24. Chapter 24

Chapter 24

“Billie and her sister both live in Chelsea?” Jamie asked as they drove through the streets of the borough.

Tessa nodded. “Oh, aye. Stevie’s lived here for ages though. Ever since she got married.”

“And Billie followed suit?”

“She did. But I think if Ethan had stayed at Stanmore, they’d still live in that area.”

“Oh, right. I keep forgetting he played for Stanmore.”

“He got them to Europe. He loved the club, but Chelsea was his dream club.”

“As an Arsenal legacy, I feel as if I’m walking into enemy territory.”

Tessa chuckled. “It’s neutral territory. Billie only supports whatever club Ethan plays for, and Stevie and her husband aren’t even into football. Wives and girlfriends from several clubs will be around.”

“I see. That does ease my mind.”

Tessa gazed out the window at the passing restaurants and shopping, feeling better herself. After learning that Billie was pregnant, she wondered if she should have offered to throw Billie’s shower, but Stevie volunteered, getting Tessa off the hook. It was a relief. Tessa didn’t know the first thing about throwing a baby shower. And with her money, Stevie was sure to put together the classy party Billie deserved.

Tessa glanced at the gifts in the back seat. One, she got from Billie’s registry—a bassinet and sheet set with little footballs on it. The other was the Winnie the Pooh book she’d picked up in the vintage store. Before she ever thought that she and Jamie could be together again. When she had tried using someone else to distract herself.

It was funny how so much time passed, and yet it also seemed as though it was hardly any at all. So much had changed. Tessa was coming to Billie’s baby shower with Jamie as her date. She and Jamie were on the same page about being soulmates, and had even found evidence of their past lives together. Tessa smiled, pleased at how everything was working out.

Jamie slowed to find a parking spot on Stevie’s street. They ended up having to turn around and park across the street from the house, but still several doors down.

“See, this is why I don’t even bother having a car in London,” Tessa said. “It’s much easier to get on the tube and walk. You end up walking anyway.”

“Footballers can’t use the tube if they don’t want to be bombarded,” Jamie reminded her, cutting the engine.

“Wear a balaclava or something,” Tessa said with a shrug.

“Oh, yeah, fantastic idea. In the middle of March, no one would bat an eye.”

“There’s still a good chill in the air in the middle of March!”

Tessa giggled as she opened the door and walked around to the backseat to get the book. Jamie joined her to carry the bassinet since it was heavy. Together, they strode up the pavement toward Stevie’s front door.

“Have you been to Billie’s sister’s before?” Jamie asked.

“Once, for Billie’s bridal shower,” Tessa answered. “As maid of honor, I planned the hen do. Stevie’s rich, so she does all this classy shite.”

Jamie chuckled. “How did they end up being called Billie and Stevie?”

“Stevie is named after Stevie Nicks, and Billie is named after the Michael Jackson song, Billie Jean. Though she’s dropped Jean since getting married and is now Billie Axton Knight.”

“When we get married, do you want to keep our names or hyphenate?” Jamie asked.

Tessa halted. Had she heard that right? Jamie, speaking in absolutes about marriage? That was the most public acknowledgment of a relationship humanly possible. Not to mention legally binding.

Jamie turned and looked at her, pink rising to her cheeks. “Sorry, was that too soon? I thought since we’re soulmates and everything, we’ll be getting there, eventually. Was I wrong to assume?”

Tessa shook her head, a small smile spreading over her lips. “No, but. . . I had no idea you thought about those things.”

“Well, yeah. I mean, we’re together now, we know our history, and I’m finally getting to a place where I feel like I can eventually come out. But honestly, Tessa, I’ve thought about marrying you since the day I met you.”

Tessa’s heart sang with delight. She made it to Jamie in two strides, leaning in for a kiss. Only, Jamie dodged her and went for a hug instead. The bubble of joy burst and Tessa’s shoulders sagged.

“Sorry,” Jamie said. “It’s just. . . we’re outside.”

Tessa gestured to the empty street. “Who’s watching us?”

“You never know, Tess,” Jamie said. “People could be hiding or looking out their windows. . . ”

“Right.” Tessa’s lips tightened into a frown, but she nodded. She kept walking toward the house. Jamie followed behind. “Is this how it’s going to be for the whole party?”

Jamie didn’t answer for several moments, even as they climbed the three steps of the stoop.

“Tessa, I don’t know these people.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“I’m trying to say that I trust you and Billie, but everyone else is a potential leak.”

“Ach, well, when we get married, I’ll keep my name so I don’t risk being a leak.”

“Tessa, we’ve talked about this. You agreed to me coming out to the team, who I know I can trust.”

“And how many times have we been around them since this agreement?” Tessa challenged.

Jamie went silent. She didn’t have an answer, Tessa knew. They had only been around the team in training and before and after matches. Neither of which gave Jamie and Tessa any real opportunity to share a kiss or even hold hands. Otherwise, they could only outwardly be a couple in their respective homes. Tessa was beginning to feel she hadn’t had the full scope of what she had agreed to.

Jamie set the bassinet down on the stoop. She pulled her phone from her pocket, already typing something. Tessa rolled her eyes and rang the bell. Jamie nudged her arm, showing Tessa the screen.

“Party at mine after our match against Birmingham City next weekend,” Jamie said. “Half of them have already agreed to come. You’ll be free to plant as many kisses on me as you want.”

Tessa resisted the urge to roll her eyes. To Jamie’s credit, she was always quick to address Tessa’s concerns. It eased the sting of the rejections. But each one was a chip away at Tessa’s belief. While it was better than last time, it still didn’t feel like enough.

She didn’t get to answer before the door swung open, and Stevie appeared, a big, welcoming smile on her face. Tessa grinned back. Stevie and Billie looked remarkably alike. They had the same dark, wavy hair, rounded face, and clear blue eyes. Stevie’s eight years on Billie showed in the lines around her mouth and eyes, but she was equally as beautiful.

“Tessa, hello!” she said cheerfully.

She pulled Tessa into a hug and kissed her cheek.

“How are you, Stevie?” Tessa replied.

“Wonderful, thank you,” Stevie said. “And this must be Jamie.”

She pulled a surprised Jamie into a hug as well as she introduced herself.

“Billie told me about your situation,” Stevie said, lowering her voice. “No one other than Billie and I know, but you don’t need to worry about anyone here, I promise.”

“Thank you,” Tessa said.

“Of course,” Stevie replied. “Please, come in. Gift table is to the right in the dining room, and we’re all in the back sitting room.”

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 hands rested 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.

She didn’t have time to pitch the idea before Stevie came in and herded everyone back to where Billie sat for the present opening. They all trooped in. Billie asked Tessa to sit beside her, with Stevie on the other side.

Presents seemed to go on forever. There were several that were too large, so Tessa or Stevie got up to open them for Billie. Those were the crib, stroller, and car seat. There were endless clothes and blankets and stuffed animals. Plenty of books as well. But when Billie unwrapped the vintage Winnie the Pooh from Tessa, she gasped, and her eyes watered as she looked at her best friend.

“Tessa, it’s gorgeous,” she sighed. “I love it.”

“I got it days after you learned you were pregnant,” Tessa said. “I wrote you a note inside.”

Billie blinked, but opened the book, where Tessa had taped the personal note inside.

“You can read it out loud,” Tessa said, as Billie opened her mouth to no doubt ask that question. Her smile told Tessa that was correct.

“Billie,” Billie began. “I can’t believe the drunk girl I rescued from some rando at a party became my best mate. I find it even more amazing that all these years later, heading into our thirties, we are still best mates. I am beyond happy that you found Ethan, your forever partner, your soulmate. You two deserve the happiness you found in each other, and I know you will be the most incredible parents to your wee fella. Most people would call this your happily ever after. But I know better. You are only at the beginning of your biggest adventure. I hope to be at your side for the whole journey, until we’re little old ladies in rocking chairs, reading this very book to your grandchildren. I love you, Tessa.”

Billie choked on a sob as she read the last sentence, and she yanked Tessa into her arms through a chorus of awwww s from the other guests. Tessa’s own eyes misted over. She meant every word. No matter what happened with Jamie, Tessa would always have Billie, a soulmate of a different kind.

“Thank you,” Billie whispered. “I love you too.”

Tessa gave her a gentle squeeze. “You’re going to be amazing.”

Billie sniffled, and then Stevie was handing her the next present.

Once all were opened, Jamie and Tessa helped Stevie clean up. They made a game out of it. Stevie held open the bin bag, while Tessa balled up wrapping paper and tossed it to Jamie, who kicked it into the bin bag. The way she would chip a ball into the net at training.

“Rebecca will be pleased to know I’m still getting target practice in on my day off,” she joked.

“Gotta keep you match fit,” Tessa said.

Stevie chuckled. “Anything to help.”

She tied up the bin bag and carried it into the kitchen, where most of the guests had retreated to finish off the food and drinks. Jamie approached Tessa and took her hand. For the first time all day.

“That was a sweet gift,” Jamie said. “I got choked up watching you two.”

“Billie’s my best mate,” Tessa replied. “I’d do anything for her, and I am genuinely excited to be an auntie to her wains.”

“You’ve got such a big heart, Tessa. It’s one of the things I love most about you.”

Tessa opened her mouth to reply, but the sound of footsteps caused Jamie to yank her hand away. For nothing, it turned out, since it was only Billie.

“We’ve got loads of food. Do either of you want to take any home?” she asked.

Tessa swallowed the hurt once again and looked at Billie. “Sure. Thanks.”

“No problem. Jamie?”

“I’m alright, but thank you for offering,” Jamie said.

Billie disappeared back into the kitchen, and Tessa heaved a sigh. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take.