"Braelin, it is time to wake up, love," Logan says on Christmas morning, and I wiggle further down into the bed, covers, and my pillow with a grumble.
"Okay," I yawn into the pillow before lifting my head slightly to look at him with a tired smile. "Morning, daddy."
"Morning, baby," he grins, running his fingers through my hair with gentle fingers, and I sigh, turning my face toward his palm, and kiss his palm with a larger, tired smile.
"I hope you are hungry because mom and I made a lot of food for breakfast," he says with a soft chuckle. "Grandma and grandpa Noble will be here in a few for breakfast with us. The other four grandparents, and uncle will be here this afternoon for Christmas and dinner with us."
"Nana will be here soon?" I eagerly ask with wide eyes while sitting up to give daddy a tight hug.
"Yup, she will be here in a few," he assures with a soft kiss to my forehead. "Use the bathroom, then come down to the kitchen when you are done."
"Okay. Can I have a kiss first, please?" I sweetly request with a shy smile as he stand to his feet.
Logan turns to face me, bending at the waist to give me a tender kiss after cupping my face in his warm hands. As he leaves the room, I make my way into the bathroom, do my business, and then leave the bedroom for the kitchen where everyone else is, including a hyper Shelbie.
"Come grab a plate, and get your fill of food, Braelin," nana requests with a warm smile, and pats the empty seat next to her. "Then come sit next to me."
Now, please do not get me wrong, I love Logan very much, but I enjoy nana's company, and I am excited to spend some time with nana, the others, too.
Placing a pancake, two pieces of bacon, and a small scoop of hash browns onto the plate before pouring myself a small glass of orange juice before sitting down next to nana with a bright smile toward her.
"How have you been, Braelin? How is school? Is Logan behaving himself?" nana quickly asks as I settle into the chair.
Biting my lower lip harshly for a second before answering her questions; "I have been good. School is stressing me out, and I am glad for the break. Logan is behaving himself, and is a sweetheart as always."
"That's good, other than you being stressed over school," she says with a small smile. "Why are you stressed over school?"
"Exams," I mumble, stabbing a piece of pancake after cutting it with my fork.
"Brae thinks he did horribly on his exams, but I know he did fine like normal," Logan explains with a fond smile toward us as he sits down on my free side.
Pouting at Logan while chewing another bite of pancake before swallowing my mouthful to grumble; "I know I did horribly. I feel it in my belly."
"When will grades be posted on the school website?" Mr. Noble asks from the head of the table.
"On Saturday," Logan answers his dad. "We are going to check when the grades are posted at 9 a.m."
"That really is not a long time to wait, considering it is a holiday," grandpa Noble remarks, and everyone but Shelbie and I agree with his comment.
"I know how to keep your mind off this until Saturday morning," Logan whispers into my ear that is closest to him.
Inhaling at his under-handed comment, and cough violently at the food that has gone down wrong. Logan instantly thumps me on the back as I shakily cover my mouth with my left hand. Everyone watches me worriedly as my skin flushes from coughing and embarrassment.
When I can speak, I rasp out; "I am fine. I just swallowed wrong."
They seem to believe me because they go back to the conversations they were having as I glare at Logan, and he just smirks at me without comment. He knows he caused my choking, and he seems proud how his words got the reaction from me that he was looking for.
After breakfast, and everything is cleared away, and cleaned, we head into the living room to watch Christmas movies until the others arrive. Halfway through the first movie, Logan's phone vibrates with an incoming call, and he hands me the phone with a smile.
Glancing at the screen to find that mama is calling, and I eagerly excuse myself as I answer her call; "Hi mama! Merry Christmas to you and uncle!"
"Merry Christmas, baby!" she happily greets back as I leave the living room for the kitchen, and lean my backside against the counter by the fridge. She was not sure when she was gonna have her breaks today while working a double shift today at work, so she can have a day off while Logan and I are there.
"How is work? How many hours do you have left?" I ask, worried that she is overworking herself.
"Work is going good, and I have seven hours left," she answers, and I can hear the tiredness in her voice.
"I am sorry, mama," I murmur in sadness. "You do not have to do this to spend an entire day with us."
"I do though, Brae," she argues. "I want one whole day with my baby, and his boyfriend. I won't get to see you again until you are home for the summer."
"Okay, mama," I murmur, now more than ever I am determined to get a great job after high school and trade school to take care of her, so she does not have to work this hard ever again. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Braelin," she replies, and we talk for another five minutes until her break is over.
Returning to the living room when we end our call, hand Logan his phone, and snuggle into him after sitting on his lap sideways.
