Chapter Ten
The week passed with Cole getting back to work and Lauren being home during the day with Baby Blue. She got a lot of work done to make up for the time she ended up taking off to help with the wedding. It was nice to just relax and work, fixing lunch when Cole stopped by during the day and dinner when he got home. They spent lazy evenings watching television and just hanging out together.
They went to the cottage the night that Jane and Adam were due back to clean it up and leave them the dinner that Lauren had cooked, along with a chocolate cake. That way, Jane and Adam wouldn’t have to get right back into real life and could relax on their own in their house. Lauren was glad that Jane was back. She’d missed her a lot.
Cole and Lauren went home and snuggled with Baby Blue, who was getting to be affectionate towards them both. He might understand that he could do no wrong in Lauren’s eyes, but the cat curled up next to Cole every chance that he got as well. It was sweet, and it got Lauren through her days with a smile.
As always, Cole left early the following morning, before the sun rose. Lauren stayed under the covers with Blue and slept a little longer. When she got up to make a fresh pot of coffee, there was a knock at the door. Lauren smiled as she ran over to open it. “Hey,” Jane said and they hugged each other. “Thanks for all of the food! It was so great to come home to!”
“Come in for coffee?” Lauren asked. Jane nodded. She looked relaxed and happy. They walked into the kitchen and Lauren poured her a cup. “How was the trip?”
“It was incredible and so different than anything I’ve ever seen before. We had a great time but Adam said he wanted to come back home to his cow town.” Jane smirked and Lauren laughed. “I have a lot of pictures that I need to sort out.”
“I can’t wait to see them,” Lauren told her as they sat at the table. “Was he bummed to go back to work?”
“I think he missed it, being the kind of guy that never misses a day and works overtime if they need him. It was great just being us somewhere else, though.” Jane looked at Lauren with a curious gaze. “How were things here?”
Blue had announced himself with a high-pitched meow before Lauren got a chance to tell Jane about him. “We have a new baby,” Lauren said. Jane gasped and stood up. She moved slowly towards the kitten before leaning down and offering her hand.
“Where and when did you get this sweet little thing?” Jane asked. She scooped Blue up in her hands and came back to the table.
“At one of those pet stores that does adoptions. We were just wandering around with no intentions of buying anything, and he cried out to me…literally.” Lauren scratched his head. “Cole paid the fee and bought some things for him, and here we are. It can be a tad annoying having a kitten, but he’s a love for the most part.”
“I need one too. Either a little kitten or a puppy,” Jane said and they both giggled. Lauren noticed a smile pass over Jane’s face and she tilted her head.
“What is it?”
Jane sipped her coffee and stared at her friend for a long moment. “I went off the pill the day of the wedding. Am I crazy?”
“Well, some would say that you’re too young and that you need to take some time being married. But I think it’s a great idea since you guys are already settled at the house and all. Why not?” Lauren rattled. Jane laughed. “So I’m going to be an aunt?”
“Not yet, but maybe soon.” Jane winked and shook her head. “I can hear the town already, but we need to do it for us. I think Adam will be an amazing daddy.”
“I agree, and you’ll be a great mom. The grandparents are going to be thrilled,” Lauren told her. Jane looked at Blue.
“I still might get a pet, though. It’s good practice right?” Lauren listened to her talk about every part of their tour and the food that they ate. They spoke of the cottage and the ranch. Lauren was happy that Jane was home and finally Jane looked at her as she poured another cup of coffee. “So I saw Kim talking to you both at the wedding. What was that about?”
“She said something about them being next. So weird!” Lauren told her. Jane shook her head.
“They were together when they were teens. That’s stupid. It wasn’t Kim that he is thinking of marrying. I believe that it might be you,” Jane said as she looked speculatively at Lauren.
“We talked about that and about his relationship with Kelsey. He told me that it wasn’t what he thought it was, not once he met me. I know that he loved her and misses her, though. I felt so insecure for the longest time, but I’m okay now,” Lauren told her. Jane smiled.
“You have no need to be insecure. The past is the past, and you are Cole’s future,” Jane assured her and Lauren nodded. “You guys looked so cute at the reception. It probably wasn’t ideal to meet everyone from town all at once, but you’ll settle in.”
Jane brought in her computer, and they worked from Lauren’s house since the kitten was there. Jane called Adam and told him to come over there for lunch as well as dinner, which the girls cooked together.
Adam was just as struck by Blue as his wife was and Lauren snuggled with Cole as she watched her friends cuddle him. Based on their expressions, they were already silently planning on having their own pet. Lauren imagined a future where Jane would hold a baby and Adam would be a father. How much would that change everything?
She let her mind wander to herself and Cole having a baby as well and it made her smile. He was already a pushover for the kitten. Would he love a baby just as much? But Lauren told herself to slow down and get married first. She was still so young. As Cole wrapped his arms tighter around her, she realized that he made her want so much more from life than ever before.
The friends talked as late as they could with the schedule of Cole and Adam in mind before the newlyweds headed home for the night. Cole helped Lauren wash dishes as Blue played with a spring in the corner of the room. “It’s good having them back,” Cole said.
“I know. I had a great day. I think we’re going to start working from here though, because of Blue. Jane’s in love with him,” Lauren told him. She looked up into his handsome face. “We’ll be cooking more.”
“Fine by me. Between the four of us, we can manage just fine,” Cole replied, setting a plate on the rack to dry. “Adam said they’re trying for a baby.”
“Yeah, Jane told me too,” Lauren admitted, looking at Cole. “I think it’s great.”
He kissed her and pressed her against the marble counter as his tongue moved with hers. “I do, too. They’ll be amazing parents, and we’ll get to reap the benefits…at least until it’s our turn.” Lauren smiled against his mouth. He lifted her and moved between her parted legs while he kissed her again. They didn’t make it to the bed, this time, instead losing themselves on the counter as she wrapped her legs around him.
Lauren giggled as they walked through the darkened house with Blue in her arms. “It’s cold in the bedroom, you know.”
“I think we heated things up just fine,” Cole argued and he led her into the bedroom.