When she walked into Jack’s house, she was unsurprised to find Kenzie and Aiden in the kitchen cooking dinner. The boys took turns making meals, and whenever it was Aiden’s turn, Kenzie had a habit of helping out.
Probably because of that one time Aiden nearly burned the house down while trying to make chicken marsala.
“Hey, sis!” she yelled at Kenzie as she rushed up the stairs. Kenzie’s response was lost as Jessica unceremoniously pushed her way into Jack’s bedroom, dropped her bag on the floor, and threw herself at him.
Jack caught her easily, chuckling as he settled them comfortably on the bed. “Hello to you, too,” he said, and she offered her mouth to him.
“I missed you,” she said against his lips.
“You just saw me yesterday.”
“Yes, well, even two minutes is too long to be parted, let alone fifteen hours.”
“So needy,” he said, digging his fingers into her sides. She squirmed and squealed on his lap, gasping for air as she begged him to stop.
Thankfully, Jessica’s phone rang, and Jack was forced to let her go so she could answer. Both the Daniels and Jean families were on high alert these days thanks to Berkley’s advanced pregnancy.
Jessica’s heart crawled into her throat when she saw her mom’s name on the screen.
“Hello?”
“Hi, honey,” her mom said. “Just calling to let you know your sister is in labor!”
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!” Jessica squealed. “I’m at Jack’s right now, but Kenzie is here, too. We’re on our way.”
“Drive safe!” her mom yelled before Jessica could hang up the phone.
“What’s going on?” Jack asked.
“My sister is in labor. Kenzie and I need to leave, like, right now.”
Jessica bent to pick up her bag, thankful she hadn’t even gotten settled, and turned to rush downstairs.
But Jack stopped her with a hand on her elbow. “I’m coming with you,” he said when she looked up at him.
“Are you sure? Don’t you have practice tomorrow?”
Jessica asked because she honestly didn’t know. Maybe that made her a bad girlfriend, not paying closer attention to his practice schedule, but practices weren’t important. She knew exactly when his next game was. In fact, she hadn’t missed a home one since they’d gotten together, and planned to go to South Dakota next weekend, where the Spartans were playing their quarterfinal games.
“We have late practice again,” Jack said. “And it’s just a weight lifting session. I’m coming with you.”
“Okay,” she said, smiling. “Pack a bag. We can stay at Brent and Berk’s tonight.”
“Are you sure they’ll be okay with that?”
“Considering they won’t even be there? Yes, I’m sure. Worse comes to worst, we can stay with Kenzie’s parents. They live like three miles away from B and B, and Sandra and Ron’s house is actually closer to the hospital.”
Before Jack could respond, Kenzie shouted Jessica’s name up the stairs.
“Her mom or brother must’ve called her,” Jessica said. “Hurry up!”
Jack did as he was told, quickly shoving anything he’d need overnight—mainly an extra pair of socks, underwear, sweatpants, and his phone charger—into his backpack.
When he was finally ready to go, Jessica made their way downstairs, finding both Kenzie and Aiden waiting.
“Fuller’s coming, too?” Jack asked, reaching out to fist-bump his buddy.
“You think I’m letting bunny go alone?” Aiden said, and Jessica laughed.
