Chapter Eleven
Everything went back to normal once Jane and Adam were home. The girls worked from Lauren’s a lot to keep an eye on Blue until Jane found her husky puppy, Rocky, a month later. After that, they switched up and were all pleased when they saw that the animals got along well together. Blue wasn’t an outside pet as Rocky was, but they tore through the houses playing until they both collapsed. It added a lot of excitement to their lives, and Lauren found herself happy with her life.
She got more work as a freelancer and started bringing in real money to help with the household.
It was at that point that Cole suggested buying a house. Theirs was only two bedrooms, and he thought they might need something bigger down the line. One night, Lauren saw a real estate brochure on the kitchen counter. It featured a place by Jane and Adam’s that had four bedrooms and a good yard. “Is this what got you thinking, baby?” she asking, smiling at him.
“Maybe a little. I just want more room because once we’re married, we are going to become a family,” Cole teased her and Lauren laughed. “Let’s at least take a look at it this week.”
“Okay. It’s so close to Jane’s that I could walk,” Lauren said. Right now, Adam picked up Cole every day while Lauren used the truck. Cole took the truck only when he needed it, in which case Jane picked Lauren up in her car. Lauren didn’t see a need to have her own vehicle yet since it worked out perfectly.
“That’s my thought,” Cole agreed as she looked closer at the property in the brochure. It was a beautiful yellow house with a lot of windows and a big porch that they could sit on at night. Lauren envisioned a table and comfortable chairs and even a large bistro table that they could sit at with their friends.
“I like it,” Lauren said in admiration. Cole squeezed her hand. “I think that we could settle in there well.”
They made their way to the cottage and brought up the idea to their friends, who were all for it. They had seen the inside before, and Jane told them how spacious and gorgeous it was.
She and Lauren discussed turning one room into office for them while Cole argued for a small personal gym. He worked a lot of hours and didn’t have time to go to the gym, but the girls told him that his job was a workout in itself.
Cole then brought up the idea of rooms for their kids and Lauren blushed. “Talk to them about a bigger house. We’re not even married yet!” she told him as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
“We’re staying here for the time being,” Jane insisted. She looked around the living room fondly. “It’s three bedrooms, and unless we have triplets, we’ll be good for a while.”
“Don’t even say it,” Adam warned her and Jane laughed.
“It’s not in the genes, and we’re going natural,” Jane reminded him. “If we have trouble, I’m not going to do anything crazy. I don’t want multiples.”
“No trouble, sweetie,” Adam said. He sipped his beer and looked at Jane. They had talked for a bit longer before Cole took Lauren home for the night and they fell into bed with a long hungry kiss.
“So, you want to fill the rooms with babies?” Lauren asked him, straddling his naked body and taking him inside of her.
“Hell, yes. I want a football team,” Cole teased her, clutching her hips. “I want some girls that look like you and boys that look like me to protect them.”
“Neanderthal,” Lauren moaned as she rode him harder to find her release. “Oh, Cole. You feel so good.”
“So close,” Cole groaned as he lifted his hips and drove himself inside of her. They came together as Lauren stilled and let him jerk his body inside of her before he dropped to the mattress and moaned. Lauren fell beside him and smiled as they rested together. “I love you.”
“I love you.”
They fell asleep with the cat curled up behind Lauren, sleeping deeply until the alarm went off. Cole kissed her and got up to shower before he dressed in his worn jeans and shirt. He kissed Lauren again and reminded her that they were going to look at the house later that day. She mumbled something and curled back up.
An hour later, Lauren woke up with a start. She’d been dreaming of her dad. She got up and made some coffee before dressing to go to Jane’s house. Blue knew by now that he went with her and waited by the door. Most people didn’t have the kind of cats that they could tote around with them, but Blue was different. Plus, he loved Rocky.
They sat and worked at the table and Lauren occasionally looked over to the yellow house. Two years ago, if someone had told her that she’d be in a relationship and shopping for a home today, Lauren would’ve laughed at them. She would say that she’d stay with her daddy until the day she met Mr. Right, which was never going to happen in her mind even back then.
How things change.
They made a roasted chicken for lunch since the showing was at dinnertime. Jane and Adam were going to come with them because Jane was so excited about the prospect of them living within walking distance. She’d gone on and on about it, already decorating the house in her mind, not realizing that Lauren hadn’t even seen the house yet.
Cole walked in to eat and kissed Lauren first thing before sitting down at the table. Adam did the same to his wife. The guys were rebuilding a part of a barn that the wind had torn down and they looked tired as they sipped their tea and took slow bites of the food. “Are you up for the showing tonight?” Lauren asked Cole. He nodded. “Yeah, a few guys are out today so we’re doing most of the work is all. I’m excited about seeing the house. It works well with our numbers.” Lauren had told him about the small amount of money that her father left her, wanting to use it as a down payment if they found something that they liked. With that amount, they’d have an easy payment and could keep working like they were right now. She was even willing to take on more clients for her freelance work if needed.
The guys went back to work as the girls returned to the table to work. Lauren kept looking at the house, and Jane noticed with a smile. “Excited?”
“Very. I never thought I’d have a future like this, Jane. I have so much hope for everything, and it outweighs the fear by far,” Lauren admitted.
“I understand,” Jane agreed with her. “I was scared when I moved in with Adam, especially when we decided to get married.” She laughed. “I think I had cold feet for a second, but it’s all good. We’re great and planning a future.”
“We both are,” Lauren agreed. They smiled at each other and laughed.