53. Tessa

53

TESSA

T he 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 go now ."

"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, we really should 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?"

"Water broke, we've been arguing for almost an hour, and now we really need to go," Devin explains, sounding exasperated. "Tessa's been stalling."

Alec looks over at me, half-smiling. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," I say brightly, though I'm starting to feel the contractions stronger now. "But yes, we can go now."

Jace gives an exasperated laugh. "Oh, now you're ready."

I grin as they hurry to grab the last few things. Finally, we bundle everything into the car and get me settled inside. Alec sits in the back with me, holding my hand while Jace and Devin load up the rest of the bags and climb into the front.

As we drive off toward the hospital, I glance around at the boys, feeling calm despite everything. I know this is it. The babies are coming, and we can handle it.

It's hours later, and I'm exhausted, but I can't stop smiling as I look down at the tiny babies in my arms. The room is quiet and peaceful. Alec, Devin, and Jace are all gathered around me, marveling at the little fingers and toes and cute little noses of our new babies. It's surreal, seeing them like this—so small, so perfect.

"They're really here," I whisper, still trying to process it.

Devin grins at me, his eyes bright as he looks at the little girl in his arms. "Yeah, they are."

Jace is next to him, gently cradling the baby boy. "They're beautiful, Tess."

Alec leans over to kiss my forehead, his own eyes misty as he looks at our babies. "You did amazing."

I laugh, feeling a bit overwhelmed, in the best way. "We did this together."

There's a long moment of silence, everyone just taking in the moment, before Devin looks up with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So…what are we naming them?"

Everyone freezes. The room falls completely silent.

Jace looks up first, blinking. "We forgot to pick names, didn't we?"

I stifle a giggle, feeling a wave of exhaustion mix with amusement. "We really did."

Devin laughs, shaking his head in disbelief. "Well, we better come up with something before they grow up being called Hey You, You There, and The Other One."

I giggle, then look down at the baby girl in my arms and smile softly. "How about…Rosie?"

Devin grins, looking over at the other girl. "I like that. Then maybe this one could be Mia."

Jace nods, bouncing the little boy lightly in his arms. "And this guy…I think he's a Jamie."

Alec smiles, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Rosie, Mia, and Jamie. I like it."

"Perfect," I say softly, my heart full as I gaze at our little family.

The room settles into a warm, quiet contentment, the weight of everything we've been through easing now that the babies are here and safe. As I look around at the boys, at the three little lives we've brought into the world, I feel a deep sense of peace. This is the beginning of something incredible.

A couple of days pass, and the house is finally starting to feel like home again. The babies are settling in, and the boys and I are adjusting to our new normal—exhausted, but happy.

I'm in the living room, cradling Jamie while Rosie and Mia sleep in their bassinets when the doorbell rings. My heart skips, and a sense of unease creeps in. I glance toward the door, instinctively pulling Jamie closer.

Jace comes out of the kitchen, exchanging a look with Devin before opening the door. Alec is currently on his baby break, napping in the bedroom.

Ryan stands on the porch, looking uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot, holding something large in his hands—a beautifully crafted crib mobile with hand-painted figures of animals.

I feel my throat tighten as I take in the sight of him. I haven't seen Ryan since everything went down with Max, and the memories flood back. Devin steps forward, blocking the doorway slightly, his tone firm but calm. "If you're here to upset Tessa or the babies, you can leave right now."

Ryan shakes his head quickly, looking earnest. "No, I'm not here to cause any trouble. I just…I needed to apologize."

Jace narrows his eyes but steps aside, motioning for Ryan to come in. Ryan walks into the living room, looking a little unsure of himself, but he sets the mobile down on the coffee table, glancing at me with genuine remorse.

"Tessa, I'm so sorry," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "For everything. For being part of Max's mess, for not stopping it sooner. I should have done better."

I stay silent, letting him talk. The anger that I felt toward Ryan has dulled over time, especially now that Max is gone, but it still lingers, the hurt of it all.

Ryan takes a deep breath, continuing. "I just wanted to tell you that Max is back in prison. He probably won't be going anywhere for a long time. And Julian dropped out of school. Enlisted in the military to get away from the legal mess he was in."

I smile wryly, knowing that the military is a fate worse than jail for someone like Julian.

"And I've got enough community service hours to keep me busy until graduation." He forces a smile. "I deserved it. I know that."

I bite my lip, glancing down at Jamie, then back at Ryan. before nodding. "I'm glad you're taking responsibility for what happened. It's…it's not easy for me to forget, but I can forgive you."

Ryan visibly relaxes at my words, a small wave of relief passing over his face.

I shift Jamie so he's upright, patting his back gently to burp him. "I'm sorry too. I did steal the story from you, you were right about that. Max and I had a history, he was my ex so I felt like I needed to be the one to do this, but it wasn't right for me to take it from you either."

"I get it," Ryan says. "You did a great job on it though, for the record."

"Thanks, kid. And hey, maybe you should consider making this whole mess into a podcast series," I joke. Ryan's eyes widen.

"Are you serious?"

I think for a moment, then shrug. "Why not? I'll even help you produce it. Just promise to stay out of trouble, okay?"

"Deal," Ryan says, eyes crinkling as he smiles.