Get in the car, Jules. Without warning he lands on his feet and lands a punch square on my cheek sending me to the ground. The blood comes, my lip busted as I debate if I should fight, feeling this battle was lost almost four years ago when I walked out on Jules. When I look up, Austin continues, his anger taking over. Fight. Damn it!

I lay back, my face pulsing with pain from being pummeled as the rain falls down. The throbbing reminds me of the devastation I caused. I’m deserving of everything I get, karma finally collecting her dues.

The grey clouds above calm my insides as they blow over the city. Austin yells something, but my mind is on Jules. She’s gotten into the car of her own free will. The battle is over. Austin wins. Get up, he yells.

When I look over at him, I say, Finally.

What are you talking about?

She should have a good man in her life. Austin is good and can give her the beautiful life she deserves. Treat her well.

What are you talking about? He asks with confusion on his face. Fuck this!

He’s gone, the car door slammed shut. The loud sound knocks me to my senses. This is it. For real. I’ve lost her…

I sit up, then I’m on my feet running after the car. I can’t give up. I can’t live without Jules. The black car is gone before I reach it, escaping down a side street. Austin may be the better choice on paper, but I’m the better man for her. I just need the chance to show her. I run faster, but I stop in the middle of the alley when the love of my life leaves with the wrong man. Leaning against the stone building, I try to catch my breath.

My mind is crazed with ideas. I know where he lives. I can go after her. Hailing a cab, I get in as soon as one pulls over. Where to, Mac?

97… The fact that she went on her own accord stops me from finishing the sentence. I pause.

The driver asks, Hey, where to?

I decide not to give Austin’s address and tell him mine instead.

I’m tired of inventing excuses to make myself feel better for what I did. I just need to face the reality of the situation. I fucked up. I threw away the best part of me… No amount of excuses or apologies is gonna change the fact that I hurt Jules and I can’t seem to make it right. I’ve tried, but I finally realize there has to be two willing participants. She knows how I feel about her. I can keep barging into her life, but that just messes up the happiness she’s found. I’ll always love her and that means I need to put her happiness before mine… for once. It’s always been about me and what I wanted. She deserves happiness, even if it’s not with me.

When I get home, I lay back on the couch with an icepack on my face, thinking about the day and our kiss. Closing my eyes, I accept that the kiss would be the last time I ever feel her lips against mine again. She was giving me a final kiss goodbye.

A POUNDING ON my door wakes me from my sleep. I don’t remember falling asleep on the couch. The knocking continues, which wipes away any dreams I might have been having. I hurry to stop the noise that’s reverberating in my head. One large bolt and a sliding lock undone and it’s open. Jules is standing there.

Small.

Wet.

Crying.

Head dropped. I hope not in shame. I’m the one who should be ashamed.

I, uh, she starts, looking around, over her shoulder. I can tell she’s thinking about leaving.

I quickly offer, Come in. I wait, praying she will. Slowly she steps into my place. I’ve never made the mistake of calling it a home. It’s not. She’s not living here, so it’s not home for me. I’m sorry, I say, staring at her. Her head is down again as the words escape me, desperate to get out, to be heard. And you’re here and all wet.

Shivering, she says, It’s storming outside. I didn’t have an umbrella. She finally looks me in the eyes, though I spot the fear. I hate the thought that she might be scared of me.

I’ll put your clothes in the dryer and get you something to wear.

Gentle fingers wrap around my wrist and she stops me. Dylan, your face, it’s bruised and swollen. Are you alright?

I’d forgotten about my face, dismissing the dull ache in comparison to the heartache I’m feeling. Touching my right cheek, it doesn’t feel as swollen as it was earlier, though it’s tender. Jules was ripped away, stolen from me as Austin hit me. I let him, taking each blow, hoping it would knock some sense into me. Looking at her now, I don’t know if it did. I just want to hold her, touch her, and wipe her tears away. I don’t. I’m fine.

Staring into my eyes, some other emotion takes hold of her. She leans up and kisses my neck. My hands go to her waist, holding her, never wanting to let go. My eyes drop closed, and she whispers, I’m sorry, too.

Surprised, I open my eyes again and look down at her, daring to seek the truth in her hazels. It’s there. Everything I felt in the kiss is prevalent in her eyes now.