The Quarterback, Outcast and Me ✔

Chapter Twenty-Five - Jingle Bells, Wedding Bells - Part One

My alarm clock blasted me awake at the crack of dawn, no literally, it was barely light out. I fumbled for the off button as the person next to me began to stir. I finally managed to silence the beeping and landed back against my pillow, sighing heavily, knowing the long long day that awaited. A yawn erupted from beside me and just then Zeus popped his head up from his position at the foot of the bed, tail wagging and tongue sticking out. I waved a hand and he jumped happily on top of the covers, making his way up towards us. I reached over and pulled down the covers of my temporary bedmate, exposing their head and making them a perfect target for Zeus's morning breath... and tongue.

"Noo, leave me alone," Carrie grunted, pulling the covers above her head, escaping from my dog's morning wakeup call. 

"Wakey wakey, eggs and baky," I said, poking her. Her head popped up from the tangle of sheets. Her hair looking like a blond bird's nest.

"Did you say bacon?" 

I laughed and threw the covers over her head. I stood up, Zeus in hot pursuit as I heard his little paws hit the carpet, and padded across the floor to the window overlooking the backyard and forest behind the house. With the moon still up, it cast a soft silver glow over the thin layer of snow which had fallen during the night. It looked so picturesque, if it wasn't for the giant white tent set up smack down in the middle of the yard. Soon, workers would be milling about, setting up the final floral decorations and turning on the several heaters scattered about the premise. Patrick Jones wasn't about to let any of his seventy guests freeze to death because his bride-to-be was crazy enough to want a Christmas wedding. 

I felt Zeus brush against my legs and I scooped him up into my arms, cradling him like I would a baby. Same size basically. 

"Today is the day, buddy," I said, letting him shower me with his gleeful wet kisses. 

"Your mom is changing her last name," Carrie said, moving around and finally sitting upright in the bed. "But are you also? I know Martin is your dad's lastname." 

It had been a topic of discussion before; my mom couldn't wait to get rid of the name that had tied her to a man who had broken her heart, but it was still a big change for me. Chloe Jones. It did have a certain ring to it. Chloe Martin Jones. Hmm, perhaps not.

"I think I sort of have to, since I'm under 18," I said, turning my back on the scenery outside, facing my best friend. 

Carrie and her mother, Dianne had come over last night as Patrick and Jace had gone to stay at some swag hotel in downtown Charlotte. Mom wanted to follow all the traditions and superstitions, so until the ceremony, this house was a Jones free zone. 

After dinner, Carrie and I had gone up to my room and sat down on the bed to talk. We both agreed that we had been spending a little too much time with the boys in our lives and not enough time together as besties. That would change now. We both had vowed to make more time for each other and perhaps even go on double dates, though how that would fare with Caleb and Taylor, who didn't even speak to each other, I did not know. 

There had eventually been a lot of hugging and laughing and then Carrie and I had been right back to where we started, pre boys.

We were all gathered around the kitchen island, eating one of my favourite kinds of breakfast; Dianne Jansen's mouthwatering Eggs Benedict. Yu-um!

"So, Chloe," Dianne said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "I hear from Carrie that you've landed yourself a handsome date for today. I'm excited to meet him." 

All three pairs of eyes were fixated on me and I felt the blood rush to my face of being on the spot.

"Yes, Caleb is my date and he might be something more." Cue the reaaally intensive stares!