Her mom.
Being home was great. She spent time with her family, got to see some of her friends, and it was wonderful. But, she missed Jude. It was Christmas Eve night and Claire knew she should be happy, but she wasn’t. She hated that she wasn’t with him. Closing her eyes, she waited for him to answer as a tear rolled slowly down her cheek.
When he answered, she said, “I miss you.”
His chuckle sent chills down her spine. “I miss you, baby, two more days.”
“But you won’t be here for presents or pie or anything. I’m going to be lonely without you.”
“You will not. I bet Sawyer is driving you crazy.”
“He is, but I miss you,” she whined, wishing like hell that there was no distance between them. “I’m going to wake up and you won’t be here on my favorite holiday.”
“Wow, thanks for making me feel like an ass,” he complained and she felt bad instantly.
“I’m sorry.”
He laughed. “I know this sucks. It does, but I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
“No, I’m sorry, you’re right, I’m being a brat. I just hate being apart. As soon as my contract is up, I’m done, and I swear you are going to have to peel me off you.”
“I look forward to it. I love you, Claire. I do. So much.”
“I love you more than that,” she said with all the conviction in the world. Sometimes people picked at them saying they were so young and in love, but she loved it. She loved how intense they were about each other and couldn’t wait until the moment they would be joined together as one. It would be the most amazing occasion of her life with everyone there to share in their love. They may be young, but they knew this was it. This was forever.
They talked for a little longer about his parents, and then she yawned, dead on her feet. She had gone shopping with Reese and Sawyer for last-minute gifts.
Laughing he said, “Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow before the game.”
She smiled as she pushed back her tears. “I’ll be watching.”
“Good. Enjoy your gifts tomorrow.”
“I wish you were one of them. That would be so hot, you under the tree with a bow.”
He chuckled. “I was thinking the same thing, but you with bows on your naughty bits.”
She giggled as heat engulfed her. “Don’t turn me on if you can’t get me off.”
He scoffed. “Oh, baby, I can get you off with just my words, but I don’t want you coming, screaming in your uncle’s house. He already wants to kill me ninety-nine percent of the time.”
She giggled. “But hey, that one percent, he likes you.”
“I doubt that, but he’ll like me soon enough.”
“Sure,” she agreed and he laughed.
“Okay, I love you. Call you tomorrow.”
“Love you too.”
When she hung up, the sadness was there, but this was the life she’d chosen. Hockey players came and went on the holidays, so she’d better get used to it. Especially since she was about to marry one.
“Claire! Claire! Claire!”
Claire slowly opened one eye to see Sawyer on her chest, smacking her with his palms.
Stretching, since this wasn’t the first time her little guy had done this, she said, “What, honey?”
“Santa came!”
She smiled as she cuddled into him. She needed the comfort because when she was out of the bed, it would mean that she was spending Christmas without Jude. She really didn’t want to accept that, but Sawyer was wiggling and then was dragging her out of the bed.
“Come on, Claire-bear! Santa came!”
“I know, buddy, but I don’t want to,” she complained, kissing his hands.
“But you have to!” he protested, pulling her.
Knowing that he was going away and that Phillip and Reese were probably waiting on her, she got out of bed with a huff. “You owe me hot chocolate, kid.”
“With peppers!”
She smiled. “Yes, with peppermint.”
She took his hand and they made their way through to the kitchen where Reese was standing.
“Merry Christmas, honey.”