Page 80 of Always on My Mind

Stevie’s house was the definition of classic elegance and modern charm. The structure of the house showed its age, as well as some features such as the crown molding. But the wallpaper had a modern, green floral design, and the furniture had trendy shapes and fabrics. To Tessa’s pleasure, there was plenty of color—mostly forest greens and golds. It made all the blue present wrappings stand out from their place atop the oak dining table. Jamie and Tessa added their gifts to the overflowing pile before following Stevie to where the rest of the party was.

Billie sat on a white and gold couch, in a flowy, powder blue dress that draped over her protruding baby bump. Her handsrested on it, cradling the boy inside her, due within a month. Her skin glowed as she smiled at her guests. A smile which impossibly widened when she clapped eyes on Tessa.

“Tess!” she gasped.

“Don’t get up!” Tessa insisted. She made her way through the crowd to embrace her best friend. “You look wonderful.”

“Thank you,” Billie said through a sigh. “I feel like a planet, but I’m surprisingly thrilled about it.”

Tessa laughed and stepped away to let Jamie say hello. Billie was graceful and warm when greeting her. Tessa never told Jamie about Billie’s reservations about them, and given how sweet Billie was being, no one could have ever guessed. But it made Tessa happy to see them getting along. Watching them, an ache formed in her heart with how strongly she wanted Jamie to be in her life. To grow close to Billie, and Tessa’s family as well. But to be ingrained, they would need to be out in the open.

Tessa forced herself to look away and went to say hello to Laci. Her blonde hair was wrapped into a French twist at the back of her head, and she was one of the few people in a pink dress. Blue wasn’t part of the dress code, but since the baby was a boy, most of the women must have assumed it was the more appropriate color.

“What about you, Laci?” Tessa asked.

“I’m doing well. How about you?” she replied.

“I’m grand. Pure buzzing for Billie and Ethan.”

“Oh, me too. They’re going to be such wonderful parents.”

“Aye, so they are. And a wee fella, too. He’ll be a sweet one.”

“Absolutely.”

“Are you and Jordan planning to have a wain of your own?”

“Someday, yeah,” Laci said with a wistful smile. “Jordan says he’s ready whenever I am, but you should see him with his teammates’ children. That man is all daddy energy.”

Tessa snorted. “In more ways than one, aye?”

Laci winked. “You bet.”

“How’s work otherwise?”

“Good!”

Laci launched into a few of the campaigns she had recently shot for, mostly lingerie, swim suit, and makeup brands, and a few projects she had coming up. Tessa admired Laci, and the representation for plus size bodies she brought to the modeling world. She was a force to be reckoned with in the industry. Jordan had not been exaggerating when he said that she was more famous than him. Tessa wondered how they ever had time for each other with jobs as time-consuming as theirs, but being soulmates, they made it work. Maybe she and Jamie could do the same.

As if summoned by the thought of her, Jamie arrived. She carried a glass of wine in one hand, which she offered to Tessa.

“Thanks,” Tessa said, accepting it.

“Hi, Laci,” Jamie said.

“Hello, Jamie,” Laci returned. “Season going alright?”

“As good as it can be. We’re not on the verge of relegation, but I know most of us would prefer to be higher up the table.”

“If you win your next two, you should jump West Ham, right?”

“Yeah, but one of those is Tottenham, who we lost to before.”

Tessa enjoyed her wine while they chatted about football. Again, she was hit with that desire for Jamie to be more ingrained in her life. She wanted to take Jamie’s hand while she talked, but they hadn’t discussed if Laci was okay to invite in to their situation. But Tessa didn’t want to think about that. She wanted to be able to take Jamie’s hand, kiss Jamie’s cheek, and claim Jamie’s heart whenever and wherever she wanted.

Patience, she told herself.She just needs more time.

She had agreed to give Jamie time. Maybe the shower was an opportunity to ease their way into sharing with people outside of the club.

---