Page 60 of Always on My Mind

Tessa offered a hand and lifted Jamie to her feet. Jamie picked up their discarded clothes and tossed Tessa’s tank top back to her.

“Might want to put that on before you start cooking,” Jamie said.

“I would never risk my perfect tits by bringing them unclothed near a stove,” Tessa joked.

Jamie laughed again and padded toward the stairs. Tessa watched her go, appreciating the sweet curve of her ass, before she tugged her shirt back on.

Everything felt like it did three years ago. The passionate sex, the teasing back and forth, and domesticity. But that thought alone made Tessa wonder if it might end the way it did three years ago.

She shook her head. Jamie was working on things. Tessa reminded herself of that as she pulled out the ingredients for dinner.

Chapter 19

Jamie tried not to feel out of place heading to the Stanmore dressing room when she knew she wouldn’t be training. She already had on her leggings and sports bra that she would wear to the weight room, where the medical staff would monitor her, as they had all week. The following day would be the first match day where she wouldn’t start—she wouldn’t even be named in the squad. For the first time in her professional career.

But there were more pressing matters at hand. She had discussed it with Tessa, and rehearsed what she wanted to say. Though she would need to say it quickly, as Monika was already herding Mai and Sofia toward the exit. Bracing herself with a deep inhale, she faced her team and cleared her throat.

“Er, excuse me, everyone,” she said.

Quiet fell over the dressing room as all eyes turned on her. Her stomach swooped at the sudden attention, but she swallowed down her reservations. She needed to do this for Tessa. For herself.

“Before you all go to training, there’s something I want to share,” Jamie said. “Something that I’ve never shared publicly, and that I’ll hope will remain between us, as I’m not ready for the world to know it. Though I am quite ready to share it with you. My teammates.”

They all stared back at her expectantly. Zahra tilted her head, only to get poked beneath her chin by the pin that Kiri was helping her with. She swore under her breath in Arabic, but kept her watery eyes toward Jamie. Jamie offered a sympathetic smile. She imagined it looked more like a grimace, but it couldn’t be helped. Her stomach had turned itself into knots.

“I hope you all know how much I appreciate you welcoming me here. That’s what’s made me feel like I can share this part of myself. Some of you may have already guessed or speculated, but I think I need to—”

“Fuck’s sake, Jamie, out with it,” Paige cut across her.

A murmur of laughter went through the room. Jamie’s cheeks warmed, and she cut her gaze to the floor, but a smile formed on her lips. She was making this a much bigger deal than it needed to be, she realized. She lifted her head.

“I’m gay,” she said on an exhale.

And then it was out in the open. Shared with a room of people and she could not take it back. She briefly imagined trying to swallow the words down, but it was too late for that. She was over the line. One foot out of the closet.

Her teammates blinked at her for several agonizing moments before anyone said anything.

“Sorry. . . were we supposed to be shocked?” Paige said with a smirk.

Jamie’s shoulders deflated. “Aren’t you?”

Neriah chuckled and patted Jamie’s arm. “Jamie, we love you, and we’re happy you’re finally comfortable sharing, but. . . we all basically knew.”

More of them giggled. Jamie did too, in spite of herself. “Am I that obvious?”

“I knew when you said Hozier was your celebrity crush,” Neriah said. “I suspected it before, but that pretty much confirmed it.”

“Plus, we’ve seen how you look at Tessa,” Eliana added, slinging an arm over Neriah’s shoulders. “How did you say it, baby?”

“Y’all ain’t slick,” Neriah said.

Jamie laughed. “Alright, then I feel I should also share that Tessa and I are girlfriends. We dated once before, three years ago, and now. . . we’re back together.”

“Nowthat’snews,” Kiri said. “You should’ve led with that, it’d have gotten a much better reaction.”

“Yeah, now pay up, Paige,” Niamh demanded, holding her hand out toward Paige.

Paige rolled her eyes as the group burst into collective laughter while she handed over a couple paper bills. Then, Jamie was inundated with questions. Why had they broken up before? She said it hadn’t worked out. What brought them back together again? She told them the concussion had given her time to think, and that they talked. When could they all go out together again so they could ask Tessa more? She told them as soon as they’d like.

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