Page 7 of Tempting Tessa

As we chat, we start to walk toward the back of the house together to join the rest of the adults. “Where do you work?” Jake asks me.

“I’m a nurse down at the hospital. I work in the labor and delivery department three days a week.”

“Nice, my sister is a nurse. She works in the ER.”

As we reach the back deck, Luke and Jake do the typical male half hug-pound on the back with the fist greeting. Caroline just shakes her head and welcomes us.

“Can I get either of you something to drink?” Luke asks both of us as he starts heading into the house.

“I’ll take a beer if you have one,” Jake says to Luke we walk up onto the deck.

“I have sangria made up in the kitchen,” Caroline says to me.

“You’re a woman after my own heart,” I reply to her as I look out to check on the kids.

Luke comes back with a beer for Jake and a glass of sangria for me. The kids are all out running in the yard chasing each other. Luke is manning the grill and him and Jake walk over to it while Caroline and I sit down at the table on their deck.

“I brought Ty’s swim trunks in case the kids end up in the sprinkler like last time,” I say to Caroline as I take a drink of the sangria. It’s so refreshing on this gorgeous day.

“Oh, good idea. I know they loved it the last time you guys were here,” Caroline replies.

“I can set it up for them once we are done eating,” Luke adds over his shoulder.

“Sounds good, babe,” Caroline replies to him.

“If you ladies want to go wrangle the kids, the food should be ready in about 5,” Luke says to us.

Caroline and I holler for the boys, letting them know lunch is about to be ready and it’s time to get washed up. They must all be hungry as they all come running to us. After getting them all washed up and back out to the table on the deck, the food is ready and waiting for us. Caroline and I take care of the kids’ food and then sit down at the adult table with the guys. Jake and Luke are talking sports when we sit down.

“Hey, babe, are we still going to take the boys to a baseball game this summer? Jake and I were just talking about trying to hit up some games together.”

“I think they would enjoy going. Tessa and I were talking about it at the park the other day. Ty wants to go as well.”

“I looked up the schedule that evening and they have a few Saturday and Sunday afternoon games next month that I was thinking would work best. I think the evening games might be a little too late for the kids,” I say.

“You ok with letting the ladies pick what game?” Luke asks Jake as we all start eating.

“That’s fine with me, as long as you all don’t care if I tag along.”

Caroline pipes up, “It will be so much fun, guys! Maybe we can even catch an evening game as adults only one weekend.”

“That does sound like an awesome plan,” I add.

The afternoon continues with easy conversation between the four of us. The kids run and play hard. They probably ran through the sprinkler for an hour. We are all just relaxing when Caroline pipes up, “Hey, we never make any final decisions for your birthday in a few weeks.”

Damn, I was hoping she would forget.

“I don’t know what I want to do. Sara and Kate keep bugging me as well. Maybe we can just all go out to dinner and drinks.”

“Are you crazy, woman? It’s not only your Dirty 30 but it’s also your golden birthday. We must party it up! We are not just doing dinner and drinks. That’s what we do for any normal girls’ night. We are celebrating you whether you like it or not!” Caroline banters back to me.

Of course, this conversation gets the guys’ attention and I notice Jake is watching me out of the corner of my eye. I’m not sure what to read into his glances at me all afternoon, but I have to admit I like the attention and feelings his attention creates.

“How about we go to dinner at that Japanese steakhouse you love, then we can go out dancing or to a karaoke bar?” Caroline asks me as she refills our glasses of sangria.

“I don’t know about karaoke, Caroline. Dinner for sure and probably yes on the dancing.”

“Don’t be a party pooper, Tessa! I’m going to text Sara and Kate and see if they are up for the shenanigans. Hopefully Sara will have had the baby by then and will be up to going out with us, even if it’s just for dinner.”

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