Dallas, Texas

"Beer?"

Offering him a drink, Jack proactively pulled two bottles out of the fridge, waiting for his response before opening them.

"Sure."

Accepting the bottle and glass, he followed his cousin into the condo living room and sat down.

"So, what is it you're here to ask me?"

Addressing the question casually, Jack's manner felt like the complete opposite to his own.

He'd been thinking for days, occupying himself with less important matters while he waited for Jack to arrive back in Dallas from his business trip, wanting to get a concrete answer about the future before he started to make plans. Now, the moment was here and he was afraid that he was going to hear something he didn't want to.

"How do you know I have a question?"

Conscious that he had to be acting strangely, because he felt strange, he wondered how obvious it was that he had a question that needed answering.

"You as much told me on the phone earlier."

Chuckling, Jack pointed out that it wasn't his current behaviour that was making his intentions known.

"Oh, yeah."

Thinking back on their conversation, he remembered that he had mentioned it when he had asked if he could drop by.

He'd had so much on his mind in recent days that the small details seemed to get lost, but the big picture was clear.

"So?"

"Well, it has to do with Jenna."

Mentioning her name, he noted the smile that crossed Jack's face. Jenna probably adored that he couldn't help but smile at the thought of her, he on the other hand found it bothersome.

"Jenna."

Saying her name himself, the pleased expression on Jack's face went nowhere.

"What do you two have together?"

Blurting out the question, without much introduction, he held his breath in anticipation of the answer.

"You know Jenna, she's fun, she's gorgeous, and she's persistent. We enjoy each other's company, but we're not dating or in any sort of exclusive relationship if that's what you're asking."

Relieved to hear that they weren't serious, he couldn't relax yet.

"It's more than platonic though, isn't it?"

Knowing what he had seen, in person and in his dreams, he had his suspicions about what had gone on behind closed doors, and not dating exclusively did not equate to not having shared intimate moments.

He'd be naïve to think they hadn't been to bed together, but he didn't have confirmation of it, not that he really wanted it confirmed, he wasn't sure he'd be able to not wonder if Jenna was comparing the two of them if they did ever rekindle their relationship. Additionally, he'd always considered JR and Gary's women to be off-limits, but Jenna was complicated, she'd been his first, then Jack's and now he didn't know where she fit in.

"How would you answer that question?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, if anyone is going to understand Jenna's pull, it's you. What is she to you? Not what was she to you in the past, but now, presently, what is she to you?"

Turning the conversation around on him, Jack didn't answer the question, but he asked a few of them, a few good ones too.

Whether or not Jack had something casual with Jenna wasn't really his business, except that he was making it his business, and the reason why he was doing that mattered.

"I… don't know."

Feeling something for her, he couldn't pinpoint what she was to him, because they hadn't gotten that far in their rekindled relationship, partly because of his hesitation to start afresh with his life and partly because she was single but not alone.

"But you know what you want her to be?"

Putting another question to him, Jack seemed to be in control of their conversation now.

"Yes, but whether that happens depends on a few things."

He couldn't and wouldn't share her with Jack, or any other man; if they were to make a go of it then it would be monogamous, but before he even suggested that to her he needed to understand what the state of everything around them was.

"I'm not going to stand in your way if that's what you're concerned about; I don't think I could anyway. Jenna wants you, and if you want her, you can have her."

Taking a drink, Jack's response was casual and succinct, pleasing too. Jenna had clearly said or done something to indicate where her heart lay and it was in his favour.

"That wouldn't bother you?"

Shaking his head, his cousin reiterated his point.

"No. Jenna's a great girl to spend time with, but what we have isn't going anywhere, which is fine by me because I'm not looking for serious. I get the feeling you are looking for something serious and trust me, if you're the one offering it to her then it's what she's looking for too."

Listening, he finally felt like he could relax. He hadn't so much been looking for Jack's permission to pursue Jenna, but he felt he had it now.

He'd been married when Jenna had returned to town, she too had been in a relationship, which meant that things had been different and there hadn't been a need for a conversation about their future as a couple. Now, he was single, Jack was single, and Jenna was also single, the need for clarification had arisen, so he'd taken steps to try to understand.

"Thanks."

Letting out a loud chuckle, Jack confirmed there was no animosity between them.

"Always happy to help."

Taking a drink himself, satisfied with the result of their discussion, he changed the subject.

"Good. So, tell me, how was Odessa?"

"Fantastic. Remember that little bar you told me about…"

Recounting his recent business trip, Jack's story was a welcome distraction from the thoughts that followed the Jenna talk. He had always liked his cousin and now that they'd dealt with the elephant in the room, he could actually enjoy his company.

To be continued…