Colin: Jen, are you awake?
Jennifer: I am now…
Colin: Sorry
Jennifer: Well now that I'm awake, what's up?
Colin: I didn't get a chance to see you after you got back from dropping off Taylor and Jared.
Jennifer: Did you have something you needed to talk to me about?
Colin: Actually, yes. Can I come to your room?
Jennifer: The door's unlocked…
A few seconds later there was a soft knock on the door and Colin slipped in. I was lounging on my bed, having been woken up by my phone's buzzing. I scooted over so he could slide into bed with me.
"So what's wrong?" I asked, snuggling into him.
"Jennifer Morrison, I would like to officially ask you on a date," Colin said.
"Oh," I said. "Wow."
"Is that a no then?" Colin asked.
"Oh no! I mean, yes. Of course I'll go on a date with you," I managed to say finally. "I'm sorry, I was just surprised."
"What? Have you never been asked on a date before?" he teased.
"Not in a long time," I laughed. "Usually I just get texts or calls saying 'what's up? You free tonight?'."
"Well, now you have been asked recently," he said, tracing circles on my arm. "Tomorrow night at 7."
"What are we going to do?" I asked.
"I guess you'll just have to wait and see."
I laughed and our conversation was effectively ended as he started kissing my neck lightly.
The next morning, Colin woke me up to take a shower with him. The hot steamy water felt good on my tired muscles. And as we dressed for the day, we talked about what was planned.
"I promised Jared that I would pick him up around noon," I said. "You're welcome to come with me. Taylor and his mom have other plans for the day so it'll just be him hanging out with us."
"I'll come. You'd better hurry though," Colin said. "We slept late."
"It's not my fault that you tired me out last night," I teased, hitting him playfully.
"The men have been planning a sort of men's day out," Colin explained. "I'm guessing that Jared will want to join us instead of being mothered all day by Ginny."
"You're probably right," I laughed. "Oliver didn't sleep at all last night so he'll hopefully sleep all day. Ginny has some fine wine and chocolate for us ladies. Though Georgina is leaving in an hour or two to spend some quality time with her cousin."
"Sounds like fun," Colin said. "Let's go."
He tossed me my jacket and I tossed him the car keys. We walked downstairs together, ignoring Ginny's knowing glance when she saw us descend together. Skipping breakfast entirely, we walked straight to the car and pulled away.
"Hey Jared!" I said when he hopped into the car.
"Good morning, Jen! So Colin, what have the men folk planned for today?"
"Josh and Sean planned the whole thing so it's a surprise for you and me both," Colin chuckled.
"Is Robert coming too?"
"Surprisingly, yes," he laughed. "It's going to be weird seeing Robert without Emilie."
"Jared, make sure to check in with your mom throughout the day," I reminded him. "I don't want to get in trouble. She would never let me chaperone you ever again."
"I'm more responsible than you think I am," Jared scoffed.
"I'm sure you are," I smirked.
We had barely made it back to the house when Sean and Josh dragged Colin, Jared, and Robert back out to the car and screeched off down the road. Sometimes I worried about that group. Okay maybe more like all of the time.
"Relax, Jen," Ginny said as she breezed past me in the kitchen. "Josh won't let anything happen to Jared."
"It's not Jared or Josh that I'm worried about," I muttered.
Out of necessity, I poured myself a tall glass of Dr. Pepper and settled on the back porch. I put on a pair of sunglasses and observed as Emilie emerged from the ocean and walked up towards the house.
"Hello, Jen," she said sweetly.
I threw her a towel and she smiled gratefully as she started drying off.
"Haven't seen much of you on this trip," I commented.
"I've been a bit occupied," Emilie replied with a sly smile. "As I've heard you have been as well."
"Just not as much as you," I winked. "I'm glad to see you and Robert so happy though."
"It's nice to be so happy," she said, settling in a chair next to me.
"Would you like anything to drink?" I offered.
"Is that Dr. Pepper you're drinking?"
I rose and disappeared into the kitchen to get her a glass of my precious soda.
"Thank you so much," Emilie said, taking a long swallow. "Isn't it nice to be so relaxed?"
"Oh goodness, I can't remember the last time I had a vacation like this," I said with a smile. "And it's with very pleasant company as well."
"I was sorry to hear about your break-up with Lance," she changed the subject. "Then again, maybe it was for the better. He wasn't the best of characters."
"Yeah, I see that now," I sighed. "And to top it all off, my parents are getting a divorce."
"Oh, Jen. I know how you feel about marriage and relationships," Emilie said. "You must have been heartbroken."
"I was. I even got in a huge argument with my mom about it. Apparently she's more experienced than me," I laughed dryly.
"Parents tend to pull that card during arguments," she commented.
Emilie was distracted by her phone as it buzzed from where she'd left it on the table.
"Oh Robert is so sweet!" she exclaimed. "He's texting me to tell me he misses me."
Smiling, I checked my own phone and found a text from Colin.
Colin: You should tell Emilie to stop texting Robert. He's getting too distracted.
Jennifer: It takes two to text…
Colin: Point taken… But still. Can't you do anything about it?
Jennifer: I was having a lovely heart to heart with her when Robert interrupting by being sweet boyfriend and texting her that he missed her. So I'm going to blame you for this.
Colin: For the record, I miss you too. I was trying not to be clingy.
Jennifer: So are you calling yourself my sweet boyfriend then?
Colin: Ummm… Am I allowed to do that?
Jennifer: You tell me
Colin: Moving on… Can you wear something really nice tonight? And heels please?
Jennifer: You are such a man
Jennifer: But yes
Colin: Much appreciated.
Jennifer: Enjoy your boy time.
Colin: Oh I will.
"Texting someone special?" Emilie asked, dragging me from my thoughts.
"Huh? Oh yeah," I smiled. "How's Robert?"
"He's enjoying the man time," she replied. "How's Colin?"
"How did you know I was texting him?"
"Lucky guess," she smiled. "Have you eaten yet?"
"No actually, I was just thinking about going to look for something to eat for lunch," I answered. "Would you care to join me?"
"I thought you would never ask," Emilie grinned.
We stood and walked together into the kitchen. After raiding the fridge, we came up with some leftover meat from hamburger night. That, paired with the rest of the condiments, wrapped in tortillas, made perfect tacos. I put way too much sour cream and cheese on mine, as usual.
I was laughing so hard at something Emilie said that I was almost snorting when Lana entered the room. She immediately grabbed a plate and made herself a taco out of the food that we had out on the counter.
"It's quite low-key and boring around here without the men around," Lana commented before biting into her lunch.
"I agree," Emilie said indignantly. "We ought to do something so they don't come back and pity us for being boring."
"But I'm the queen of boring," I said, protesting.
"I know!" Lana declared, ignoring me. "We should go clubbing!"
"At one in the afternoon?" I asked. "Are you crazy?"
"Oh come on, that's probably what the guys are doing," Ginny said, overhearing.
"Not with Jared they're not," Emilie pointed out. "And you can't take Oliver either."
"So much for clubbing," Lana said, deflating. "Remember the first night after filming?"
"All those years ago?" I teased. "We went out to celebrate. Emilie and Colin and Sean weren't even part of the show then."
"I wasn't either," Georgina said from her reading spot in the bay window.
I knew the night that Lana was referring to. We had gone out to dinner out of consideration for Jared. That had been back when Jamie and Meghan had been filming regularly and they had come along too. Man, I missed having them around. But I also enjoyed the newer additions to our family. Colin especially.
My phone started ringing, drawing me from my reminiscing.
"Hello?"
"Hello, love."
Why on earth was Colin calling me?
"Hey, what's up?" I asked, moving into another room for some privacy.
"Do you remember my first day on the show?" he asked.
"Yes, it was rather eventful," I laughed. "And plus there was the uncertainty because we didn't know how long you would be staying. Then later they made you a permanent addition."
"The first day I was away in Canada and Helen was home without me, she went out and found herself a boyfriend to have on the side."
"What? How do you know this?"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"She told me. I just found out. I mean, how could she pretend for so long that everything was fine when she was cheating on me that whole time?" Colin sounded very upset.
"Because she obviously didn't respect your relationship," I said trying to comfort him. "It's not your fault that she turned away. You did nothing wrong."
"But I must have if the first possible chance she got, she was in another man's arms," he retorted.
"No! That is absolutely not true! You can't blame yourself for her actions," I said emphatically.
"Listen, I've got to go before the boys think that something's up," Colin said abruptly. "Can we continue this conversation later?"
"Of course," I answered. "Whenever you want."
"Thanks, Jen. I love you."
I was shocked. But somehow I managed to stammer the words back and hang up. I turned to find Lana lounging in a chair behind me.
"Trouble in paradise?"
"No, not in that sense anyway," I replied. "Just Colin having trouble dealing with the divorce."
"Well I'm sure you'll be your usual charming self and help him through it," Lana replied shortly. "We're ordering pizza. Do you have any preferences?"
"Pepperoni and black olives or Hawaiian. Do they make Hawaiian pizza in Hawaii?"
Lana shrugged and left the room.
"Wait, didn't we just eat tacos?" I asked, following her.
"We're all still hungry, aren't you?" Lana said. "Besides I'd never say no to leftovers."
"I guess that makes sense. Let me know when it gets here. I'll be up in my room," I said, escaping up the stairs.
My phone started ringing again and I jumped to answer it as I closed myself into my room.
"Jen, baby?"
I froze at the sound of his voice.
"Hello?"
"Lance?" I whispered. "Why are you calling?"
"Baby, I've been thinking a lot ever since we broke up," he was saying. "I made a mistake and I think we should give us a second chance."
"What?"
I was pretty sure it was the millionth time I had said that. I just couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"I heard that you and the main cast members flew to Hawaii for the two week vacation and I hopped on a plane. I'm at the airport right now."
"You're what?" I exclaimed. "Why? We're not dating anymore, Lance. We're over."
"That's what I've been saying: I want to give it a second chance and see where it goes."
"No, I can't do this anymore!"
"Baby, please. Just come pick me up and we can talk. Please."
I stammered a few broken phrases before finally managing something coherent.
"Umm, I'll be there in ten minutes."
I was in a daze as I walked out of the house and slid into the Camry. It was a miracle that I didn't break any traffic laws or run into anyone because I was not exactly focused on the road. I parked haphazardly and walked slowly to the curb where he was standing, waiting. This was not going to end well.