50 Shades Of Claire Bear (Andrew's POV)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

This Christmas will be the first that I'm insanely and hard-to-believe happy. I hope it always stays this way. I want every future Christmas with Claire by my side.

I love my family and want to see them at Christmas, but there is a possibility that someday Claire will be my new family. I want her to be a part of everything in my life.

When I hear Mom and my grandparents yell in the kitchen and introduce themselves, I know Claire is here. Her gift is neatly wrapped and sitting on my bed. Our gift exchange needs to happen in private.

I stomp down the stairs and see her. She's dressed in a red sweater with "Believe" written in cursive. Her skinny jeans hug her ass. "What are you ladies talking about, huh?"

"You," Claire says.

"I knew it."

Grandma gently touches my arm. "Andrew, your girl here is just the prettiest thing."

Duh.

I look at Claire. "I know." I grab a deviled egg in one hand and grab Claire's gift bag in the other. "Let's go downstairs, Claire bear."

"Nice meeting all of you," she says before she follows in my footsteps.

When I finish the deviled egg, I grab her hand. "They like to talk. It was best to just walk away."

We take a seat next to Dad, who's sitting in the chaise lounge, remote in hand. He's too into the Broncos game to notice us, so I pull Claire into my lap. "Merry Christmas, Claire bear."

She leans against my shoulder. "Merry Christmas, Andrew."

Addie and Mark walk in the room, hand-in-hand. She waved to Claire and sits next to us. "Are you comfortable?"

"We're saving room," I say for Claire. "You're welcome."

Even Addie gets into the game when she hears Dad yelling, "Go, go, go!"

I don't mean to, but I squeeze Claire's stomach. When the referee calls the touchdown good, I lift her in the air and holler with Dad.

Claire looks back at me. "You're acting very hyper today."

"There's a ton of food, the Broncos are winning, it's Christmas Eve and you're sitting on my lap. How much better can this day get?"

She snuggles against me and contently watches the game until halftime rolls around. That's when Mom comes downstairs, Austin at her heels, and sits next to Dad on the couch.

Addie mutes the TV and she and Mark stand in front of it. "We have a couple announcements to make."

I lean into Claire's ear and whisper, "I bet they fucked."

Addie holds up her hand, revealing a shiny, diamond ring on her left hand. "Mark and I are getting married!" A brief applause starts, but she holds her hand up, peeking at Mark. "And, we're having a baby!"

Mom and Dad are the first to congratulate them. Though I'm still unsure about Mark, she seems happy with him. Claire stands up to congratulate them and I follow.

Dad must have said something to Addie. I see a few tears in her eyes. "Congrats, Addie," I say as we embrace.

"I'm so sorry, Andrew. I hope you know I really am," she quietly says.

I pull away from here. "Yeah, I know."

Claire hugs Addie after I do. "Congrats on both the wedding and the baby, Addie! How far along are you?"