Jillian Dodd's Blog

Twelve days.
Ainsley

I wake up and look at the clock. It's nearly nine. I can't believe I slept in so late.
I touch my abdomen and think about my call with Damon last night. The decision I made not to tell him that I'm pregnant.
My questions this morning are: Was it the right thing to do? And what are the consequences of my decision?
It does mean I'm going to have to go through pregnancy alone. But I believe it will be worth it. I care for him. Love him. Want his first season of college football to be everything he's ever dreamed of. For him to be able to focus on those goals and experiences. To have nothing to distract him. For the press to talk only of his accomplishments and not on the fact that a less-than-two-week summer fling resulted in an unplanned pregnancy.
Which is the other big issue.
We have been together for all of twelve days.
Day one was just harmless flirting.
Day three, the night of Chase and Dani's wedding, I found out about my dad's gambling addiction, drank too much, and tried to seduce Damon.
Day four, I woke up mostly naked with him in my bed. And later that day, we shared our first kiss.
Day six was our first date, when we spent a fun night in a tent he had set up for us.
On day seven, after making sand angels, we were naked together in the shower, and the physical side of our relationship progressed past kissing.
Day eight was our butterfly picnic, where we first said I love you. Where we spoke of how fast things were moving between us and how we believed we were soulmates.
On day nine, we watched fireworks together, and later, I fell asleep on his shoulder.
On day ten—the night of his birthday party—he wished for birthday sex, took me to his suite, and asked me to be his girlfriend. And when he blew out the candles just after midnight on his actual birthday, he said, I wish Ainsley would love me forever.
On the eleventh day, we shared a long night filled with passion and love, ending my sexual drought.
And on the twelfth day, our last day together, we agreed I would visit him whenever I could. We discussed how we would label our relationship and ultimately decided he would call me what he'd called me since the first day he saw me—his future wife.
I look down at the charm-filled bracelet on my wrist. The charms he gave me to remind me of each of those days. Days spent falling in love with him.
I told him I truly believed he was my first real love. And that I wanted to support him in football, life, and beyond.
And that's what I'm doing—supporting him in football so that he can enjoy it in his life and beyond.
I smile when I think about what else we said that day. How he asked me to move to Lincoln with him. Since I have to work this summer and then finish my degree at a different school this fall and get a job, we decided to do the long-distance thing until after I graduated and then reevaluate things at Christmastime.
Christmastime.
That's when I'll tell him.
I grab my phone and look up his season schedule. Their last game is Thanksgiving weekend. If they have a good enough record, they will go to the conference championship game the following weekend.
There's another reason why this makes sense.
Damon is the ultimate in big gestures. If I told him now, he'd want to get married. I know he would.
And although we're in love and we're going to have a baby, there's no need to rush that kind of commitment.
It would be too much, too soon. I mean, take my parents, for example. They got pregnant and married after only knowing each other for a few months. And even though they are now just getting a divorce, honestly, as soon as my mother found out Dad had lied to her about all the money he'd lost, she should have left him then.
And I don't want to go through that.
I think Damon's wonderful. But by not telling him, I can keep the focus on our relationship. We'll have time to figure out if there's more than just love there. If we could have not only a loving and healthy relationship, but one filled with mutual respect.
And I know Damon is nothing like my ex, Brad. I don't believe he will cheat on me. But I don't know that for sure. I don't know how he will react if he doesn't end up starting. Or how he will behave when he becomes the star I know he will be. And how he will handle the attention he's bound to get from everyone—from journalists to girls.
The only thing I don't like about this plan is that I'm going to have to—well, not lie to him exactly, but I won't really be telling him the truth.
And somehow, I'm going to have to hide this pregnancy from him.
From Sammy.
From everyone.
To be honest, it might not be that hard. Other than being a little tired, I really don't feel pregnant.
I pop out of bed and go into the bathroom.
Look at the tests on the counter, double-checking that they're still showing positive.
I close my eyes.

“Remember in Haley's wedding toast, how she talked about our first summer here? How we call it that summer? The summer we will never forget?” he said.
“Yeah.”
“Being here with you today is like that. I'll never forget the way you look, what you say, how you kiss me, and how you make me feel. I know we've been flirting and kissing, but today feels like one of those moments. The start of something we'll never forget.”
Tears filled my eyes as I clinked my glass against his. “To us.”
We sealed the toast with a kiss, and then he held my gaze and said, “I love you, Ainsley.”

I was shocked he had said it so soon and asked if he was serious.

“I've always been serious about you.”
“I mean, I thought the whole future wifey was, like, just a flirty thing.”
He shook his head. “I wouldn't joke about that.”

And I could barely believe it.

“You really are in love with me? Like, it's not just some crush?”
“Most definitely not,” he said, sliding his finger across my cheek. “I am in love with you.”

I press my eyes shut tighter as I'm overcome with emotion. I so clearly remember locking eyes with him the first time I saw him, feeling like I was starring in a romance movie and had just met my true love.

“I want you to know how I feel. How I've felt since I first saw you. Tell me what you're thinking.” He pulled me onto his lap. “Actually, don't tell me what you're thinking. Tell me how you're feeling.”
“That day, we, um … like, our eyes met …” I stuttered out.
“I knew then,” he said.
Tears filled my eyes as I cradled his handsome face in my hands. And then I said what was truly in my heart.
“I love you too, Damon.”

And I knew I meant it.
Which is why I'm doing this.

Monday, June 22nd
A contented sigh.
Ainsley

“Wow,” Jadyn says, pointing to one of the two design boards I set in front of her. “This design is quite unique.”
And I'm trying to figure out if that's like someone saying you look nice when you think your outfit should elicit a word like fantastic or gorgeous.
I swallow and hope she doesn't hate it because I am obsessed with the way it turned out. The other board is nice. It's just that it's way safer. Standard. Typical.
But I feel like Uncle Tripp has never played anything safe in his life.
She looks at the other board, nods approvingly, then goes back to the first one. “Tell me about your inspiration for this.”
“Um, well,” I stutter out, because I know this is going to sound silly the second I say it, “I imagined the kind of home Uncle Tripp would have if he were a cowboy. Thought the lobby of the hotel should look like that.”
She starts laughing.
Shit.
But then she says, “That's exactly what this is. He's going to love it. The massive copper-covered fireplace is truly an incredible idea. It's very much a mix of the rustic vibe of Cowtown with a touch of Dallas bling.”
I heard Fort Worth was called Cowtown, but I sorta thought it had to do with cowboys—which I guess, in a way, it kind of does. It got the name because of the cattle drives that had started in the Midwest and ended at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
“And these coffee tables—are they honed marble?”
“No, they're concrete,” I tell her.
“And gives it sparkle? A glitter finish?”
I shake my head. “They're actually made from Unimin white quartz sand, which glimmers. I like the juxtaposition of the rough stone with the smooth copper. Plus, you can put your boots up on it and never hurt it. Same goes for cocktails.”
“I really like the rich color of these chairs,” she says, studying the other board. “Do you think you could work them into this design?”
“Yeah, I think that would look—” I start to say, but then a coworker sets a steaming bowl of refried rice with some kind of fish in front of Jadyn, and I immediately feel sick. “Oh, um, can you give me a minute?” I say to her, quickly leaving the room and heading straight to the bathroom.
I take a deep, cleansing breath.
The smell made me feel like I could throw up, but now that I'm away from it, I'm completely fine.
Oh my gosh. Do I have morning sickness? But then I laugh at myself because it's not morning. It's nearly one.
I probably need to look up pregnancy symptoms. What's normal and not. And see a doctor to get confirmation.
Although I did take a pregnancy test again this morning, just to be doubly sure. Because other than being tired—which, considering the number of hours we've been working, isn't a surprise—I feel good.
And I'm glad. I need whatever symptoms I might have to wait until I'm done with this project.
Because now, more than ever, I really need to do well. I need Jadyn to give me the most amazing referral letter ever so that I can get a good job when I graduate.


“Are you feeling okay?” Jadyn asks when I return.
“Yeah, sorry. Just a little tired. But I'm fine.”
“I feel ya. I've been exhausted too,” she says. “This is a big project to try to make perfect in a short amount of time. Are both designs within budget?”
“They are. The only variable is that copper prices change often, but right now, we're good.”
She looks out into the main office space and yells, “Claire, can you come in here?”
Claire, who is just under Jadyn in the design pecking order for this project, gets up from her desk and joins us.
Jadyn says, “How far along are you”—I start to panic. How could she possibly know I'm pregnant when I just found out myself? I'm sure I look guilty when I glance down at my belly—“on the bathroom plans?”
And I realize she isn't talking to me, but rather to Claire.
I let out a deep breath.
“We have some mood boards and a bunch of ideas,” Claire replies. “But we're waiting for the exterior and lobby plans to get approved so that everything will be cohesive.”
“Excellent. Look at this concrete,” Jadyn says. “I would love to make bathtubs out of it, but I think they would weigh too much. Don't you think that it would make amazing sinks though? Almost a trough-style with the counters and sink all in one piece.”
“That would be very cool,” Claire says. “Hang on.” She rushes back out, stands in front of the big bulletin board with all our random inspiration, and then comes back in and sets photos and tiles in front of us. “It'd be a splurge, but when I was in Scotland, I stayed at a beautiful inn that had this modern copper tub, lined with stainless steel. We could add polished chrome fixtures. Wood paneling on the wall behind it maybe? And look at these classic green-and-white marble floor tiles. I was thinking we'd do them in a diamond checkered pattern.”
“Yes to the tubs if we can get them in time,” Jadyn says with a grin. “I love them, and the stainless steel interior is great for hygiene. Start with the tubs and the sinks and see what else you come up with.” She grabs the tiles and swaps their positions around the photo of the tub. “What if, instead of wood on the wall, we use wood-looking tiles on the floor and do the marble tiles on the walls? Maybe mock it up both ways.”
Claire nods, looks excited, and quickly exits with the samples, eager to get started.
“You did a really nice job on this, Ainsley. Obviously, your uncle made sure you got this internship,” Jadyn says, tapping on my board, “but this design proves that's not the only reason you were chosen.”
And I swear, I have a smile plastered on my face for the rest of the day.


I'm just getting home from the office when my phone buzzes. I smile as I see Damon's adorable face on my screen.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he says.
“Hey, you,” I reply, dropping my tote on the coffee table, plopping down on the couch, and putting my feet up.
“How was your day?” he asks.
“It was awesome. Jadyn loved my lobby design. Hang on. I'll text you a picture of it.”
I do, and when he gets it, I watch him break out in a wide grin.
“This is amazing. The fireplace—is it copper? It's so bold. How did you come up with something like that?”
I shrug. “I don't know. I just was inspired. It's a weird combination of this town, its heritage, and my uncle Tripp.”
“You're very creative. I'm impressed,” he says, but then his mouth forms a naughty smirk. “Although, if you're alone, I know a way you could impress me more.”
“You go first,” I say, knowing exactly what he's thinking.
He quickly pulls his shirt up over his head, revealing tan muscles.
Two can play at that game, I think, slowly unbuttoning my blouse.
“I miss you,” he says with a sigh.
“I miss you too. How was your night out with your teammates? We didn't get a chance to talk yesterday.”
“It was pretty good. Last year, Treyvon and Chase were roommates. And it sounds like Treyvon partied a lot. Got a lot of girls. But apparently, Chase and I are a bad influence on him. He only had a couple of beers when we were out, is focused on eating healthy, and has started drinking hydrogen water for faster workout recovery.”
“And the girls?” I tease.
“Oh, he says that's healthy for him,” Damon says with a laugh.
“And what about you?” I ask.
“What about me?” he wonders, legitimately looking confused. But then he goes, “You know I'm pretty strict with my diet.”
“I was referring to the girls. I'm sure there were some at the party.”
“There were, but—are you questioning things with us already?” he asks.
I shrug and bite my lower lip. Because I don't know. Am I? Yes, kind of. Maybe. Sorta.
“Well, if you are, you shouldn't be. And anytime you think otherwise, take a look at that bracelet on your wrist and know that whether I'm with you or not, you're always wrapped up in my love.”
“Do you think it's a little crazy that we fell in love in, like, twelve days?”
“Actually, it was just eight days when I told you I loved you. And don't forget, you said it back,” he says seriously, pointing his finger in my direction.
“Is that better or worse?” I ask with a laugh while I'm shaking my head.
“Better or worse? Sounds like wedding vows to me. What do you think? Christmas wedding? Then you move to Lincoln with me and get a job here?”

Keep Reading That Girl!!
That Girl: Damon + Ainsley #2

Twelve days.
Ainsley

I wake up and look at the clock. It's nearly nine. I can't believe I slept in so late.
I touch my abdomen and think about my call with Damon last night. The decision I made not to tell him that I'm pregnant.
My questions this morning are: Was it the right thing to do? And what are the consequences of my decision?
It does mean I'm going to have to go through pregnancy alone. But I believe it will be worth it. I care for him. Love him. Want his first season of college football to be everything he's ever dreamed of. For him to be able to focus on those goals and experiences. To have nothing to distract him. For the press to talk only of his accomplishments and not on the fact that a less-than-two-week summer fling resulted in an unplanned pregnancy.
Which is the other big issue.
We have been together for all of twelve days.
Day one was just harmless flirting.
Day three, the night of Chase and Dani's wedding, I found out about my dad's gambling addiction, drank too much, and tried to seduce Damon.
Day four, I woke up mostly naked with him in my bed. And later that day, we shared our first kiss.
Day six was our first date, when we spent a fun night in a tent he had set up for us.
On day seven, after making sand angels, we were naked together in the shower, and the physical side of our relationship progressed past kissing.
Day eight was our butterfly picnic, where we first said I love you. Where we spoke of how fast things were moving between us and how we believed we were soulmates.
On day nine, we watched fireworks together, and later, I fell asleep on his shoulder.
On day ten—the night of his birthday party—he wished for birthday sex, took me to his suite, and asked me to be his girlfriend. And when he blew out the candles just after midnight on his actual birthday, he said, I wish Ainsley would love me forever.
On the eleventh day, we shared a long night filled with passion and love, ending my sexual drought.
And on the twelfth day, our last day together, we agreed I would visit him whenever I could. We discussed how we would label our relationship and ultimately decided he would call me what he'd called me since the first day he saw me—his future wife.
I look down at the charm-filled bracelet on my wrist. The charms he gave me to remind me of each of those days. Days spent falling in love with him.
I told him I truly believed he was my first real love. And that I wanted to support him in football, life, and beyond.
And that's what I'm doing—supporting him in football so that he can enjoy it in his life and beyond.
I smile when I think about what else we said that day. How he asked me to move to Lincoln with him. Since I have to work this summer and then finish my degree at a different school this fall and get a job, we decided to do the long-distance thing until after I graduated and then reevaluate things at Christmastime.
Christmastime.
That's when I'll tell him.
I grab my phone and look up his season schedule. Their last game is Thanksgiving weekend. If they have a good enough record, they will go to the conference championship game the following weekend.
There's another reason why this makes sense.
Damon is the ultimate in big gestures. If I told him now, he'd want to get married. I know he would.
And although we're in love and we're going to have a baby, there's no need to rush that kind of commitment.
It would be too much, too soon. I mean, take my parents, for example. They got pregnant and married after only knowing each other for a few months. And even though they are now just getting a divorce, honestly, as soon as my mother found out Dad had lied to her about all the money he'd lost, she should have left him then.
And I don't want to go through that.
I think Damon's wonderful. But by not telling him, I can keep the focus on our relationship. We'll have time to figure out if there's more than just love there. If we could have not only a loving and healthy relationship, but one filled with mutual respect.
And I know Damon is nothing like my ex, Brad. I don't believe he will cheat on me. But I don't know that for sure. I don't know how he will react if he doesn't end up starting. Or how he will behave when he becomes the star I know he will be. And how he will handle the attention he's bound to get from everyone—from journalists to girls.
The only thing I don't like about this plan is that I'm going to have to—well, not lie to him exactly, but I won't really be telling him the truth.
And somehow, I'm going to have to hide this pregnancy from him.
From Sammy.
From everyone.
To be honest, it might not be that hard. Other than being a little tired, I really don't feel pregnant.
I pop out of bed and go into the bathroom.
Look at the tests on the counter, double-checking that they're still showing positive.
I close my eyes.

“Remember in Haley's wedding toast, how she talked about our first summer here? How we call it that summer? The summer we will never forget?” he said.
“Yeah.”
“Being here with you today is like that. I'll never forget the way you look, what you say, how you kiss me, and how you make me feel. I know we've been flirting and kissing, but today feels like one of those moments. The start of something we'll never forget.”
Tears filled my eyes as I clinked my glass against his. “To us.”
We sealed the toast with a kiss, and then he held my gaze and said, “I love you, Ainsley.”

I was shocked he had said it so soon and asked if he was serious.

“I've always been serious about you.”
“I mean, I thought the whole future wifey was, like, just a flirty thing.”
He shook his head. “I wouldn't joke about that.”

And I could barely believe it.

“You really are in love with me? Like, it's not just some crush?”
“Most definitely not,” he said, sliding his finger across my cheek. “I am in love with you.”

I press my eyes shut tighter as I'm overcome with emotion. I so clearly remember locking eyes with him the first time I saw him, feeling like I was starring in a romance movie and had just met my true love.

“I want you to know how I feel. How I've felt since I first saw you. Tell me what you're thinking.” He pulled me onto his lap. “Actually, don't tell me what you're thinking. Tell me how you're feeling.”
“That day, we, um … like, our eyes met …” I stuttered out.
“I knew then,” he said.
Tears filled my eyes as I cradled his handsome face in my hands. And then I said what was truly in my heart.
“I love you too, Damon.”

And I knew I meant it.
Which is why I'm doing this.

Monday, June 22nd
A contented sigh.
Ainsley

“Wow,” Jadyn says, pointing to one of the two design boards I set in front of her. “This design is quite unique.”
And I'm trying to figure out if that's like someone saying you look nice when you think your outfit should elicit a word like fantastic or gorgeous.
I swallow and hope she doesn't hate it because I am obsessed with the way it turned out. The other board is nice. It's just that it's way safer. Standard. Typical.
But I feel like Uncle Tripp has never played anything safe in his life.
She looks at the other board, nods approvingly, then goes back to the first one. “Tell me about your inspiration for this.”
“Um, well,” I stutter out, because I know this is going to sound silly the second I say it, “I imagined the kind of home Uncle Tripp would have if he were a cowboy. Thought the lobby of the hotel should look like that.”
She starts laughing.
Shit.
But then she says, “That's exactly what this is. He's going to love it. The massive copper-covered fireplace is truly an incredible idea. It's very much a mix of the rustic vibe of Cowtown with a touch of Dallas bling.”
I heard Fort Worth was called Cowtown, but I sorta thought it had to do with cowboys—which I guess, in a way, it kind of does. It got the name because of the cattle drives that had started in the Midwest and ended at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
“And these coffee tables—are they honed marble?”
“No, they're concrete,” I tell her.
“And gives it sparkle? A glitter finish?”
I shake my head. “They're actually made from Unimin white quartz sand, which glimmers. I like the juxtaposition of the rough stone with the smooth copper. Plus, you can put your boots up on it and never hurt it. Same goes for cocktails.”
“I really like the rich color of these chairs,” she says, studying the other board. “Do you think you could work them into this design?”
“Yeah, I think that would look—” I start to say, but then a coworker sets a steaming bowl of refried rice with some kind of fish in front of Jadyn, and I immediately feel sick. “Oh, um, can you give me a minute?” I say to her, quickly leaving the room and heading straight to the bathroom.
I take a deep, cleansing breath.
The smell made me feel like I could throw up, but now that I'm away from it, I'm completely fine.
Oh my gosh. Do I have morning sickness? But then I laugh at myself because it's not morning. It's nearly one.
I probably need to look up pregnancy symptoms. What's normal and not. And see a doctor to get confirmation.
Although I did take a pregnancy test again this morning, just to be doubly sure. Because other than being tired—which, considering the number of hours we've been working, isn't a surprise—I feel good.
And I'm glad. I need whatever symptoms I might have to wait until I'm done with this project.
Because now, more than ever, I really need to do well. I need Jadyn to give me the most amazing referral letter ever so that I can get a good job when I graduate.


“Are you feeling okay?” Jadyn asks when I return.
“Yeah, sorry. Just a little tired. But I'm fine.”
“I feel ya. I've been exhausted too,” she says. “This is a big project to try to make perfect in a short amount of time. Are both designs within budget?”
“They are. The only variable is that copper prices change often, but right now, we're good.”
She looks out into the main office space and yells, “Claire, can you come in here?”
Claire, who is just under Jadyn in the design pecking order for this project, gets up from her desk and joins us.
Jadyn says, “How far along are you”—I start to panic. How could she possibly know I'm pregnant when I just found out myself? I'm sure I look guilty when I glance down at my belly—“on the bathroom plans?”
And I realize she isn't talking to me, but rather to Claire.
I let out a deep breath.
“We have some mood boards and a bunch of ideas,” Claire replies. “But we're waiting for the exterior and lobby plans to get approved so that everything will be cohesive.”
“Excellent. Look at this concrete,” Jadyn says. “I would love to make bathtubs out of it, but I think they would weigh too much. Don't you think that it would make amazing sinks though? Almost a trough-style with the counters and sink all in one piece.”
“That would be very cool,” Claire says. “Hang on.” She rushes back out, stands in front of the big bulletin board with all our random inspiration, and then comes back in and sets photos and tiles in front of us. “It'd be a splurge, but when I was in Scotland, I stayed at a beautiful inn that had this modern copper tub, lined with stainless steel. We could add polished chrome fixtures. Wood paneling on the wall behind it maybe? And look at these classic green-and-white marble floor tiles. I was thinking we'd do them in a diamond checkered pattern.”
“Yes to the tubs if we can get them in time,” Jadyn says with a grin. “I love them, and the stainless steel interior is great for hygiene. Start with the tubs and the sinks and see what else you come up with.” She grabs the tiles and swaps their positions around the photo of the tub. “What if, instead of wood on the wall, we use wood-looking tiles on the floor and do the marble tiles on the walls? Maybe mock it up both ways.”
Claire nods, looks excited, and quickly exits with the samples, eager to get started.
“You did a really nice job on this, Ainsley. Obviously, your uncle made sure you got this internship,” Jadyn says, tapping on my board, “but this design proves that's not the only reason you were chosen.”
And I swear, I have a smile plastered on my face for the rest of the day.


I'm just getting home from the office when my phone buzzes. I smile as I see Damon's adorable face on my screen.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he says.
“Hey, you,” I reply, dropping my tote on the coffee table, plopping down on the couch, and putting my feet up.
“How was your day?” he asks.
“It was awesome. Jadyn loved my lobby design. Hang on. I'll text you a picture of it.”
I do, and when he gets it, I watch him break out in a wide grin.
“This is amazing. The fireplace—is it copper? It's so bold. How did you come up with something like that?”
I shrug. “I don't know. I just was inspired. It's a weird combination of this town, its heritage, and my uncle Tripp.”
“You're very creative. I'm impressed,” he says, but then his mouth forms a naughty smirk. “Although, if you're alone, I know a way you could impress me more.”
“You go first,” I say, knowing exactly what he's thinking.
He quickly pulls his shirt up over his head, revealing tan muscles.
Two can play at that game, I think, slowly unbuttoning my blouse.
“I miss you,” he says with a sigh.
“I miss you too. How was your night out with your teammates? We didn't get a chance to talk yesterday.”
“It was pretty good. Last year, Treyvon and Chase were roommates. And it sounds like Treyvon partied a lot. Got a lot of girls. But apparently, Chase and I are a bad influence on him. He only had a couple of beers when we were out, is focused on eating healthy, and has started drinking hydrogen water for faster workout recovery.”
“And the girls?” I tease.
“Oh, he says that's healthy for him,” Damon says with a laugh.
“And what about you?” I ask.
“What about me?” he wonders, legitimately looking confused. But then he goes, “You know I'm pretty strict with my diet.”
“I was referring to the girls. I'm sure there were some at the party.”
“There were, but—are you questioning things with us already?” he asks.
I shrug and bite my lower lip. Because I don't know. Am I? Yes, kind of. Maybe. Sorta.
“Well, if you are, you shouldn't be. And anytime you think otherwise, take a look at that bracelet on your wrist and know that whether I'm with you or not, you're always wrapped up in my love.”
“Do you think it's a little crazy that we fell in love in, like, twelve days?”
“Actually, it was just eight days when I told you I loved you. And don't forget, you said it back,” he says seriously, pointing his finger in my direction.
“Is that better or worse?” I ask with a laugh while I'm shaking my head.
“Better or worse? Sounds like wedding vows to me. What do you think? Christmas wedding? Then you move to Lincoln with me and get a job here?”


Keep Reading THAT GIRL
That Girl: Damon + Ainsley #2

Damon's POV

My dad always says it's the simple things in life. And I finally understand. It's waking up with the person you love sleeping next to you. Smiling at the clothes scattered on the floor from last night. Recalling the way her lips felt against yours. And how a kiss can convey so much without a word.
I think about yesterday and how I sort of upset her. I've always had a plan for my life. I set goals and achieve them, but my mind is always on the endgame. I keep pushing and driving. And I realize that while that might work for getting to the pinnacle of your career, it might not work in a relationship.
I've been pushing. Because I know what I want. I can visualize it—us married. A bunch of kids. A happy life together.
Which is the keyword. Together. My dad says it's important that your teammates are all on the same page. That your goals align if you want to win. And what I have to remember is that while she's been my goal for three years, I just finally showed up on her radar. That we've only spent a total of two weeks together in person. And although I've gotten to know her body quite well during that time, she's right. I don't know how she likes her coffee. Or if she even likes it. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever seen her drink it.
And I need to know those things.

That Girl: Damon + Ainsley #2

WE FELL IN LOVE IN JUST 12 DAYS. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT I'M PREGNANT.

I'm going to have to go through pregnancy alone. But I believe it will be worth it. I care for him. Love him. Want his first season of college football to be everything he's ever dreamed of. For him to be able to focus on those goals and experiences. To have nothing to distract him. For the press to talk only of his accomplishments and not on the fact that a less-than-two-week summer fling resulted in an unplanned pregnancy.
Which is the other big issue.
We have been together for all of twelve days.
Day one was just harmless flirting.
Day three, the night of Chase and Dani's wedding, I found out about my dad's gambling addiction, drank too much, and tried to seduce Damon.
Day four, I woke up mostly naked with him in my bed. And later that day, we shared our first kiss.
Day six was our first date, when we spent a fun night in a tent he had set up for us.
On day seven, after making sand angels, we were naked together in the shower, and the physical side of our relationship progressed past kissing.
Day eight was our butterfly picnic, where we first said I love you. Where we spoke of how fast things were moving between us and how we believed we were soulmates.
On day nine, we watched fireworks together, and later, I fell asleep on his shoulder.
On day ten—the night of his birthday party—he wished for birthday sex, took me to his suite, and asked me to be his girlfriend. And when he blew out the candles just after midnight on his actual birthday, he said, I wish Ainsley would love me forever.
On the eleventh day, we shared a long night filled with passion and love, ending my sexual drought.
And on the twelfth day, our last day together, we agreed I would visit him whenever I could. We discussed how we would label our relationship and ultimately decided he would call me what he'd called me since the first day he saw me—his future wife.
I look down at the charm-filled bracelet on my wrist. The charms he gave me to remind me of each of those days.
Days spent falling in love with him.

That Girl: Damon + Ainsley #2

Trope Reveal and a Spooky Deal

After sharing the blurb and cover of That Girl last week, it's time to share some tropes you'll see in the book.
🎉 That Girl has…
• A Secret Pregnancy
•Golden Retriever Hero
•College Football
•Summer Fling to Forever Love
•Soulmate Level Romance

Damon and Ainsley had a summer romance that turned into real love and now they have to navigate real life.
There's the fact that they go to different colleges.
Damon wants to be a starter on his football team.
Ainsley is finishing her last semester before graduation.
And on top of that… she's pregnant.
And he doesn't know. 🤯

In other That Boy Series news, we're happy to share that the Ebook Boxed Set of books 1-5 are on sale for only $3.99 on Amazon.
That's five books for less than $5.00!
This sale will run through November 6th.

That Girl: Damon + Ainsley #2

Firstly, I want to thank you for reading and reviewing That Crush. I have received so many amazing reviews, tags and messages about the book and am blown away. The That Boy Series has always been special to me, and Damon and Ainsley's story is no different.

And to say a big thank you, I'm offering a bonus scene from That Crush. This is a massive bonus scene (over 5,000 words!) and is the wild night out together from Damon's POV!

In other That Boy news, we're having a huge series sale on Amazon.
The first eight ebooks in the series are only 99¢ each.
This sale will only run for a week, so make sure to get yours by June 20th.

Scotty and I are currently in New York and what an amazing trip it has been! We're here because Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing chose to put That Crush on a Billboard in the middle of the city!
When we found out, we knew we had to come to see it.
It's been a dream come true to see my work being displayed in such an amazing way.
On top of that, I got to share the experience with great friends, readers, and have had an amazing time celebrating.

Thank you again for all the support and love with the release of That Crush. And as always, happy reading!

🦋

XOXO, 💕Jillian

That Crush

The time has finally come.... it's blurb and swag reveal day for That Crush!

This series is going to pack an emotional punch. Despite the light and fun summer romance, these two characters are about to experience a once in a lifetime love. And the ending... it's going to leave you gasping!

🦋

When Damon Diamond first laid eyes on Ainsley Archibald at fifteen, he knew it was more than just a crush. But with their four-year age gap and her indifference, he had to keep his feelings at bay.

Three years later, everything has changed. Damon’s no longer the boy she barely noticed—he’s grown into a confident, irresistible man with one goal for the summer: to make Ainsley his.

Ainsley arrives at her uncle’s resort in the Ozarks, eager to get back out there after a bad breakup. But the moment she lays eyes on Damon, everything shifts. He’s hot, heading to college, and the chemistry between them is undeniable.
What starts as harmless flirting, quickly spirals into feelings that neither of them can ignore.

Torn between her desire for him and the complications of their age difference, Ainsley must decide if she’s ready to risk everything for a summer of love.
Because Damon isn’t just after a fling—he wants her heart.

That Crush: That Boy®, Book 9

We've been enjoying the Florida sunshine this week, soaking it all up before heading back to Texas for Easter. I can't wait to spend the holiday weekend with my son, Connor, and his wife, Bri. Little Lillianna is growing up so fast! They're inviting everyone over and hosting a brunch.

This week I've got two exciting deals to share with you. Firstly, That Summer is only 99¢ on Amazon! This ebook deal will run until April 17th. And secondly, my London Prep Series is having a huge sale!

Book 2, 3, and 4 are FREE
5 is 99¢
6, 7, 8 and 9 are only $2.99
These ebooks will be discounted on Amazon until April 15th.

I hope you have a great weekend and spend it reading!


XOXO,
💕Jillian

That Summer
The Exchange

I hope so! Because we're offering 50% off both paperback covers of Girl off the Grid on the Jillian Dodd Store this week. If you want travel, adventure, grumpy/sunshine, an environmental message, and a funny and sweet read, this book is for you! Here's a quote to give you a feel of the book.

“She’s more of everything. She lights up a room. She lights up a downpour. I’m falling hard for her.”

Camille is a NYC fashion influencer. Adam is a London based wildlife photographer. They couldn't be more different, but they're paired up by a magazine to work on an article together while in Costa Rica. And the results are hilarious.

You can expect them to get sweaty while hiking a volcano, accidentally cuddle while sleeping in a tent, argue while trudging through the wetlands and share a moment while watching sea turtles hatch.

Happy Reading!

💕XOXO, Jillian

P.S. Discount is automatically applied at checkout

https://jilliandodd.net/collections/k...

I'm happy to announce my books are back in Kindle Unlimited! You can now read them for free!

Link-https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jillian...