The Temporary Roomie by Sarah Adams
ONE WEEK LATER
“Jessie, are you sure about this? Say the word and I’ll cancel,” I tell her as I throw my bag in the back of Cooper’s truck.
She watches me with a calculated grin, looking fine in her short shorts and tank top hugging every gorgeous curve. I don’t want to leave her, especially not to go to a stupid bachelor party. Who cares if he asked me to be a groomsman in the wedding? I shouldn’t have to go to the party, right?
“Yeah right! I’m not letting you become that guy who bails out on everything now that you’re in a relationship. And I’m definitely not letting you use me as an excuse to avoid camping.”
I grin, agreeing that I mostly want to stay because I’ve become annoying and clingy and need to spend every free minute I have with my hands on Jessie, but a smaller part of me also wants to cancel because I’m not a camper. Neither is Cooper—we’re not exactly the most guy-guys out there and have been dreading this trip for weeks. I mean, we both like to hike, wakeboard, and do other things that will make me sound manly and rugged if it’s absolutely necessary to bring up, but given the choice between sleeping on my memory foam bed by my hot girlfriend or on the ground next to a bunch of dudes, I’m picking the bed.
Jessie steps closer with a soft smile and plants her hands on my chest. “It’s only one night.”
“What if you go into labor? I’ll be four hours away—not exactly a quick hop back.” I already know that technically the odds are slim that she will go into labor in the next 24 hours while I’m away. Jessie visited her OB yesterday and confirmed she wasn’t dilating. She’s still a week out from her due date, but I can’t help worrying a little.
“Okay, well we both know I won’t go into labor, but even if I do, four hours will be plenty of time for you to get back to me. Lucy’s labor was what, like, eighteen hours?”
Lucy yells from somewhere behind me. “Twenty!”
“See! Twenty. You’ll even have time to stop and pick me up a sub on your way back.”
“You can’t eat once you’re in labor.”
“WHAT!” Jessie’s eyes bug out of her head. “Are you kidding me?!”
I chuckle and shake my head. “No. How did you not know this?”
“Better question, how am I supposed to not die while sweating and laboring all those hours without eating a sub!”
Lucy scrunches her nose. “I think you might be underestimating the labor process a bit.”
“What does that even mean?” Jessie looks adorably concerned. I’ve been trying to rein in all of my baby-delivery knowledge the past few weeks because I know I can hit level ten on the person who has too much knowledge and doesn’t know what to do with all of it scale, but now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t have held back so much.
Cooper comes out of the house with two travel mugs full of coffee. Because he’s practically my husband, I bet he has even added the perfect amount of my favorite creamer.
“It means eating is going to be the furthest thing from your mind.”
Jessie’s face looks panic-stricken. “So is it too late to cancel?”
“The camping trip? No.” I’m already pulling my phone out of my pocket. “I can just—”
She stills me with a firm hand on my arm, wide crazy-eyes staring up at me. “No! The birth! I changed my mind. I don’t want to do it anymore. Or maybe you can just whip me up a C-section real quick? Ooo, yeah, that’s a fun idea! You can do it for me. It’ll be a good bonding experience.”
I smile and pull Jessie into my chest. “You’re going to do great, Oscar. And I’ll be there the whole time, but preferably not with a scalpel in my hand.” I whisper over Jessie’s head, asking my sister to take Jessie for a sub sandwich tonight. “Just…if you start having any pains at all, call me. I’ll come straight home.”
“Okay, I will.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Cooper and Lucy say goodbye on one side of the truck and Jessie and I do so on the other. I’m sure we look like teenagers after school, leaned up against the truck making out with our girlfriends. The neighbors hate us, no doubt. Somewhere a twelve-year-old boy is pressed against the glass and his mom is about to yank him away by the ear.
Once we are on the road, I fidget with anything and everything. The radio. My coffee lid, unscrewing and screwing it back on again. Cooper didn’t like it when the lid came off, giving me a death glare that warned I better not spill a single drop on his seats.
When I check my phone for the fifth time, he asks, “You okay?”
I look out the window, feeling like I’m leaving my world behind. When did this happen? How did I become this guy so quickly? The one who’s so in love he wants to ditch the rest of his life in favor of spending time with his woman? “Yeah. I think. I don’t know. I’m a little worried to be leaving Jessie this close to her due date.”
“Say the word and I’ll turn around.”
I smirk over at Cooper. “You’re supposed to be telling me there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Yeah, but I’m dreading this stupid camping party, so I’m totally in favor of leaning into your fears.”
I shake my head as I check my phone for the sixth time. Stupid. She won’t need me this soon after leaving. I need to chill.
“Seriously though, she’s going to be fine. She’s staying with Lucy and Levi, and you know Lucy will be obsessive in her care of Jessie.”
True. That does make me feel better. I let out a deep breath and turn on the radio. It’ll be fine. I’ll be back tomorrow night, ready to be by her side as soon as Jessie goes into labor.
