Chapter 14
D ating Monica again was refreshing. We’d settled into a comfortable pattern of weekly dinners with friends, hanging out with the girls, and dating. To be honest I was about to crawl out of my skin wanting her. I was trying to be respectful of the newness of our second chance relationship, but I could only take so many cold showers.
“Man, you are in your head today.” Nick’s voice startled me out of my thought process as I looked over to meet his gaze. The bar was packed tonight, hard to comfortably walk through and the wait staff was buzzing back and forth looking a little harried.
“Trouble with Mon?” This time my eyes found Lucas’ across the booth. We’d been trying to get together for more guys’ nights since Paul had passed. Making more time for friendships seemed important.
“Seriously? We’re gonna sit here and talk about relationships?” I quirked a brow, tilting my water bottle up to take a long drink.
“You’re avoiding the question.” Stated Nick from his seat beside me, tilting his head. “Spill.”
“Not before Lucas comes clean about his hangup regarding sleeping with his pregnant wife.” I returned.
Nick's jaw dropped as Lucas sputtered, choking on the drink he’d just taken.
I threw my head back and laughed loud enough it turned a few heads despite the loud music.
“Women talk, and Monica told me all about it. Becks is seriously frustrated from what it sounds like. What’s the hangup?” I asked, twirling the water bottle absentmindedly between my hands as I looked at my friend.
“I don’t have a hangup” argued Lucas defensively. “I just don’t want to….hurt anything.” He trailed off.
Nick barked a laugh and I drug a hand over my face shaking my head.
“Lucas. Unless you’re built unlike any man I’ve ever met, it’s not going to hurt anything. If anything, women are so much more responsive when they’re pregnant. Monica was practically feral when she was expecting Lacey.”
Lucas looked like his eyes were about to bug out of his head. Nick looked like he was enjoying himself watching us gab at each other like old women.
“Suck it up and get back in the saddle. Do us all a favor. You’ve been grumpy as fuck the last five months. I can’t imagine how you’ll be in another four.”
“We’ve done stuff!” He snapped, affronted. “Jesus. How much do these women talk?”
“Enough to know you’re treating Becks like she’s made of glass. It is not working in your favor in the bedroom, brother.” I elbowed Nick as he snorted beside me.
“Oh, that’s rich. Coming from someone who hasn’t sealed the deal with someone he’s had eyes on for over a decade and Mr. I-don’t-do-relationships over here.” He volleyed.
Nick threw his hands up.
“I want no part of this. I’m happy as I am. I have a need, I find an outlet and that’s it. I’m too old for this shit.” He scoffed.
Lucas and I stared at our friend.
“I thought the same thing not too long ago.” said Lucas, throwing a balled up straw wrapper at Nick.
“It’s a little different when you’ve got specific tastes,” Nick’s voice was quieter, less sure, as he checked his phone to avoid the conversation suddenly.
Lucas looked at me pointedly, raising his eyebrows and I shook my head at him to drop it.
Nick had always been a bit of a closed book. He’d never even let Paul get him set up when he’d been living and he and Monica had been known as the group’s matchmakers.
All we knew was that Nick had always been single and never even had a date with a woman that we knew of. If he took women home for the night, we never heard about it, and neither did anyone else.
I shrugged, deciding to focus on one friend for the evening.
“I’m just waiting to make sure Monica’s sure.” I finally said, breaking the awkward silence.
“There’s a lot of history there.” Lucas agreed. “But according to Becks, Monica is getting frustrated herself.” He smirked, lifting his own drink. “Monica talks too.” He tapped his glass of bourbon against my water bottle, cockily.
Monica was frustrated?
I blew out a breath, running a hand through my hair, as Lucas and Nick started talking about something down at the police station. Maybe I was being too careful and it was time to just go for it. Every time things had gotten heated the last month and I’d pulled back she had seemed increasingly snippy with me.
I really had been trying to be considerate. Maybe I’d do us both a favor and quit stopping us. I’d been waiting for some major signal from her. Some blatant “pass go” sign. Monica had never been that way though.
“You and Becks have plans for Friday?” I asked, not even aware of what part of their conversation I’d interrupted.
Lucas and Nick both stared at me.
“I think we’re free?” Lucas responded. “Becks has been tired earlier in the evenings. We just keep it chill at home. What’s up?”
“Think you all could let the girls have a sleepover?”
Lucas smirked as Nick finished his beer.
“I think we can make that work.”
“Mon and I will have to return the favor.” I nodded.
Nick started laughing.
“Never imagined you all would be at the point in your lives you needed to find childcare to hook up.” He teased, good-naturedly.
Lucas laughed and picked up their conversation from before I’d interrupted.
Yeah. Childcare was going to be necessary for what I had planned for Monica.
I smiled and finished my water.