“Yes, babe. It’s perfect,” Parker answers, taking my hand and giving my palm a lingering kiss.

It’s magical that something so tiny can produce such a strong sound. Tears of happiness sting my eyes. This is probably the best sound I’ve ever heard. That little heart is beating because of us. The thumps grow stronger and I swallow the lump in my throat.

Parker and I look at Wendy and then each other. No words are needed. We can see it on our faces. This bond will connect us forever.

Our baby.

“Hey, Parker?” Jason says, pushing open my office door. “You ready?”

“Yeah, I’ll meet you there.” We agreed to have a men’s taco poker night. It’s been a while since the guys have gotten together to drink beer, eat tacos, and play cards. Since the girls are having dinner and going to the movies, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

I arrive at Jason’s just before six to find Kevin and Jason at the kitchen table with two men I’ve never met and Hannah in her bouncy chair, playing quietly. Sometimes I wonder if people even know Jason and Genna have a baby, because she’s always so content, happy, and quiet.

“Hey, Parker! Grab a beer and pull up a seat. This is Rob and Tony. They live a few houses down from me,” Kevin slurs. Clearly, he didn’t work today and got a head start on the beers.

“Hey guys. Nice to meet you.” I take a Bud Light out of the fridge and sit down.

“You too,” they say. They’re about my age: early thirties.

“And, you know Brandon,” Jason says, taking his seat.

I give Brandon a handshake. “How are you?”

“Doing well, man. Thanks.”

“Okay, ladies. You going to sit and talk or play some poker?” Kevin grumbles playfully. “You’re going to need to bring your game if we want to force Jackson to trade in that fancy car of his for a minivan.”

“Let me be clear right now,” I say. “I will not be driving a minivan. Not now or in the future. Never. The FRS is capable of holding a car seat just fine. Besides, Aundrea has her Outlander for the family vehicle.”

Jason starts laughing.

“What?” I ask, glaring at him.

“I said the same thing. But little did I know that Genna had other plans and traded her G6 in for a damn van. I swore I’d never be caught driving one of those.”

“Trust me when I tell you, I won’t be driving a van. Besides, you’re whipped,” I taunt.

“Whipped?” Jason looks shocked.

“Yeah, pussy whipped!” Kevin agrees, laughing.

Tony and Rob start laughing, too, but then Tony says that he and his fiancée have a van for their two kids and they actually love it. He goes on and on about the room it has and how smoothly it drives.

This does nothing to convince me.

“As much as I love talking about cars, I hate talking about minivans. Let’s get back to playing some poker,” I say. I’m ready to take these guys to the cleaners.

Sometime in the middle of our game, after Rob, Brandon and Kevin are out, Jason puts Hannah to bed. I check my phone to see if I have a text from Aundrea and, since I don’t, I decide to send her one.

Me: How’s ladies night going?

The Wife: Hey, you. It’s going good! The movie just let out. We’re thinking of going to get some drinks. There’s a bar here doing happy hour until 11.

Me: Sounds fun. May I suggest getting really drunk so I can take advantage of you later?

The Wife: No need to take advantage, handsome. I’m more than willing.

Me: In that case, get ready.

The Wife: Will do. How’s poker?

Me: Good. Down to Jason, the new guy, and myself. I’m about to take them for everything they’ve got.

The Wife: Good, Momma needs a new pair of shoes!!

I chuckle at her comment. She’s not a shoe girl. Sending her one last text, I put my phone away.

“What? We’re talking to our women now on guy’s night?” Kevin teases.

“Just wait until Jean moves in. If you don’t check in with her, she’ll be all over your ass.”

“Nah. Jean’s not like that. That’s why I love her. She doesn’t care what I do.”

“Dude, that’s because you don’t live together. It’s not affecting her at all,” Jason insists.

“Shit,” Kevin mumbles.

I laugh, but immediately cringe when my eyes meet Brandon’s. He’s smiling faintly, but his eyes are hard. I wasn’t thinking how difficult it could be for him to hear us joking around like this, fronting like our lovers are a hardship instead of a blessing.

“What is going on with the moving in together situation, anyway?” Tony asks.

“Nothing. She vetoed that. She likes how things are.” Kevin runs his hand along his jaw. “I hate to admit this … and don’t any of you fuckers laugh.” He downs his beer. “I feel like I’m the damn woman in this relationship! I practically begged her to move in with me and she turned me down. I even said I love you first.”

“And you said I’m pussy whipped? Man, you’re so much more than I am!” Jason shouts, laughing.

Even Brandon smiles at that.

I kind of feel bad for the Kevin. I can tell how much he loves Jean and wants to be with her. I can even see that Jean cares for Kevin, but I know from Aundrea that Jean isn’t a woman to change her life for a man.

“All in due time. She’s young; remember that,” I say. I think he forgets sometimes that he’s thirty-two and she’s only twenty-four.