Page 71 of Beach Vibes

“I’m glad. I am, too. How about you and Rick?” She frowned. “I just realized I haven’t seen him in a while. He mentioned one of his partners was on vacation.”

“I know. He’s been so busy. He’s barely had time to text. We haven’t seen each other in nearly two weeks. I miss him.”

“I’m sure he misses you.”

Jana appreciated the comment. She was also happy that Beth had gotten over her initial concerns. She wanted them to be friends, and while dating each other’s brothers could be a complication, for them it was working out.

“I’m thinking of introducing him to Linnie,” she said. “What do you think?”

Beth leaned forward. “You’re the one who has to decide. She’s your little girl. For what it’s worth, I think Rick will be great with her.” She paused. “It’s a thing, though, right? Introducing your kid to the person you’re seeing. It says something. Like I said—a lot of responsibility.”

“Especially when he turns out to be a jerk, like the last guy I dated. But I think I’m ready for Rick to meet her. I’m thinking something casual. Teddy and I talked briefly about a barbecue. Nothing specific, and I’m not speaking on his behalf here, but what if it was all of us?”

Beth stared, her eyes widening. “What does that mean? All of us as in me?”

“Sure. Me, Linnie, Rick, Teddy, his kids and Dex.” She frowned. “I can’t remember if Dex is seeing anyone, but if he is, then her.” She shrugged. “The kids are used to meeting Dex’s many girlfriends, so that won’t faze them.”

She had more to say, but Beth had gone completely still.

“What?” she asked. “Are you all right?”

“No, I’m not. You’re suggesting I meet Teddy’s kids? We’ve barely been seeing each other a month. We haven’t even slept together.”

She immediately slapped her hand over her mouth. “Oh, God. I didn’t say that. Pretend you didn’t hear that. I mean, it doesn’t make a difference, right? I like him so much, but children are a whole other thing. They make it real. Plus there are so many ofthem. Three. That’s like a lot. What if I can’t keep their names straight? What if they hate me? I just don’t know. I screwed up with you about Rick and nearly lost our friendship. The potential for damage is huge!”

Jana reached across the table and touched her hand. “Breathe. It’s okay.”

“It’s not. This is a bad idea. I don’t want to disappoint him, and this seems like a place that I would.”

Jana hadn’t ever had doubts about Teddy dating Beth, but watching her friend freak out warmed her heart. It was obvious that Beth cared about Teddy and their relationship to the point that she was hyperventilating. She wouldn’t have thought such a successful, together person could be vulnerable, but she could see Beth was actually shaking.

“You’ll do fine,” she told her friend. “For what it’s worth, I think having all of us together at one time would be easier. The kids will have a lot of places to put their attention so you won’t be in the spotlight.”

Beth didn’t look convinced. “I’ll be the first woman their dad has brought home since their mom died. I’m pretty sure they’re going to notice.”

Orchid and Atlas would be fine with it, Jana thought, but Magnolia might have a few things to say. She was the one who remembered their mom the most.

“Does it bother you he has the kids?”

Beth frowned. “I don’t understand the question. If you’re asking if I wish he didn’t, the answer is no. His family is everything to Teddy. He wouldn’t be who he is without them. Being a father is what he was destined for. I’m the weak link in all of this, not him or the kids.”

A good answer, Jana thought.

“That doesn’t mean I’m prepared to meet them,” Beth added as she pressed a hand to her belly. “Now I feel sick.”

Jana couldn’t help laughing. “You’re making this more than it is.”

“Easy for you to say. I’m the one who has to measure up.”

“No, you don’t. You can be yourself. That’s plenty.”

“If only that were true.”

* * *

“I heard about your freak-out,” Teddy said over the phone, his voice filled with amusement.

Beth sank onto her bed. She’d only been home from dinner with Jana for a couple of hours. Word traveled fast in the Mead household.

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