by Sarah Adams
“Shhhhh, it’s okay,” Lucy says, rubbing her hand in circles on my back. “Even if he doesn’t make it in time, everything is going to be okay. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
I squeeze her hand to silently thank her.
Jessie tries to distract me with every means possible: celebrity gossip, back rubs, stories I care absolutely nothing about from her stupid childhood (I’m just a little grumpy), and even a song and dance that is so ridiculous the nurse actually asks her to stop. Nothing works. All I can think of is my pain and my sadness that Drew is not here for this. I don’t even know why I want him here so badly. It’s not like he had anything to do with creating this baby. But somewhere over the past few months, Drew has completely stolen my heart and poured his love into me in such a way that I feel like this is his child too. Somehow I just know we are going to be together for the long haul, so I want him here for the birth.
The hours pass in agony and I don’t think Drew is going to make it. Around five in the morning, after about twelve hours of natural labor, my phone rings and Lucy answers. “He—”
“HOW DILATED IS SHE?!” Drew yells, so loud Lucy squeals and drops the phone.
“Pick it up!!!” I scream.
Through the speaker, I hear Drew also yelling, “LUCY! ANSWER ME DAMMIT!”
“OKAY! EVERYONE JUST SHUSH!” Lucy yells back. She tugs on the end of her shirt like she’s regaining her bearings and raises the phone, putting it on speaker.
“Where the hell are you, Drew?” I say, tears running down my cheeks.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I’m on my way! Our phones lost service, and one of the guys severely burned himself trying to start a campfire while he was drunk, so I had to drive him to the nearest hospital, which was seriously in the middle of nowhere and—never mind, I’ll tell you the full story later. All you need to know is I just walked out of the hospital and my phone buzzed with 42 voicemails and 80 texts, and I ran to the truck. Cooper is staying there with our friend and will drive him back in his car tomorrow.”
Of course. Of course this would happen! But even hearing his voice settles me a little. “How far away are you?”
There’s a small pause, and I imagine him grimacing. “Four hours. Less if I speed.”
I shut my eyes and let out a heavy breath. “You’re not going to make it, Drew. I’m eight centimeters dilated.”
“Don’t give up hope yet! I had a patient last week spend three hours going from 9 to 10 centimeters and then push for another hour! It could happen.”
“Are you hoping for that?!” I screech.
His low chuckle soothes me even through the phone. “No. I just…I love you, Jess. I want to be there. I’m so sorry I haven’t been there with you this whole time.”
I wipe my eyes, annoyed that the motion tugs the IV line tight. Lucy reaches out and holds my hand tenderly, and I decide it’s time to focus on the good. I have my best friend holding my hand and the man I love on the phone with me. I can do this.
“I love you too, Drew.”
Drew stays on the line with me the whole rest of my labor. Yes, as he predicted, it takes forever, but he still doesn’t make it in time for me to start pushing. Lucy stays with me and supports me the entire time, though, and Drew coaches me through the phone (much to my actual OB’s dismay). My poor doctor has to endure endless questions and obtrusive suggestions from Drew, telling her not to rush me, to not let me bear down too hard, and a whole slew of other comments. She flipped off my phone when she thought I wasn’t looking, but I totally saw it, and it made my whole year. Drew is a bossy a-hole sometimes, and I absolutely love him for it. Especially when he’s protecting me.
Finally, after nearly an hour of pushing (You willed this into existence, Drew, and I hate you for it), he tells me he’s in the parking garage and to hang on. But I can’t. I can’t hang on, and I give one final excruciating push and then the feeling of sweet relief washes over me, quickly followed by the faint cries of my baby.
“Jessie, baby, you did it!” Drew says, sounding emotional on the other end of the line, and also like he might be running. He’s out of breath and I think I heard him yell Move it at someone.
I’m smiling in pure disbelief that I did it. It’s over, and I have a child. I crane my neck to see where my doctor is cradling my baby. “Congratulations, Jessie. You have a baby—”
“WAIT!” I yell before she gets the word out. “Don’t say it out loud. I want to be the one to tell Drew.”
Not even two minutes later, the door to the delivery room flies open and Drew stands in workout shorts and a hoodie, hair sticking up all over the place like his hand has been gripping it for hours, eyes red and bloodshot. He’s sweating, confirming my suspicion that he ran all the way from the parking garage. His eyes immediately fall to me, and he sighs with audible relief. He doesn’t move for a few seconds, just stares, like he’s making every effort to memorize this moment, etching it into his mind for the rest of his life.
Finally, his eyes drop to the baby lying face down on my chest, and I smile. “It’s a girl,” I whisper through a new round of fresh tears. He sputters an emotion-filled laugh as a tear leaks out of the corner of his eye too.
He swats it away and finally steps in the room, going over to squeeze Lucy’s shoulder and thank her for being here for me, and then he comes to my bedside and leans over. I should probably care about him seeing whatever it is the doctor is still doing down south, but I don’t. I don’t care about anything anymore other than this baby in my arms and this man leaning in close to kiss my lips.
“You did it. You’re incredible,” he whispers reverently with a smile that soaks my heart in joy.
I watch closely, hardly believing I have him here to experience this with me. Two months ago, I thought I’d be alone in this moment. But instead, I have a man I love and a best friend at my side.
His eyes drop to my baby girl squirming against my chest, and he rubs his hand over her sweet little back. “Well? Who do we have here?” he asks, and the final pieces of my heart left intact burst like confetti at the word we.
“Jane Alexandria Barnes,” I say, tossing a brief smile and wink to Lucy, who inadvertently helped me name my baby girl.
Drew’s smile widens and his eyes pool with tears again. He bites his bottom lip and runs his knuckles ever so delicately against her little spine. “Well then,” he says, sniffling adorably. “Welcome to the world, Jane. I already love you, sweet girl.”
The rest of our stay in the hospital is a blur of sleepless nights, snuggles, visits from family and friends, and lots and lots of doting from Drew. He never leaves my side, taking the whole week off to stay with me and Jane. One of my favorite sights in all the world is waking up from a nap to the sight of Drew shirtless and rocking my baby girl against his tattooed shoulder while the sun spills over them through the window. He sings to her constantly—usually made-up songs about how precious she is or how hot her mama is—and there’s a certainty in his love for us, a finality I don’t have to question. Because somehow, it’s as if Drew and I were always meant to be. When Drew loves, he loves fiercely. He’s not going anywhere, and if there is one thing I’m certain of, it’s that Drew Marshall would move heaven and earth for me and my daughter, and I would do the same for him.
But I will never tell him where I hid the Frosty mug.
It’s been eight weeks since Jessie brought Jane into the world, eight weeks since my universe turned on its end in the best way imaginable. Don’t get me wrong, I’m exhausted. It’s nothing compared to how exhausted Jessie is since she’s the one having to wake up what feels like every hour to feed Jane, but we’re happy, that deliriously tired happy that comes with building a new family. And a family we definitely are. Jessie and I might not have had a conventional start or middle, but in the end, we are a family.
After we left the hospital, Jessie officially moved in with me, and now it’s not my house, it’s our house. I’m sure some people think we are insane, bu
t we can’t get up the nerve to care. Possibly because we’re too tired? What does it matter what other people think when we are so happy together?
Jessie’s house hasn’t gone to waste, though. After meeting his new great-granddaughter, Jessie’s grandaddy decided it was time to part with his old home. He packed everything up, sold his house in record time, and bought Jessie’s from her. It’s all come together seamlessly, and I can’t help but think it’s because it was always meant to be. He didn’t sell the plaid couch, though—that fantastic piece of furniture is sitting smack dab in the middle of Jessie’s trendy living room.
Shortly after giving birth, Jessie texted her ex and told her he had a baby girl. He texted back asking for a picture and a name, and although she wanted to just text him a picture of her middle finger, she did send one of Jane. He actually came to visit once a few weeks ago. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking, and sadly, I don’t foresee him being in Jane’s life much, but Jessie did open the door in case he wants to be around in the future.
It’s okay, because Jane already has a man in her life who loves her and will spoil her rotten for the rest of her days. Which brings me to now.
Currently, Jessie is asleep, rolled over to face Jane, who is asleep in the bassinet beside the bed. The sun is up and warm, spilling through the window and casting a bronze glow over Jessie’s mostly bare shoulder, only covered by the thin strap of her nursing tank top. I was going to wait for her to wake up naturally, but I can’t wait any longer.
“Jessie,” I say, running the back of my knuckle gently down her arm. “Jess, wake up.” I kiss her neck softly.
She makes the sweetest hmm noise as she stirs and rolls over to face me, eyes still closed, a soft smile on her full pink lips. I trace my finger across her Cupid’s bow, making her smile widen.
“Wake up,” I say gently. “I have something to ask you.”
She takes in a deep breath and finally her eyes crack open. They blink a few times before they land on the open ring box lying between us on the mattress. I smile as I watch her eyes immediately shut tight and then fly back open like she’s making sure what she’s seeing is real. Suddenly, she shoots up in bed, clutching the sheets to her chest and whipping her head around to stare at me expectantly.
“Is that what I think it is?!”
I grin and sit up, set the ring box in her lap, and then lean in close to kiss her shoulder before looking in her glittering green eyes. “Jessie, it’s no secret that I love you with everything I am. I never saw you coming, but you and Jane are the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I never, ever want to let you go. We did everything backwards and out of order, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.” I raise her hand and kiss her knuckles. “Marry me, Jess. Live with me and let me love you for the rest of our lives.”
Her hand has been covering her mouth for half of this speech, and the moment I finish talking, she starts nodding emphatically.
“Yes?” I ask with a hopeful smile.
More nods, and then her hand drops away and I can see her beautiful smile. “Yes! Of course yes!” Jessie tackles me back onto the bed and starts lavishing ridiculous kisses all over my face, each one punctuated by the word yes over and over.
I laugh and wrap my arms around her, flipping over so I’m pinning her in. I reach back for the box and remove the ring. I look down at Jessie, blonde hair fanning out around her face, soft smile on her lips, camisole askew and showing off her smooth gorgeous skin, and I memorize every detail before I slip the ring on her finger.
I lean down and slowly kiss her lips, leisurely lavishing her with affection and trying to savor her.
Later, standing in the kitchen, Jessie looks down at her ring, and I see a mischievous smile settle in the corner of her mouth. She lets out a strangled laugh.
“What is it?” I ask, frowning at the sight of her laughing at the diamond ring I spent hours deciding on.
Her shoulders are shaking. “I was just thinking about the ring you gave me for the first proposal!” She pauses to fully laugh now. “Your colleagues are all going to think I made you buy me a better ring!”
When Jessie and I started dating, we decided I wouldn’t correct her prank or tell my colleagues the truth. After my grand gesture proposal at the gala, word of my engagement spread fast around the hospital, and thankfully, no one has come on to me anymore at work. Neither Jessie or I minded the title either. It feels good that it’s official between us now too.
My smile falls, and I narrow my eyes dangerously on her. “I forgot about that tiny damn ring. You know, I don’t think I ever properly paid you back for that little prank.” I set my coffee cup down gently on the counter, and Jessie stops laughing.
She starts backing out of the kitchen, and I slowly turn my eyes up to her and smirk.
“Oh no,” she whispers before whipping around and hightailing it out of the kitchen.
It’s no use, though. I’m faster than her and overtake her easily in the hallway. I grab her around the waist and haul her up to me. She laughs and kicks and quietly squeals, all while I carry her to the couch and deposit her on the cushions so I can tickle her relentlessly until our tickle war turns into something entirely different.
I am, without a doubt, the luckiest man alive.
THE END
Dear Reader
Thank you for picking up the Temporary Roomie! I hope you loved it as much as I loved writing it! If you want to stay in the know about my upcoming releases and special behind-the-scenes snippets, sign up for my newsletter, or follow me on Instagram! Also, if you loved The Temporary Roomie, please consider leaving a review! Hugs!
Also by Sarah Adams
It Happened in Charleston Series:
The Match: A Romantic Comedy (book 1)
The Enemy: A romantic Comedy (book 2)
It Happened in Nashville Series:
The Off Limits Rule (book 1)
The Temporary Roomie (book 2)
Historical Romances:
To Con A Gentleman
To Catch A Suitor
Seeing Mary: A Short Story
About the Author
Born and raised in Nashville TN, Sarah Adams loves her family, warm days, and making people smile.
Sarah has dreamed of being a writer since she was a girl, but finally wrote her first novel when her daughters were napping and she no longer had any excuses to put it off.
Sarah is a coffee addict, mom of two daughters, married to her best friend, and an indecisive introvert. Her hope is to always write stories that make you laugh, maybe even cry; but always leave you happier than when you started reading.
