Tara insisted on hosting them at her place, though how she managed to organize it all with the new baby was beyond Alicia.
But Tara had a nice spread laid out with mini-sandwiches and three different kinds of salads.
“I don’t know how you do this,” Alicia said as she hugged Tara, then Liz and Jenna.
“Jenna and Liz helped.”
“And don’t you tell anyone I helped with the food prep or I’ll cut your throat,” Liz said with a mock glare.
Alicia laughed. “Your secret is safe with me.”
They sat down and ate. Little Sam was asleep in the bassinet in the living room.
“How’s he doing?” Alicia asked, dying to go over there, tickle his toes, and wake him up so she could hold him. But she knew better. Sleeping babies needed to be left alone, lest their tired mothers come after you with something sharp.
Tara sighed. “He’s perfect. I’m so lucky. He sleeps well and eats well and is ridiculously healthy. I couldn’t ask for more.”
“Lucky her,” Liz said. “She’s had a Stepford baby. He hardly even cries.”
“You’re not here when he cries. Believe me, he has a very healthy set of lungs, and he uses them often.”
“And then you hand him to Mick, right?” Jenna asked. “Tell me you do that.”
“Of course I do.” Tara gave them all a wicked grin. “What kind of woman would I be if I didn’t let the big, strong, macho guy handle a screaming baby?”
“And does he fall apart?” Jenna asked.
“He’s a total marshmallow.”
“Ha. I knew it.” Jenna gave them all a smug look. “Men are such babies when it comes to, well, babies.”
“And how’s your man?” Alicia asked.
“Delicious,” Jenna said, popping a grape into her mouth.
“She’s getting a lot of sex. You can tell by the content look on her face,” Liz said.
“Please don’t talk about sex. I haven’t had any for a while, and I’m about to die.”
Liz patted Tara’s hand. “The downside of pushing an eight pound baby out of your vagina.”
Tara glared at Liz. “Your day will come.”
Liz shuddered. “I don’t even want to think about it.”
“Are you pregnant?” Alicia asked.
“Not yet. I told you, we’re practicing. And enjoying the hell out of that right now, so don’t rush me.”
“Whatever,” Tara said. “But as soon as you get pregnant, I have to be the first to know.”
Liz rolled her eyes. “You’ll be the first to know. As soon as Gavin’s sperm does its magical explosion into my egg, I’ll be sure to call you, day or night.”
“Guys. I’m eating.” Jenna grimaced.
“Wuss. So, tell us about Florida, Alicia,” Tara said, taking a drink of tea. “I’m so excited you get to leave our dreary winter weather.”
“I’m utterly jealous,” Jenna said.
“I’m excited,” Alicia said. “Nervous, of course, since this is for work. There’s a lot riding on me getting Garrett in shape.”
“He looks in pretty good shape to me,” Jenna said. “At least from video and pictures I’ve seen. Is he hot?”
“Totally,” Liz said. “Victoria Baldwin is his agent, and she’s a good friend of mine, so I’ve had the opportunity to meet him. Believe me, he’s hot.”
“Lucky bitch,” Jenna said.
“Please,” Tara said to Jenna. “You have Ty.”
Jenna popped a grape into her mouth. “I do. He keeps me very happy. Which doesn’t mean I’m dead and I can’t appreciate other sexy men. Like Garrett Scott.”
“Amen to that,” Liz said. “The day I can’t ogle fine man flesh just because I have a hot man of my own is the day they bury me.”
“Do you think the guys talk about women the way we talk about men?” Tara asked.
“Of course they do,” Liz said. “Do you think they have blinders on when some cle**age-baring, minidress-sporting sexpot of a woman walks into the bar of the hotel when they’re playing away games? Hell, no. Of course they look. They don’t touch, but they sure as hell look their fill. They’d have to be mostly dead not to.”
“You’re right. And so will we, until we’re too old to care.” Jenna turned to Alicia. “How about you? Are you taking advantage of being able to put your hands on Garrett?”
Alicia paused, her fork filled with fruit salad as all eyes turned to her. “Um . . . of course not. He’s my job.”
Liz narrowed her gaze. “Which means what exactly? That you don’t get to feel him up in the fun way?”
“I wouldn’t even think of it.”
Tara snorted. “I would totally be thinking about it. Every time I put my hands on his shoulder, I’d want to explore all parts of him, especially lower, like down in his pants.”
“Girl, you so need to have sex,” Liz said.
Tara hung her head. “I know. I’m so ashamed.”
“You are not ashamed,” Jenna said. “You’re already thinking about when my brother is going to come home so you can jump him. And I can’t even believe I just said that.”
Tara laughed. “It’s okay. And you’re absolutely right. It’s been too long for me, and I’m kind of madly in love with Mick.”
Alicia was glad the topic of her and Garrett had been momentarily taken off the table. Because what was she going to say to them? That they were right, that she had been thinking about parts of him other than his shoulder, and she didn’t know what to do about it?
Maybe she should talk to the girls about Garrett. Get some advice, ask what they thought. Though based on today’s lunch conversation, she knew what the consensus would be.
Go for it.
If only it was that simple.
“So, I’ll be heading down to Florida to see Gavin soon. I’ll see you there?” Liz asked her.
“Definitely. You’ll be staying at the beach house?”
Liz grinned. “Hell yeah. Private and secluded, just the two of us. Lots of time for sex.”
Jenna sighed. “I should stop coming to these get-togethers.”
“Shut up, Jenna,” Liz said. “You know what we talk about. And you love us all anyway.”