Page 58 of Fourteen Years

Trevor stared pointedly at me upon hearing Becks’ statement and I made an effort to pretend like I didn’t see him. Then they were coming through the front door.

“Welcome home!” I proclaimed, alongside Caroline.

Becks’ laughed, her arm slung around Nat’s shoulders as Lucas followed with the baby carrier.

“Monica!” my friend squealed. “I didn’t expect a whole party.”

“You would’ve done the same for me.” I argued. “Give me my godson.”

Lucas set the baby carrier on the coffee table and turned it to face the room. The chubby little boy looked at all of us stoically before gurgling a coo. My heart melted.

“Oh, he’s beautiful!!” exclaimed Caroline, coming forward, clutching her hands under her chin. “You all make beautiful babies.” she added.

“I did well, didn’t I?” bragged Lucas as Becks swatted him, blushing.

“You caveman,” she joked.

Trevor walked over, undoing the seat belt in the carrier and picked Will up, holding him against his chest. Massive tattooed arms careful around the baby. My stomach did a flip seeing him like that. We were far past the baby stage, but I could admire him holding my friends’ baby. It did things to me. Trevor smirked at me like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

“I had called dibs,” I pouted, glaring at him playfully.

“I got there first.”

“We can take turns,” assured Becks, giggling at us.

Later after dinner, the girls were upstairs watching a movie while the men sat on the patio. Caroline, Becks, and I were in her library Lucas’ had built last Christmas. Our new friend sat in the cushy recliner holding Will on her chest, cooing at him while we talked.

“Becks, he is seriously perfect.” she said again softly.

“Thanks,” said Becks. “I think so too but I’m pretty biased. I never thought I’d be a mother again at forty.”

“Better you than me,” I said, crossing my legs in the seat I’d perched on.

“How’s Nick doing?” asked Becks softly.

I watched Caroline's eyes darken at the man’s name, staring down at Will.

“He’s still beating himself up over Jackson. He knows it wasn’t his fault, but he does this. He’s always been the most stoic and quiet out of all the men. Trevor is trying to not let him be alone with his thoughts too much.”

Becks nodded, “Has he said anything to you, Caroline?”

Carolines eyes jerked up to Becks.

“What? No! Why?” she asked.

“Lucas had just said Nick seemed to be going into the cafe more and thought you all may be getting to know one another.” said Becks, unsure now.

“Nope. Nope, nothings going on.”

Becks’ dark eyes met mine and she raised her eyebrows. There was something going on there and we’d have to get it out of one of them eventually.

A tapping on the door and its opening had us looking towards it to see the man in question frozen in the doorway, staring at Caroline holding a baby. After a long awkward pause, Becks spoke.

“Nick?”

Jerking his head, he glanced over at her.

“I’ve gotta go to the station. I just wanted to say bye and congratulations again.” spinning on his heel, he turned and left before anyone could respond.

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