# Chapter 20: The Long Road Back to Love
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 20 of "The girl of his dreams". This is the chapter where Jordan stops merely grieving and starts planning, where old wounds meet new apologies, and where a family secret becomes a bridge instead of a wall. So take my hand, and let's step into the story.
When Chapter 20 opens, Jordan is a shadow of the man he used to be. Finn and Max have tried to drag him back into life, but their efforts are about as effective as using a paper umbrella in a hurricane. Finn is too wrapped up in himself to offer real comfort, and Max, cool and composed as ever, has no idea how to express genuine empathy. Still, they badger Jordan into lunch before a baseball game, mostly because they cannot stand watching him drown in silence. Jordan has never felt less like attending a sporting event, but he goes anyway, hoping to quiet their endless lectures about snapping out of it and rejoining the living.
At the table, Finn complains that Jordan has not heard a word he has said for ten minutes, teasing him about looking lobotomized and even drooling. Jordan tells him to shut up, especially about his latest string of meaningless conquests. Max smirks and agrees, suggesting Finn should maintain a little mystery. Finn fires back, mocking Max as a monk who never dates, and Max calmly replies that some men do not need to brag about their exploits. Then Max reminds them both that this lunch is supposed to be about cheering Jordan up.
But the conversation keeps circling back to the same wound. Finn suggests Jordan find a new woman, even offering names and numbers. Jordan refuses. He knows Max's numbers are ancient, and more importantly, he does not want to become involved with anyone new. When Finn asks whether Aubrey has ruined his old "wham, bam, thank you, ma'am" attitude, Jordan admits that being with Aubrey has changed him. He is done with meaningless sex and acting like a horny college student. He wants something more. He wants her.
Finn is disgusted, declaring that Aubrey has ruined him. He says Jordan left as a fun-loving manwhore and came back a sappy, lovestruck fool with a conscience. Jordan flips him off out of sight of nearby families. Max defends Jordan, telling Finn that one day the same thing will happen to him. Finn sneers, mocking Max as a monk, philosopher, or psychic. But Max grows serious and says it already happened to him. He met a woman who knocked him on his arrogant ass, and he made a holy mess of it, destroying it beyond repair. He doubts Finn will ever see the light, but he believes Jordan still has hope if he truly cares about Aubrey.
Jordan insists he does care. The only reason he has not turned into a stalker, calling and texting every few minutes, is that Aubrey asked for space. He is trying to respect her wishes, but he is nearing the end of his rope, caught between a rock and a hard place. Finn makes a crude joke about what has not been hard lately, claiming Jordan's real problem is abstaining from sex. Jordan snaps that it has only been a couple of weeks, though he admits he needs neither a babysitter, a shrink, nor a pimp. Max looks chastised, Finn looks angry, and Jordan wishes he had never agreed to lunch or the game. The Giants lose by seven runs, and the outing leaves all three men sour.
That night, Jordan decides he cannot mope for even one more day. More than two weeks have passed since Aubrey blew up at him at the charity ball and fled San Francisco. He had promised to give her time, but his patience is wearing thin. He makes a plan. First, he will apologize to Ian Gregson and make sure Aubrey's job opportunity is not ruined. Second, he will find out where Aubrey is staying and send her a dozen yellow roses, her favorite, with a simple note saying he has not stopped thinking of her for even one second and loves her more than words can express. Third, he will launch a campaign to win her back: sweet texts, emails, voice mails, more yellow roses, and small gifts. He is prepared to keep going until she agrees to talk to him or takes out a restraining order. For the first time in weeks, he sleeps well.
The next morning, Jordan heads to the gym, only to run straight into Ian in the locker room. He awkwardly explains that he was going to call tomorrow to apologize. Ian is unsmiling and scathing, but he agrees they should talk. He tells Jordan not to worry about Aubrey's job interview; he would never hold Jordan's actions against her. They arrange to have breakfast after their workouts. Then Ian says he will see Jordan in two hours. Jordan gapes, knowing his own workout usually lasts one hour at most. Ian, meanwhile, is legendary for brutal two-hour sessions.
By the time Jordan finishes ninety minutes of treadmill, Stairmaster, weights, and situps, he is fried. Ian barely breaks a sweat. After showering and dressing with effortless precision, Ian leads them to breakfast. They avoid Sweet Maple because Jordan once dated a waitress there. At The Grove, Ian orders poached eggs on avocado toast, while Jordan chooses eggs Benedict with hash browns and coffee.
Jordan begins his apology, admitting he should have told Tessa and Ian the truth from the beginning. Ian calmly replies that Tessa told him everything. There are no secrets between them. He understands Jordan's reasons but does not agree with them. Jordan admits he lied by omission because he wanted more time with Aubrey, to be sure she loved him as much as he loved her. Ian asks whether Jordan truly loves Aubrey or if she is simply a substitute for Tessa. Jordan winces and explains that what he felt for Tessa was infatuation, not love. Tessa was shy, sweet, and different from every woman he had known. She blushed when he teased her. She was a breath of fresh air. He envied the connection Ian and Tessa shared, and he wanted that kind of relationship for himself.
Ian surprises him by saying he cannot really blame any man attracted to Tessa. He admits there were times he wanted to punch Jordan in the nose, but he trusted Tessa completely. Jordan swears he never crossed a line. What Ian and Tessa have is a grand, epic love story, the kind poets write about. Ian smiles, amused. Jordan then asks his favor: do not take any of this out on Aubrey. Ian reveals that Aubrey already had her second interview and will be starting with the company week after next. Jordan is startled and grateful. Ian says Aubrey earned the job on her own.
When Ian asks if Jordan has heard from Aubrey, Jordan admits he has not. He says he is determined to win her back. Ian then drops the bigger news. He has seen and talked to Aubrey frequently because she is staying with them. Tessa flew to San Diego the day after speaking with Aubrey on the phone. They had lunch, met with the social worker who coordinated Aubrey's adoption, and confirmed that they are half-sisters. Tessa's mother had been pregnant again and gave Aubrey up for adoption. Aubrey is now staying with Tessa and Ian, and Gilly adores her new auntie. Ian offers to help Jordan brainstorm. Jordan grins, thanking him. Ian warns him not to screw this up, because he is not the forgiving and forgetting type, but he might help Jordan win his own once-in-a-lifetime love if Jordan proves his intentions are honorable.
In the final scene, Aubrey is feeding Gilly mac and cheese, enjoying the sweet domestic moment. She is good with children and loves spending time with her niece. She has been staying with Tessa and Ian for a week and a half. Her parents, Lorena and Kurt, were thrilled she returned to San Francisco and followed through with the job interview. Aubrey flew back on the Gregson corporate plane, awestruck by a luxury she had never known. She is not ready to deal with her love life just yet, but her heart is still tangled with thoughts of Jordan, even as a new life begins to take shape around her.
Reader's Impressions & Star Rating: This chapter is a beautiful turning point. It balances the crude comedy of Finn, the dry wisdom of Max, and the emotional gravity of Jordan's apology to Ian. The conversation between Jordan and Ian is the heart of the chapter, showing growth, humility, and the strange way pain can lead to unexpected family. Aubrey's quiet scene with Gilly softens the chapter and reminds us what Jordan is fighting for. The pacing is strong, the dialogue crackles, and the hopeful ending feels earned rather than forced. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars
Next Chapter Prediction: With Ian now willing to help, Jordan will likely begin his campaign to win Aubrey back. I predict yellow roses will arrive, followed by carefully chosen texts and perhaps an accidental or engineered meeting. Aubrey will be torn between her hurt and her lingering love, while Tessa may become an unexpected bridge between them. Finn will probably mock Jordan mercilessly, but Max may quietly prove more helpful than anyone expects. The next chapter may bring the first real conversation between Jordan and Aubrey since the charity ball, and it could either begin their reconciliation or reveal that winning her back will be far harder than Jordan imagined.
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