Never in his life had someone laid him so bare. He stood there unsure how to reply but he could feel heat growing in his cheeks. If it was anybody else, he’d make some crass remark or make fun of his reaction but he couldn’t do that with her. He stood there silently, the ache swelling in his chest until he nearly couldn’t breathe, looking into her beautiful blue eyes, and knew he was looking at the love of his life.
I love you. I love you so much I ache with it.
The front door opened and Julián smiled when he saw them standing in the kitchen. “Did I interrupt something?”
She smiled at Chris and shook her head as she stroked his chest and leaned against him. Out of Julián’s sight, she shook her finger at him again and said, “I meant it, handsome,” before she went into Julián’s waiting arms. He’d been out on the front porch talking on the phone with his brother.
Chris took a seat on the barstool and smiled as he watched Julián kiss Gwen. It’d surprised him when Julián had told him about his brother and the committed ménage he was a part of with one other man, who Peter was also in love with. It had been a lot to wrap his mind around, but now, watching Julián and Gwen, it made sense to him. It was possible for him to share a woman with another man, because he loved her and wanted her happy.
I do love her. Loved her the moment I set eyes on her.
“How’s Peter doing?” he asked as Gwen left Julián’s side to finish tidying up in the kitchen. She returned with bottles of beer for both of them a few seconds later and gave Julián another kiss when he thanked her. He sat on the barstool next to Chris and said, “Peter is doing fine. I think impending fatherhood is turning him into an overprotective caveman. Tracy took his phone from him and told me that she can’t sneeze or cough without him or Jordan calling the doctor.”
Chris grinned, able to picture Julián being the same way.
“He got a burr up his butt because one of his friends said Tracy was big enough to be carrying more than one baby. They had an ultrasound and have since been assured it is just one baby. A boy.”
“Awesome.”
“They’re naming him Cameron.”
He’d never imagined being in that position, considering what to name a baby. Partly because there were so few women in his life and partly because he couldn’t imagine any woman brave enough to risk having a baby with him. It was likely any child of his would be just as big as he was. His mom had told him she’d had so many stitches after having him that she’d looked like a patchwork quilt. He didn’t want to do that to any woman ever.
Gwen leaned against the counter and sipped from her beer. “I love that name. Have you sent them anything?”
“What do you mean?”
Gwen chuckled and rolled her eyes. “That Y chromosome is fully functional, I see. A gift? When is she due?”
Julián laughed and blew her a kiss. “Beginning of March. And you love my Y chromosome.”
Her cheeks turned pink as she gazed at him. “Yeah, I kind of do. I’ll take care of it for you. Just get me the address,” she replied, shaking her head.
“I could just send a check.”
Gwen laughed. “You’re gonna do that too. Might as well start Cameron’s college fund now. We’ll put it in the box before I ship it. Is she registered anywhere?”
“Huh?”
Gwen smirked. “Never mind. I’ll Google it.”
“Something smells good,” Julián said, and Gwen perked up and smiled.
“My very own meatloaf recipe. It’ll be ready in a little while. You have time for showers if you want.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and tapped the screen then put the phone to her ear.
“Teresa! Hey! Are you in the mood to fight the crowds and go shopping this weekend? I need to buy butt plugs and a baby gift.”
Chris and Julián shared a quiet laugh over her word choice as she went to the sink and filled it with hot, soapy water.
Julián turned to Chris and quietly said, “Peter really was worried about Tracy. Before they knew she was pregnant, she had a fainting spell. Scared him and Jordan pretty good. He demanded that ultrasound after-hours because they couldn’t stand not knowing if she was carrying twins. I think I’d go crazy with worry too if something like that happened to us.”
Chris looked over at his friend and a rippling current went through him as their eyes met. He knew they were both imagining the same scenario with Gwen in the middle. A sense of foreshadowing made a shiver race up his spine. Was it possible they’d somehow work everything out and get to that point? He closed his eyes to break the connection, afraid of that kind of hope growing inside him.