Jenna laughed. “Okay, so just enjoy the sex thing and let it happen.”
“That’s the problem. It’s been a year. I’m not pregnant. Clearly I’m not trying hard enough.”
Jenna gave her a look. “I can’t imagine there’s anything you try to accomplish that you don’t give your all to. Even this.”
“Maybe.”
Gavin came in with drinks for all of them. “Thanks, babe,” Liz said.
“My pleasure. What were you all whispering about in here?”
Jenna gave Gavin an innocent look. “My wedding stuff, of course. Do you want to take a seat and hear all the details?”
Gavin looked horrified. “God, no. It’s bad enough you’re putting me in a tux and making me take part in it. Do I have to hear details, too?”
Liz loved the terrified look on his face. Like Jenna would ask him to go over invitations or something. “No. You’re dismissed.”
“Thank God. I’m going to the gym.”
He grabbed his gym bag and kissed Liz good-bye.
After he left, Liz motioned to the bag sitting next to the sofa. “So, what’s going on with the wedding stuff?”
Jenna grinned. “Tara brought over the place cards the other day. I thought you might want to see them.”
“You know I do. I can’t believe the wedding is only a few weeks away.”
“I can’t, either. Ty and I put it off for so long. The whole wedding thing just wasn’t important, because we love each other and are committed. I really wanted to just go to city hall or maybe to Vegas for a quickie wedding.”
“But then there’s your mother,” Tara said. “Who would have never forgiven you.”
Jenna nodded. “Exactly. Denying her a wedding, especially for her only daughter, just wasn’t an option, especially after the two of you married Mick and Gavin in such elaborate ways.”
“Uh, sorry?” Liz said with a grin. “I never thought I was the fancy-wedding type. Or even the marrying type. Until Gavin came along.”
“I can relate, believe me. I never believed in the whole commitment thing until Ty. And marriage wasn’t all that important to me, but I loved Ty and he wanted to get married, and then there’s Mom. So I caved.” Jenna took a deep breath. “And so here we are.”
Tara dipped her hand into the bag and pulled a place card out, handing it over to Liz. “With these.”
The place cards had a purple border, matching the color of the tips of Jenna’s hair, and the ink was in Ty’s hockey team color. The upper quadrant had a musical note and a hockey stick coming up through it, signifying parts of both Jenna and Tyler, with their initials woven through it.
“I love these. So much,” Liz said.
“Me, too,” Jenna said. “You don’t think they’re hokey or stupid?”
“Of course not. They’re you. And Ty. And perfect.”
Jenna grinned. “Thank you. I love them, too. Tara helped me with the design.”
Liz slid her glance over to Tara. “It’s what you do best.”
“Thanks. I’m ridiculously excited about this wedding. At least this time I’m not pregnant.”
“And how is our gorgeous nephew?”
“Pulling himself up to stand.”
“Oh, my God. Already?”
“Yes. Mick thinks he’ll be walking soon. He said when he was a baby, he walked at ten months, so he thinks Sam will walk early, too. I’m not ready yet. I want him to stay my cuddly baby as long as possible, though he can crawl through the house like a speed demon. I have to watch him every second, or he disappears. We’ve already got the gate up across the stairs.”
“He’s adorable, Tara. And where is he?” Jenna asked.
“With your parents. When I told your mom I was meeting with the two of you this morning, she asked if she could have him for a couple of hours.”
“Figures. She’s always grabbing Sam.”
Tara leaned back on the sofa. “You know you can have him whenever you want. Or come over whenever you want.”
“Sure. In my spare time, when I’m not overseeing the bar, or working at the club.”
“Oh, cry me a river,” Liz interjected. “I never get to see him, either.”
“I never thought the two of you would be fighting over my baby. You are the two least likely women I’d ever have guessed would have motherly instincts.”
“Hey,” Jenna said. “I love your baby. Not that I want any of my own right now. Too busy. But your kids? Love them madly.”
“That’s because one is in college, and the other you can love and cuddle and spoil, but you don’t have to keep him.”
Jenna nodded. “Exactly.”
Liz laughed. “Speaking of the one in college, how is Nathan doing?”
A streak of motherly pride crossed Tara’s face. “He’s doing so well. He’s putting his studies first, which I insisted on. And of course as you know, Texas ended up winning the Big 12 Conference championship this season. I’d like to think Nathan leading the team at quarterback had a lot to do with that.”
“He’s an exceptional quarterback, like his father,” Liz said. “I watched every game. He has a natural talent, very much like Mick’s.”
“Agree,” Jenna said. “In some ways, he’s better than Mick, because of the way he runs. He confuses the hell out of the defense.”
Liz nodded. “I’m eager to get my hands on him and get him an NFL contract.”
Tara looked horrified. “Oh, God, don’t tell him that. He’ll want to come out next year, and Mick and I want him to stay in school and finish up his degree.”
Liz laughed. “My lips are sealed. And I tend to agree with you. Some of these boys leave school too soon, the lure of the big contract and big money too much to resist. The longer they stay in college, the more experience they gain. At least that’s what I always advise them.”
“Obviously, they don’t always listen.”
She shrugged. “Bottom line is the choice is theirs to make. Many of them go on to have highly successful careers, but it’s my hope they all get their degrees. Or at least stay through their junior years, then finish up their degrees later.”
Tara nodded. “We’re going to push for Nathan to stay in school as long as possible, but you’re right, it’s his career and his choice. We just hope he makes the right one.”