Page 53 of Second Time Around

“That’s great!” Jenna replied, although she felt a twinge of jealousy. It seemed like everyone was dating except her, not that she hadn’t had the opportunity. She was reminded of Mitch the dentist and how Beck had ruined that for her…

“I’m fifty years old. I’m not supposed to be dating at this stage of my life,” Karen said as they filed into the kitchen.

“You have a date?” Kelsey said excitedly.

Jenna had thought the kitchen was crowded with just her and Beck, but it was even worse now. She recalled having been pinned between his hard body and the counter… No!Don’t go there!

“Yes. Can you believe it?” Karen was saying as Paige poured them each a glass of wine.

“I believe it,” Stacy said sweetly. “Fifty is not old.”

“Says the woman who once thought thirty-six was over the hill,” Jenna teased.

They all laughed, recalling when Stacy had begun dating Nick, who was eight years her junior.

“I’ve learned to think otherwise,” Stacy said.

“I bet Nick was a good teacher,” Karen teased.

Stacy nodded. “Even though I was his teacher first.” When Nick had started working with her, Stacy had been assigned to train him. Her friends had mercilessly teased her about who was teaching whom and what!

“So, where did you meet him?” Kelsey asked Karen.

“At the dog park,” Karen said. “Our dogs sniffed each other. and then we got to talking, and he asked me out.”

“If nothing else, it will be a fun story to tell your grandkids someday,” Kelsey said.

Everyone looked at Paige, who shook her head. “I haven’t gone on a date in months, yet my mom meets a guy at the dog park. It’s so not fair.”

The doorbell rang again, and Jenna excused herself to answer it. She opened the door to Debbie and Cheryl, Stacy’s neighbors. “Hi, ladies. Come on in.”

“Did the party get started without us?” Debbie asked.

“You’re not too late. There’s plenty of food and wine in the kitchen.”

Jenna stood back while the women exchanged greetings and then helped themselves to the food and drink.

“Who made these sandwiches? They’re delicious!” Cheryl exclaimed.

“The owner of Between the Slices sandwich shop.”

“How do you know him?” Debbie asked.

“Is he single?” Paige chimed in.

“He’s—”

Jenna interrupted her sister before she divulged too much information. “He’s an old friend of mine.”

Stacy and Kelsey exchanged knowing glances, but thankfully, neither of them corrected her.

“He left some carryout menus, if anyone’s interested.” Jenna felt like a walking billboard, but she’d promised to give him a shout-out. Besides, there was no denying how delicious the food was.

“Did he make the desserts too?” Karen asked.

“Um-hmm,” Jenna said.

“This is great. I’ll definitely check out his restaurant,” Paige said as she selected another sandwich.