by Toni Aleo
Everyone nodded in agreement, and Jensen’s gaze drifted over to where Wren was standing with Elli as she very animatedly told her something. His love for that girl was strong, and he couldn’t wait for the moment he’d meet his son.
“Yeah, I have nothing. No kids. And we’re not having any for a long time. We just want to enjoy us,” Markus said with a nod.
Jordie nodded. “Can’t blame you. I wish we would have done that, but when you have a sperm count like I do—and a beard, mind you—it tends to just happen. I spit on her, and she’s pregnant.”
Karson gagged. “That’s my sister, asshole.”
“And I love her,” Jordie teased back, his face bright as everyone laughed.
When the laughter subsided, Markus slapped Jensen on the back. “You nervous?”
Jensen scoffed, his heart jumping up into his throat. “Nervous? That’s only one emotion I have.”
They all smiled, most of them knowingly, while Markus nodded. “I couldn’t imagine, but I love Wren. She’s great. She’s a give-it-to-you-straight kind of girl.”
“She is.” Jensen nodded as he looked back at her. When he saw that Lacey was trying to pass her baby off to Wren, he wanted to laugh at the pure horror on her face. “Excuse me.”
Jogging over toward the group of ladies, he intercepted the sweet baby with a smile. “Let me see this bundle of pink. Holy crap, she’s beautiful,” he said, cuddling her to his chest. “And Jesus, are you sure you had anything to do with this kid?”
Lacey beamed as she nodded. “That’s what everyone is saying. She looks just like Karson.”
“Like a carbon copy,” he laughed, holding the sweet girl to his chest. She sure was pretty and small. Shit, would his be this small?
“Wait until y’all’s comes. Wren’s eyes with your facial structure? Talk about a pretty little boy,” Fallon Brooks said, and Jensen grinned over at her to keep from dying inside. She didn’t know the truth, but he did.
And God, he prayed that his son came out looking just like Wren, with no traces of that fucker that left her.
Pushing those feelings to the side, he looked over at Lucas’s wife and asked, “Saying I’m pretty, Fallon?”
She blushed as she laughed. “You sure ain’t ugly. Hope I’m not offending you, Wren.”
Wren smiled as he looked over at her. “Not at all. I know he’s hot.”
All the ladies agreed, and this time, he was the one blushing. “I feel like a steak between you ladies. Aren’t all of you married? Jeez,” he teased, and they all laughed some more as Wren peeked over toward the baby, moving the little blanket away from her face.
“She is pretty.”
“She sure is. What’s her name, Lacey?”
“Rose.”
“Aw, how sweet, Mena and Rose. How’s Mena taking to her?”
“Perfectly. She loves her.”
When he felt Wren’s gaze on his, he looked down at her and smiled. “Wanna hold her?”
She shook her head quickly. “I like watching you with her.”
“Right? He’s amazing with all the kids,” Elli said, patting Jensen’s back. “And doesn’t forget a name.”
“I forget your name all the time,” he teased, and Elli laughed as she nodded. “No wait, that’s a lie. You sign my checks,” he said with a wink, and everyone giggled as he looked down at Rose. She was basically covered in pink, but for a moment, he imagined her in blue.
And his.
It felt right.
He glanced back to Wren, and her gaze met his. He wondered what she was thinking. “What?”
“It’s nice.”
He smiled as Rose stretched her body out, a yawn coming from her small body. “What is? You haven’t even held her.”
But she shook her head. “I know. But I mean you and her. It’s nice.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
His heart did a little jig as he nodded slowly. “You sure you don’t want to hold her?”
Gone was her smile, and it was replaced by a look of horror. “I could drop her.”
“You won’t,” he insisted as he slowly moved Rose from his arms to a very unwilling Wren. But she took her, cuddling the baby to her with all the fear one could muster in her eyes.
“Is she okay?”
“She fine,” he reassured as he moved Wren’s hand down a bit to support Rose’s bottom. “Have you never held a baby?”
“I was the baby.”
“What about Shanna’s kids?”
Her lips pressed together as she shook her head. “Nope. I never wanted to.”
He knew they weren’t talking and he wanted to ask about that, but it wasn’t the place. “How does it feel?”
Her lips curved a little on the left as she gazed down at Rose. “Good. She smells like heaven.”
“She does,” he agreed, wrapping his arm around Wren’s middle, holding her against him.
She beamed up at him. “I haven’t dropped her.”
“Nope, I’d say you’re doing well.”
“I am,” she agreed, looking back down to Rose. “I think I can do this.”
“You can, I know it.”
Her grin didn’t leave her lips as she leaned her head into his shoulder. Her demeanor had changed so much from when they had arrived, and he was thankful for that. He hoped she realized that she was good. Even without him, but she was better with him. He just needed her to realize that because he loved her. He loved the way her lips curved, how the little hairs on her neck flared out, and most of all, how green her eyes were. How they held every secret she was hiding. He wanted to know them all. He wanted her. All of her.
He needed her to give that to him.
As he looked up from Rose, his gaze met Vaughn’s. His best friend shook his head as he took a picture of them with his phone. Vaughn didn’t have to say anything, though; it was all in his eyes. He was worried for Jensen, and he got that, he did. But as he held his wife, looking down at the first baby she had ever held, he felt good.
Because if he felt anything else, like the fear that could eat him alive, he would drive himself mad. So he would ignore those feelings.
Instead, he would love her.
And hope that she loved him back.
Wren was pretty sure she could still smell baby Rose on her.
As she lay back on Brie’s couch that was up against the fireplace, not in its usual place since the interior designer was coming over, she cuddled into it as a smile played on her lips. That baby was so sweet, and Wren was glad that Rose was the first that she had held. She was perfect, didn’t cry, and let Wren just love on her. It was perfect, but being held by Jensen while she did it was about a billion times better. Exhaling hard, she felt her grin grow as she looked down at the picture that Vaughn had sent in the family thread the previous day.
They looked right. It was sort of nuts. She hadn’t noticed how good they looked together. Maybe it was how damn good-looking he was, but they just fit. She looked adorable in her overalls, but then, so did he in his simple shorts and tee. Really, though, when did Jensen not look good? Standing beside him, she came to his shoulder, and his arms fit around her, bringing her against him like she belonged there. His head rested on hers as he looked down at baby Rose, this content, gorgeous smile on his beautiful face. He looked like he was meant to be a husband and father, but when she looked at herself, she was surprised to find she felt she looked the part too.
She didn’t look like a fake.
Like an impostor.
She looked like she belonged.
In Jensen Monroe’s arms, holding their child.
Holy shit.
Before she could really decipher those feelings, which she felt were a little insane, she was distracted by the thread below the picture.
Vaughn: Look at them, practicing for when their baby comes! Isn’t it sweet? Gagggggggggg.
Mom: Oh my goodness, they are so cute together!
Mom: I can’t wait to get my hands
on her belly!
Dad: Why would you want to touch her belly? That’s weird.
Mom: It’s my grandchild, you freak! Come out of the woodshed and spend time with me.
Dad: No, I’m hiding from you.
Mom: I’m going to kill you.
Dad: Bring it.
Vaughn: Was that their version of foreplay?
Wells: I feel it might have been, and I just threw up.
Jensen: I did too.
Wells: But hey, you two look cute. Like real and shit.
Jensen: Because it is.
Vaughn: Ooooooh, he told you.
Wren: You guys are losers.
But even with her addition to the ongoing and annoying thread, she still couldn’t stop staring at the picture or Jensen’s text to her brother.
Because it is.
It was that simple for him.
Too bad she wasn’t completely convinced, but then, how could she be? She was realistic, and she knew her track record. Everyone she fell for dumped her like a bad habit. She didn’t want to be Jensen’s bad habit, the thing he dropped the first chance he got. While the day before had been awesome and they had a great time with their friends, they had gone home and went to bed. Right to bed. No cuddling, no kissing to the point of a boner, nothing. Just sleep. It was boring, and she was losing her ever-loving mind. She wanted him. God, she wanted him. Each little caress, each little look, and those kisses? They were torture! She just didn’t get it. Why didn’t he want her? Why hadn’t he taken her to bed? It was beyond her comprehension.
But then, she felt like a whore. Was she that obsessed with sex? Did she need it that badly to actually feel like he wanted her? Was she pathetic? Because the guy was good to her. Always reassuring her, always there for her, and just all-around great. But the thing holding her back was sex? That was pitiful. She was pathetic. Still, she felt like he didn’t want her because he wasn’t attracted to her. Yeah, he kissed her, but he kissed her mom. Maybe not like he kissed Wren, but still. It was fucking with her. Yeah, it was her fault she was insecure, she understood that. She was the one with the issues, but she just wanted to know that he thought she was attractive, that he wasn’t doing this out of pity. His words weren’t enough; she was used to words that usually became lies. She wanted action. More action. She wanted him.
All of him.
“So we go next week to find out what we’re having,” Brie said then, and Wren set her phone down, looking over at her friend. They were just lying on the couch, playing on their phones. It was completely silly, but they were good. It was nice to have a friend she could just lie around with and not need to talk to fill the silence.
“That’s great! It’s weird. The baby looks all strange and stuff.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it will be,” Brie laughed, but her eyes were so full of excitement. “I think we’re going to bring Rodney. He wants to come.”
Wren lit up. “Aw, he’d love that.”
Brie nodded in agreement. “He is excited, told me I had to name the baby Rodney Jr. even if it’s a girl.”
“That seems legit,” Wren teased, and Brie giggled.
“That’s what I said.” They both laughed as Brie looked over at her. Waggling her brows, she said, “So you two looked supercozy yesterday.”
Wren smiled, shrugging her shoulders. “I guess.”
“Still holding back?”
Wren scoffed. “Of course I am. I don’t believe in this shit. It doesn’t happen for girls like me.”
“You know, I used to think that.”
Wren pulled her brows together. “What? You?”
Brie was gorgeous. Like drop-dead beautiful with the cutest little body and the greatest smile. She was a knockout. “Yes, me! Love didn’t come easy, and I tried so hard. So many horrid speed-dating things and shit like that. It took some asshole hockey player, one I never thought I would be interested in, to be there for me. He didn’t have to be, but he loved Rodney like I do, and next thing you know, I fell. Even when he didn’t fall.”
“My situation is so different from yours, Brie. Jensen didn’t want this.”
Brie made a face, turning so her body was facing Wren’s. “Who says he didn’t?”
“I do.”
“Wren, come on. You’re not that oblivious, are you?”
Wren’s heart jumped up into her throat, making it hard to breathe. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“He’s had a thing for you for as long as I’ve known him, and according to everyone else, even before.”
Wren rolled her eyes. “That’s not true. Wells said the same thing, but if that was the case, why hasn’t anything happened?” She cleared her throat. “I’ve known him forever, okay? I flirted with him when we were younger, and he ignored me. Then when we were older, after that whore left him, I put the moves on him again, and nothing. If he had a ‘thing’ for me, why didn’t he try anything?”
Brie shrugged. “I don’t know that answer. Maybe that’s something you should ask him.”
Wren laughed. “Yeah, I’ll be like, ‘Hey, Jenny, heard you had a thing for me. Is it true? And why didn’t you try anything before?’”
“Yes!” Brie laughed, holding her hands out to Wren. “Ask him. He’ll be honest.”
But she shook her head, not believing any of it. It just didn’t make sense. “If that were the case, then he had plenty of chances to get in my pants, and he never did it.”
“Maybe because he didn’t want to just get in your pants,” Brie suggested, holding Wren’s gaze. “Maybe he wanted more, and now he’s got it.”
Wren shook her head once more. “That’s stupid. It isn’t like that. He’s doing this to help me, and he’s too honorable and proud to let it fail.”
Brie made a face. “I don’t think that at all.”
When the front door opened, they both looked up to see Vaughn enter with arms full of bags of food. “Why did I go to the store if Lucy isn’t even here yet?” he asked as he shut the door. When he turned, seeing Wren, he made a face. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Vaughn!”
“What? It’s weird.”
“You’re so dumb. We are friends. Like besties,” Wren said, leaning into Brie.
“It’s true. Look, Jo! I finally have a friend,” Brie exclaimed, and her man rolled his eyes.
“Exactly. I don’t have to depend on you guys, I have a girlfriend now,” Wren said then, and Vaughn was not happy.
“I don’t trust you two. At all.”
“Don’t be jealous, lovebug,” Wren called to him, and he rolled his eyes as they both laughed. “He’s such a brat.”
“He sure is,” Brie agreed, leaning back into the couch. “He just doesn’t like that we can team up against him.”
“Exactly.”
“You two have never had a midget and a crazy person come at you,” Vaughn called from the kitchen, and they both snickered.
“You’re the midget, I assume?” Wren asked.
“Which means you’re the crazy person,” Brie added. “Should we kill him now or later?”
Wren shrugged. “I’m comfortable.”
“Me too,” Brie decided, and they both smiled as Vaughn grumbled in the kitchen. “Love slave, bring us snacks.”
He laughed. “Kiss my ass. Both of you.”
They both smiled. As Brie laid her head against the couch, she looked over at Wren, and she did the same. “Why the hell is my dog put up?” Vaughn hollered.
Looking toward the kitchen as Tricksie barreled out toward them, Brie shook her head. “She doesn’t know personal space, and Lucy is gonna be here soon.”
He filled the doorway as Tricksie jumped up on the couch, cuddling against both women. “Excuse me. This is Tricksie’s house, not Lucy’s. She doesn’t like my dog, she can leave.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
Vaughn wasn’t listening though as he went back to the kitchen, and Tricksie licked Brie’s chin when she turned to look at Wre
n. “I think you’re thinking too hard.”
“What? No, I’m not.”
“Yeah, like your therapist brain is always in therapy mode, and you’re always trying to figure everything out. Nothing is ever as it appears. There is always something deeper. Maybe just let it happen.”
“Says the person who hasn’t been hurt as much as I have.”
Brie laughed hard at that. “Wren. Please. The guy I thought I would marry before Vaughn left me because, when my mom died, it was too much to handle. He broke me.”
Wren’s heart clenched in her chest. “Fuck, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, it sucked. I get that dudes have been shitty to you. That you’ve had some doozies who have tossed you to the side and threw your confidence in the shitter, but, Wren, you are amazing. You’re funny when you let yourself be. You’re witty and so smart. Plus, you’re gorgeous. I would kill to have your curves and have those lips. And height. I’d love your height.”
Wren laughed, her face hurting from smiling so hard. “You’re insane.”
“You can’t even take a compliment! Say, thank you, Brie, for thinking I’m a sexy, curvy goddess.”
Wren blushed. “Thanks, bestie.”
Brie beamed at that as she leaned into her. “But really, Wren, you’ve got the real deal. I saw it with my own eyes. He looks at you like you’re the queen of his universe.”
Swallowing hard, Wren tangled her fingers together as she shook her head. She didn’t want to admit it since she was embarrassed, but it was Brie, her newfound best friend. In reality, she should feel bad since her other best friend had no clue why they weren’t friends anymore. Jesus, was she a shitty person? Damn it. “Brie.”
Her brows came together as she sat up. “What?”
Looking toward the kitchen, Wren inhaled deeply as she looked back to Brie, leaning in. “We haven’t had sex.”
Brie’s face scrunched up. “What? Ever?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know!”
Brie’s eyes widened. “Not even on your wedding night?”
“No. He won’t touch me. We get to kissing, things are going good, but then he slams on the brakes. It’s driving me fucking crazy. Like, I feel like he isn’t attracted to me.”
