Baumgartner generations: Janie

me “Just-Janie” and whispering into my ear how much he wanted me. I sighed, knowing how selfish it was to want him, especially now, here. But I did. I wanted him more than anything.

"Where are you going?" TJ murmured as I began to untangle my limbs.

"My room," I whispered.

"Makes sense. Just in case," Ronnie mumbled, snuggling up to her husband as I pulled my nightgown over my head and found my panties on the floor. "’Cuz of Beth…"

"Good night," TJ called softly as I opened the door.

I smiled and said goodnight as I closed it behind me, but I was already wondering if Josh had called. When I went downstairs and got back to my room, the first thing I did was check my phone.

No message. But his number was there-he'd called. I glanced at the clock.

Probably too late. I hit "dial" anyway.

"Hello?" He didn't sound sleepy.

"Did I wake you?" I whispered.

"No." I could hear the smile in his voice. "I was just thinking about you."

"Me, too."

"You were thinking about you, too? What a coincidence."

I muffled a laugh, not wanting to wake Beth down the hall. "No, I was thinking about this incredible guy who drove me home today…"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. He's the sexiest thing I've ever met on wheels."

I could swear I heard him blush. "The feeling is mutual, sweetheart."

"I got an idea," I whispered, closing my eyes and cupping my still sopping mound. The minute I heard Josh's voice it was throbbing again. "A really naughty one."

"Do tell…"

So I did.

And we didn't hang up the phone until my alarm insisted it was time to get up.

* * * *

“Janie!” Ronnie nudged me awake and my head snapped up.

“Sorry,” I apologized, flushing and looking over at Gretchen across the table. We were sitting in Katz’s Deli, an infamous tourist trap-the place where they filmed the

“orgasm scene” in When Harry Met Sally-and I’d obviously just fallen asleep over my pastrami reuben. “I’m just so tired…”

“You and TJ are keeping the poor girl up too late, Ronnie,” Gretchen teased, I flushed even more deeply, letting them both think that was the reason, that it was most certainly not the fact that I’d been up talking to Josh until the wee hours in the morning for the past two weeks. Definitely not that.

“More the other way around.” Ronnie winked, taking a drink of her water. She’d sworn off both coffee and Diet Coke. “So are you really here to stay, Gretch?”

“I don’t see why not.” The blonde woman leaned back in her chair with a shrug, flipping her hair over her shoulder. It was almost as long as mine, but finer and straighter and almost white-blonde instead of honey-colored. “New York is the best place to be if you want to do fashion photography.”

“California didn’t work out?” Ronnie took a loud bite of her pickle.

Gretchen rolled her eyes. “Flakes and bimbo. So not my scene. Oh my god, are you the quintessential pregnant woman or what? Do you want some ice cream to go with that?”

“I can’t help it.” Ronnie laughed, crunching happily. “They have the best pickles in the world.”

“So when does this kid make its appearance?” Gretchen asked. She was eating a chopped liver sandwich, in spite of the gagging sound Ronnie made when she ordered, and looked like she was enjoying it. “And do you know what it is yet?”

“Hopefully not until my due date.” Ronnie leaned back, putting a hand protectively over her belly. It was even more rounded now-it was like she’d popped out over night. They’d even told Beth, because it had become so obvious. “I’m due on Halloween.”

Gretchen frowned. “That’s… ominous.”

“I hope not.” Ronnie sighed. “Oh, and we’re not finding out the gender.”

“Why not?” I complained.

“Really!” Gretchen agreed. “How are we supposed to shop?”

“You’ll just have to buy yellow and green.”

“They’ve got some cute gender-neutral stuff nowadays,” I said, picking pastrami off my sandwich. The stuff was like velvet pork, so yummy. “Purples and oranges.” They both looked at me, surprised. “What? I’ve had pregnant friends. I’ve been in Babies R

Us.”

Gretchen leaned her elbows on the table, looking across at Ronnie fondly. “You must be glad to get the summer off.”

“I am,” she agreed. “And now we’ve got a real vacation to look forward to. TJ’s taking time off work, and it’s perfect timing-Beth will be at music camp all that week!.”

“Ahhhh, a Baumgartner vacation.” Gretchen grinned. “I, myself, can’t wait. It’s bound to be a wild time.”

I snorted. “If my parents invite anyone else, someone’s going to have to sleep outside.” Of course, I’d been dreaming about inviting Josh. I just had no idea how to broach the subject. And how awkward would that be? I knew it was impossible. But still… I wanted what I wanted.

“Oh, it will be fine.” Gretchen winked at me. “We can sleep three or four to a bed.” That cracked both of them up.