Page 79 of Second Time Around
Jenna’s eyes went wide. “You’re moving?”
Stacy nodded. “His apartment is way too small, and my house…well, I don’t want to be reminded of the past.”
It was there that Stacy had discovered her first husband had been cheating on her, and Jenna completely understood her motivation for moving.
“Plus, I don’t think it would be fair to Nick. I want to have a fresh start with him, you know?”
“I know exactly what you mean.” A fresh start. Was that what she was doing with Beck? Although, sneaking out of his bed in the middle of the night probably wasn’t a smart move. She should have stayed and talked to him about her fears. Instead, she’d waited until he was breathing deeply, and then she’d tiptoed away like a thief in the night.
“You should invite Beck too,” Stacy was saying.
It took Jenna a minute to catch up. “Invite Beck where?”
“To our engagement party. He already knows our family and Kelsey, but it would be nice to introduce him to Nick and Hudson too.”
“I’m not sure, sis. He might not even be here that long. Once Barb’s health improves, he might move back to Chicago.”
“Did he say that?”
“No, but it’s just a hunch.”
Stacy sighed. “You’re afraid he’s going to leave you again.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“What, then?”
“I don’t want to get too invested in case this is only temporary.”
“That’s the same thing!” Stacy teased.
“Remember how you felt when you thought Nick might return to Florida?”
“Yes, but that wasn’t the real reason I kept my distance.”
“Oh, right, your age gap.”
“Exactly. Once I got past that, I realized I would travel anywhere to be with him.”
Jenna took another sip of coffee as she mulled that over. Would she upend her life to be with Beck? Would he? “Regardless, it was only one night. We’re not like you and Nick or Kelsey and Hudson.”
“In love, you mean?”
“Right.”
Stacy eyed Jenna with amusement. “Of course not. Who falls in love with the same guy twice?!”
“Sounds like the premise of a romance book,” Jenna said.
“Kind of like the one we just read.”
“We both know that real life isn’t like a romance novel,” Jenna insisted.
“You’re right. It’s even better.”
Stacy hopped down from the kitchen stool and handed Jenna her empty mug. “Thanks for the coffee, sis.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Jenna set both mugs in the sink and accompanied her sister to the door. “Do me a favor and don’t tell anyone about me and Beck.”
