50 Shades Of Claire Bear (Andrew's POV)

Chapter 21

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Happy New Year 2022!

Only a few chapters left and you'll have all of Andrew's POV. :)

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Chapter 21

When I wake up the next morning, I half expect to be by myself on the couch, seeing as Claire is officially eight hours past her curfew.

Mom comes downstairs when the sun barely peeks through the window. "Hey, can you get me something to read? I don't want to wake her up. Oh and something to eat. Please."

I expect her to lecture me on Claire staying over and me not waking her up hours ago, but she nods her head and walks back upstairs. I angle my head to where Addie sat when I fell asleep. She's no longer there. She must have actually made it to bed once the movie ended.

Mom returns a few minutes later with a large vine of green grapes—my favorite color of grapes—and hands me Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. "Really?"

"If you want to avoid a lecture, start reading that book," she whispers.

Then it clicks: If I'm due for a lecture, what about Claire? Her parents will kill her. "Um, have you talked to her parents? I really don't want her to get in trouble—"

"She's not in trouble," insists Mom. "I spoke to them last night."

Relief showers over me. I would hate myself if I was the reason she got in trouble.

Mom goes back upstairs and I begin devouring the grapes and the second book. Thankfully, there isn't too much summarization of the previous book. Not as much as I thought there would be.

Claire wiggles a little bit as she wakes up. I loosen my grip on her so she can stretch her legs. She grabs a grape from my stomach and sits up. "You're starting the second one already?"

"I want to finish these as quickly as I can, Claire bear. Did you sleep well?"

She nods. "You're really warm."

"Really? 'Cause I'm cold as fuck." Only one part of me was warm all night long thanks to her cuddling.

She leans down to kiss my cheek, so I sit up, putting us face-to-face. "Andrew, I probably need to go home for at least a couple of minutes to let my mom know that I'm alive. Then you can hang out at my house for a while."

"Oh, my mom called yours last night and told her we fell asleep. Hopefully, you won't be in too much trouble. I'm going to feel really bad if you are."

She leans her head against my chest. "Your mom really saves my ass all the time. I would be in so much trouble if it weren't for her."

That may be true.

I toss the book on the ground and set the grapes aside. I'm hungry for something else now. I kiss her jawline and wrap my arms around her stomach.

"Mmm," she says, closing her eyes.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," Addie says from the stairs.
Claire and I pull away. I shoot her a look that says Yes, Addie, you are always interrupting.

"My boyfriend, Mark, called a couple of minutes ago and wanted to know if you guys want to see the horses on his ranch with me. Do you want to?"

Claire excitedly sits further up. I take that as a yes. "I'd love to if that's okay with Andrew."

I stretch my arms in the air. "I guess that's fine. How cold is it out there?"

"A little warmer than yesterday," she answers. Thanks for the vagueness. "Claire, I have some extra clothes here you can wear so you can get the proper attire."