Page 86 of Always on My Mind

Chapter 26

For reasons inexplicable to Tessa, she woke up at four in the morning. As much as she fought it, her eyes flew open and took in her dark bedroom. Jamie slept soundly by her side. They had a solid month since the baby shower. Jamie made good on her promise to socialize more with the team so that she and Tessa could outwardly be a couple somewhere besides their houses. They had also had a triple date with Billie and Ethan and Jordan and Laci. So why was Tessa awake at an ungodly hour with a pit in her stomach?

She picked up Jamie’s arm to wrap it around herself. Jamie stirred enough to pull Tessa in close, but she didn’t wake up. Tessa figured physical contact would lull her back to sleep. She closed her eyes once more and slowed her breathing. She tried to match it to Jamie’s, but couldn’t get the rhythm right, so she gave that up and counted the beats of each breath. Four beats in, four beats out. Supposedly, that would make her sleepy.

Yet sleep eluded her.

She tried the age old counting sheep method. Only she couldn’t decide if she wanted to count sheep or cows, so she abandoned the idea altogether. With a heavy sigh, she snuggled closer to Jamie. The woman had given her four orgasms only hours ago. She should be sleeping like a baby.

But she couldn’t keep her eyes closed.

Jamie woke, and with a groggy voice, asked, “What’s the matter, Tess?”

“Ach, I dunno,” Tessa replied. “I can’t sleep.”

“Something wrong?”

“No, just a bad feeling. I think perhaps I had a bad dream.”

It seemed like a logical explanation, though she couldn’t recall whether she had been dreaming or not.

Jamie lifted her head. “Anything I can do?”

“Thank you, but no,” Tessa said. “I think I’ll make a cuppa.”

“D’you mind if I go back to sleep?”

“Go on, love.”

She kissed Jamie’s cheek and got to her feet. Once she had her dressing gown and slippers on, she padded out to the kitchen. She remembered Billie telling her that there was no better cure for a troubled mind than a cup of tea. They had shared several in their years as flatmates. Nearly two years ago, they had sat at that very table while Billie shared a dream she had. One that pointed to Ethan and her soul connection.

But that was certainly not the explanation for Tessa. She had clarity about her dreams now—on the nights she did have them. And she and Jamie were together and happy. They had fallen into a routine together. It was finally working.

While the water boiled, Tessa checked her phone. Sometimes an Instagram or TikTok scroll could clear her mind. Maybe she could find a good ASMR video to put her out. Only as she opened the app, her phone rang, and Ethan’s name flashed across her screen. She picked up on the first ring.

“Hello?”

“Tessa, hey!” he said, and for some reason, he sounded winded. “I’m sorry to call you so early, but Billie’s going into labor.”

“What?” Tessa cried, nearly dropping her phone. Collecting herself, she brought it to her ear. “How is she? Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, everything is fine, but the contractions are just the right amount apart, and we were advised to come in. I know you said you wanted to be around, so I wanted to give you a heads-up. Stevie is already on the way.”

“Of course, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Tessa said. “Tell Billie I love her and good luck.”

“Thanks, Tessa,” Ethan said gently.

They hung up. Tessa flicked off the kettle switch and hurtled back to her bedroom. Jamie started and sat up at the sound of the door, but Tessa paid her no mind as she scrambled to find some clothes.

“What’s going on?” Jamie asked through a yawn.

“I’m away to the hospital,” Tessa replied. “Billie’s having her baby.”

“Now?”

“No, in another week or so—yes, now!”

Jamie leaned over to switch the lamp on, rubbing her eyes. “Do you want me to come?”

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