War (Book 3 in Destined Series)

14

I wake up the next morning and look over at Luke. He finally came back into the bed at like three.

I slowly and carefully climb off the bed but stop when he starts to talk. He mumbles incoherent words and I gently shake him. He instantly wakes up and I press my hand to his chest.

"Hey, it's ok." I say and he meets my eyes.

We're back in the same position we were the other night when I woke up.

"Christina." he breathes and I nod.

"It's me, you're here." I say and he presses his palm to my cheek.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

My response though... He leans forward and presses his lips to mine. I'm in shock for a moment and don't kiss him back. When I feel I'm about to though, he pulls back. Our eyes open and meet. He stays silent then shifts his gaze from mine and I catch his cheek.

"Luke?" I question and he looks back at me.

"I'm sorry, I don't know why I did that." he says and I shake my head.

"It's ok." I say putting my forehead against his. He breathes against my lips, and it's like a feather is gently whipping over them, with each breath. He gently holds the back of my neck and he unhappily lets go as I pull back some.

"I'll see you downstairs." I say then gently get off the bed and leave the room.

I shut the door behind me and put my back to the door.

"Christina!" someone calls and I push away from the door.

"Uh coming!" I shout then run down the stairs.

I run into the family room and freeze.

"Seriously?" I ask looking around at the boys and crossing my arms.

"Y'all are unbelievable." I say and they smirk as I stare at the spilled grape, yes grape, juice.

"Where'd y'all even get the juice from!?" I exclaim and they point to the fridge.

"You guys in trouble." Grace says and I look over at her.

"What do you think I should do as a punishment?" I ask her and they pale.

"No no no. Punishments are unneeded." Mike says and I look back at Grace.

"Hmm?" I ask and she giggles motioning for me to squat down to her level. I turn my head and she puts her lips to my ear.

"Make em scrub it, then give you big bear hugs, then make them clean the dishes for three whole nights." she whispers and I smirk.

"Three whole nights?" I ask and she bites her lip moving back some.

"Now Grace need I remind you, I read you that bedtime story about the pony the other night." Drew says and I smirk.

"No, you fell asleep before even getting through the first page." she says and he bites his lip.

"Well, it was boring." he says and she sticks her lip out, and holds up a five.

"Five whole nights?"

"Great Drew! You made our punishment worse!" Nick exclaims and I laugh.

"Grace, baby I thought we were friends!" Drew exclaims and she giggles.

"Not right now! You made a mess! You made Chrissy unhappy!" she exclaims and I laugh turning to face them.

"You're punishment has been decided." I say and they all freeze and meet my eyes.

"You will scrub this floor until Grace and I can see our reflections, you will clean the dishes from breakfast, lunch, and dinner for five nights in a row alone, and lastly-

I cut myself off and they shake their heads.

"And lastly." I say and they look at each other worried, then look back to me.

"You each owe me a big bear hug." I say and they all sigh in relief.

"I call first!" Nick shouts and I laugh as he moves over to me and pulls me against him. He squeezes me so tight I feel I might pop.

"Ok ok, next." I breathe out and he backs up laughing.

"My turn." Mike says and now it's my turn to pale as he sumo wrestler style walks over to me. I burst out laughing, and it soon vanishes as he yanks me against him and leans back hugging me so tight my feet lift from the ground. I cough as he puts me down and motion to myself.

"Y'all are like rocks. Huge, muscular, and huge!" I exclaim again and they laugh

"I, am like a caterpillar. I squish, and I am not hard!" I exclaim and hold my hands out as Drew walks over to me.

"No no no no no." I say but it's too late.

"What did I miss down here?"

Drew turns us around and I look up at Luke and he eyes the boys cautiously.

"They made a big mess!" Grace says and I groan as Drew releases me.

"Damn. Y'all are gonna kill me." I mutter and they laugh as Luke finishes coming down the stairs.

"Wait! Doesn't he have to clean up and do dishes?" Nick asks

"Um no, he was asleep while y'all were making messes like five year olds!" I exclaim and they huff.

"No fair." they say and I smirk as Luke flops onto the couch and props his legs up.

"Yeah. You heard the women, get to cleaning." he says and I laugh as they all drop to their hands and knees and start scrubbing. I walk over to Luke and flop down onto his legs.

"Excuse you." he says and I look over at him with a smirk.

"Move them then." I say and he shrugs then rests back as Grace runs over to us. I pick her up and Luke yanks his legs out from under me.

"Too heavy?"

"Let's see having a full grown women and a child sitting on my legs that were raised on the couch thingy, yeah... I didn't feel like having a snapped knee." he says and I laugh as he twists and kicks his legs onto the table.

"Oh no, keep cleaning." I say and Nick rolls his eyes then moves back to cleaning.

~~~