Page 93 of Kings of the Campus

“My cute, nerdy girlfriend and my nerd brothers,” Jace amends, and the sentiment fills me with warmth. I can’t believe that we found a little slice of heaven together, especially after everything we’ve been through.

It’s almost perfect.

53

TESSA

The semester is finally over. I just got home after my last final, feeling the weight of the stress lift from my shoulders. But today’s been strange. I’ve had these low-level cramps all day, and though they’re uncomfortable, I’ve convinced myself it’s just false labor. After all, we still have some time before the babies are due.

As I step through the front door, kicking off my shoes, a sudden, warm rush of fluid runs down my legs. For a second, I think I’ve wet myself, but then it hits me. My water just broke.

“Oh my God…” I whisper to myself, frozen in place.

Jace appears from the kitchen, a sandwich in hand, grinning when he sees me. “Hey, baby. how’d the last final—” His eyes drop to the puddle at my feet. “Uh, Tessa…?”

I meet his gaze, my heart pounding with excitement and nerves. “I think my water just broke.”

The sandwich drops to the counter. “What? We need to get to the hospital!” he exclaims, moving toward me like I might collapse at any second.

I shake my head, trying to stay calm. “No, no. Not yet. We should wait for Alec and Devin. I don’t want to go without them.”

Jace looks at me like I’ve grown a second head. “Tessa, you’re in labor. We need to gonow.”

“Eh. Labor takes time, Jace. I’m fine.” I give him a small smile, trying to reassure him even though inside I’m just as nervous as he is. “Besides, Devin’s still finishing his last final, and Alec’s tied up with Sigma Theta business. I want to wait.”

He runs his hands through his hair, looking like he’s about to argue, but instead, he groans. “Fine, but if anything feels weird or…worse, we’re leaving. I don’t care who’s here or not.”

“Deal,” I say with a nod, heading to the couch. I plop down and find a documentary on Netflix, trying to distract myself from the increasing cramps while Jace rushes around the house, gathering the hospital bags, the baby car seats, and anything else he can think of.

Every so often, he glances at me, his expression torn between worry and frustration. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine!” I call back, laughing to myself as he grabs a whole stack of baby blankets like we’re going to need twenty of them.

Finally, the door opens, and Devin steps in, looking exhausted but relieved. “Hell yeah, I’m done with my last final, time to party!” he announces, but his face drops when he sees Jace frantically moving around the house.

“What’s going on?”

I pause the documentary, looking up calmly. “I’m in labor.”

His eyes go wide. “Tessa, what? Why aren’t we at the hospital yet?”

I sigh, rolling my eyes. “I told Jace, I want to wait for Alec. We still have time.”

Devin shoots Jace a bewildered look, and Jace throws his hands in the air. “Don’t look at me, man. I’ve been trying to get her to go!”

“Tessa, wereallyshould go,” Devin says, moving over to me with concern. “At least let me call Dr. Shepard and tell him we’ll be heading in soon.”

I hesitate, but finally nod. “Okay, fine. We can call Dr. Shepard.”

He tells us to come in immediately and I roll my eyes when Devin mouths, “I told you so.”

Another half hour drags by, the boys both frazzled as they try to stay calm. I’m not even close to panicking yet, but the cramps are definitely getting stronger.

Finally, the door bursts open, and Alec steps inside, looking confused but energetic. “I’m home! Did you guys miss me?”

Devin and Jace both turn to him at once. “Thank God!” Jace exclaims. “Tessa’s in labor, and she’s been insisting we wait for you.”

Alec blinks, taking in the scene. “Wait, what?”

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