I nod and hate that. I have an away game Saturday, and the dance team doesn’t travel with the team. She was going to drive up to Cincinnati for the game, but she has to work this weekend, so that idea was thrown out the window. As much as it sucks since I won’t see her till Sunday afternoon, I understand. We both have busy lives, but unlike other people, we work to make sure we have time together. We aren’t giving up. We love each other way too much for that.
Moving my fingers slowly against her jaw, I nod. “I know, baby, but you’re tired. Go to sleep. I’ll be here in the morning.”
Her eyes drift closed as she leans against me, nuzzling her nose against my jaw.
“You know what the greatest thing about being with you is?” she whispers against my jaw.
“What?” I whisper back, reaching up to shut the lamp off.
Opening her eyes, she looks up at me. I can see her eyes in the light from the TV, and I swear, the only thing I see is love. “That I get to be your other half.”
Running my nose against her, I say, “I agree; that is the best part.”
“I love you,” she says, her eyes closing again.
“I love you too. Now go to sleep,” I whisper and soon her breathing becomes even, telling me that she’s asleep. As I hold her, I watch as she sleeps, her little lips puckered and her long eyelashes kissing the tops of her cheeks. She’s so beautiful, and every time I think that she is all mine, I almost can’t believe it. How did a cocky asshole like me land the greatest girl in the world?
With a grin pulling at my lips, I reach for my phone off my desk and open my gallery to look at my pictures. Mostly there are pictures of Claire and me, kissing, snuggling and being us. I love these pictures and usually go through them a lot, but as she lies in my arms, there is only one thing I want to look at. Opening the video of her dancing from earlier today, I watch as she moves to the music, her eyes captivating me even from the little screen of my iPhone. After watching it twice, I close it and kiss her temple. She stirs only a little before snuggling deeper into my arms, her sexy, naked body pressed to mine. If she wasn’t as tired as she is, I would have my way with her, but I know to let her be.
Since I’m not tired, I open my Facebook app and play around on there to kill time. When Claire suddenly rolls out of my arms and onto her side, I stare at the back of her head and the love for this girl seriously takes over my body. Like I said at the tattoo parlor, I really don’t think I’ll ever experience this kind of love again. She is it. She is mine, and I want to get on my knees and thank the Lord above for her. He gave me this gift, this treasure, and I don’t think I can do anything else but protect her and love her.
I’m about to close my app and cuddle against her when Facebook’s question catches my eyes.
What’s on your mind?
Letting out a breath, I look back at Claire and then back at my screen.
And it doesn’t take long to tell Facebook what I’m thinking about.
And it isn’t a surprise, either.
It’s the one person I never stop thinking about.
Claire.
Chapter 41
Claire.
This is my beautiful girlfriend, Claire Anderson. Isn’t she amazing? I’ve never seen something so beautiful or breathtaking than when my girlfriend dances. I’m not saying that she isn’t beautiful and breathtaking when she’s just standing in front of me, because hell yeah she is, but when she dances, I honestly can’t move or form a sentence or thought. Before meeting Claire, I thought I had my life figured out, but man was I wrong. So damn wrong. I don’t think anyone will ever understand the love I have for this beautiful girl and frankly, I don’t give a shit. I love her. She has my heart and I am proud to be her boyfriend. I know I have hurt people and I am sorry for that. I never realized how much of a dick I was before until the most amazing person I’ve ever met loved me. I would never want to make her feel the way I made other girls feel and again, I am really sorry for that. Claire has completely changed me and made me the man I want to be. Everything I do is thoroughly thought out because I don’t want to ever embarrass her or make her unhappy. I just want to be the man she deserves and that’s my new plan. #MyGirlfriendIsBetterThanYours #LifeIsCompleteWithHer #WifeyMaterial
As I stand in the middle of my dorm, I still can’t believe Jude’s post. He must have done it when I was sleeping, and I’m just now reading it after my second class of the day. My phone was dead when I woke up this morning, and when I finally charged it, I saw that I was tagged in a status by him. I never expected to find a video of me dancing to our song and then a beautiful status like this. When I see the wifey hashtag, my eyes start to fill with tears. He has changed so much. He’s still cocky and a little full of himself, but for the most part, he’s the most amazing, sweetest man I’ve ever met. He cares for peopl
e, would give the shirt off his back to a stranger, and most of all, he loves me something crazy.
Crazy.
Ha, that is the perfect word to describe this whirlwind of a love we have. It has been crazy and intense since the moment we met. I still remember everything about the moment when his eyes met mine while I was tearing down the dumbass flyers that Ellen was stapling to trees. The way his mouth pulled to the side, how he looked at me like I was it. Was it love at first sight? Maybe, hell, I don’t know. All I know is that I’m completely in love with this guy. It’s been fast, it’s been crazy, but it’s our love story, and it’s the greatest in the history of love, in my opinion.
After clicking LIKE, I hit the comment link, and write:
Claire Anderson: Life is nothing without you, Jude. I love you. More than words. The greatest thing in the world is that we are growing together and together we can do anything. Love you. #MyBoyfriendIsAmazing #MakesMeCryHappyTears #HubbyMaterialForSure
“What the hell is the matter?”
Looking over, I see that Skylar has entered the room. I didn’t even hear her come in; I was too consumed with Jude’s post.
“Jude,” I breathe. “He tagged me in the most unbelievable status.”