When I covered the photos from the LA premiere of Second Act, I wondered (to myself) why Alex Rodriguez didn’t attend the premiere on Jennifer Lopez’s arm. She does a lot to support his projects, but it seems like a consistent problem with J.Rod – he rarely shows up for her stuff. But lo and behold, he did show up for Jennifer’s People Magazine cover story. She got a People cover because she’s promoting Second Act… and I guess it doesn’t hurt to hype her relationship in general. I really do wonder if she wishes she could announce an engagement as part of her promotion of this film? Instead, she and Alex talk about their already-blended family:

Since Jennifer Lopez began dating Alex Rodriguez two years ago, their romance has steadily blossomed.

“We love each other and we love our life together,” Lopez, 49, tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. “The exciting part of our love is that we’re both very aware of how lucky we are to have found each other.”

Of utmost importance was making sure their respective kids felt comfortable with the union, and with each other. Lopez, who has 10-year-old twins, Emme and Max, from her marriage to Marc Anthony, and Rodriguez, also divorced and a dad to daughters Natasha, 14, and Ella, 10, took great care with the introductions. To their delight, the families clicked.

“Kids are so beautiful and open to love and new friends,” says Lopez, whose new comedy, Second Act, opens on Dec. 21. “I was so loving to his kids and he was so loving and accepting of mine, and they embraced each other right away. [It was] ‘I get a new bonus brother and sisters to hang out with all the time and it’s nice’.”

A-Rod is equally as pleased. “Our kids have become best friends and that keeps us both grounded and appreciative,” he says. “We couldn’t have asked for anything better than the four of them getting along as they do.”

[From People]

Part of me wants to believe that two people with complicated romantic histories and growing kids from past relationships have grown up and matured and they’re taking things slowly as they figure out when and how to get married and live together and really join their families. Another part of me remembers that J.Lo and A-Rod were on the cover of Vanity Fair together just a few months into their relationship, and that there will be huge dramas – both good and bad – for J.Rod for years to come.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, cover courtesy of People.