Page 104 of Second Time Around

She turned to lift Annie out of the carrier, but not before Jenna noticed the look she exchanged with Hudson. Then Jenna glanced at Stacy, who nodded like she’d noticed it too. Was Kelsey pregnant? She and Hudson were living together, and they’d talked about having children someday, but maybe someday had come sooner than they’d planned.

That reminded Jenna of last night in the living room with Beck. Making love with nothing between them had been better than she’d imagined. After the first time, on the couch in front of the window, he’d scooped her into his arms and carried her to his bedroom.

“What was wrong with the couch?” she’d argued.

“Nothing, except I want you in my bed. The neighbors don’t need to see everything I want to do to you.”

They’d made love twice more, forgoing protection both times. Then she’d fallen asleep in his arms, warm and secure in his embrace, without a worry in the world.

Over the past several weeks, he’d proven to her just how much he loved her. His commitment hadn’t wavered, even when she’d given him a hard time. At some point, the magnitude of his love had sunk in, and instead of feeling suffocated or fearful of it, she felt oddly freed.

She was no longer worried about him leaving her for another woman, including Cassie, his sophisticated ex-girlfriend and her exact opposite. He didn’t mind that Jenna preferred Converses to high heels and didn’t understand the purpose of all the silverware at a formal restaurant.

She was no longer afraid he wanted to return to his single life in Chicago, with his high-profile job, high-rise apartment, and the hustle and bustle of the city. He seemed perfectly content in their cozy suburban community, with its casual eateries and where parks outnumbered museums and art galleries.

They might have been apart for twelve years, but Beck was still “her people.” He’d blended into her life like he’d never been gone, and now their friends and families were fused together too.

She glanced over to where he was standing with Nick and Hudson, deep in conversation about some football game. Watching him, she could see the future. These three men and the women they loved would be part of each other’s lives forever. They’d celebrate holidays, weddings, births, and whatever else life had in store for them. They’d support each other through the difficult times too, like with Barb’s cancer.

Late last night, after she and Beck had made love a second time, he had shared something with her that had blown her away.

“I have a confession to make.”

She’d been idly rubbing his chest, and his words stopped her in her tracks.

“It’s not a bad one,” he assured her after reading her reaction.

“Sorry. What is it?”

“My mom’s illness wasn’t the only reason I came home.”

“Okay…”

“That was the impetus, but I’d actually been considering it for a long time.”

“Oh?”

He shifted to face her, and although it was dark, he was so close she could see every nuance of his gorgeous face.

“I came back for you too.”

She sucked in a breath.

“I figured if you were in a serious relationship or married, I would have heard about it. Since I didn’t… Anyway, I knew it was a long shot, but I also knew I’d regret it forever if I didn’t try. You have no idea how nervous I was to see you again…”

“Beck…”

“I’m not done yet.”

“Okay.”

“Do you want to know the first place I went when I got back?”

She assumed he’d gone to his parent’s house, but she just nodded.

“I went to church. The same one I went to as a kid.”

She knew the one because she’d gone there with him and his family a few times.