Chapter Eighty
Claire knocked on John's bedroom door, gently pushing it open to see him huddled under a heating blanket. "Are you still cold?" She asked, taking a seat on the edge of his bed.
He smiled up at her, taking her hand in his. "I'm better now that my flame is here." He pulled her down so that she was laying with him, tucking the covers around her. "You'll keep me warm."
She rolled her eyes, tracing her fingers over his chest, noticing that he didn't have the wraps on. "Are you excited for tomorrow?" She asked, resting her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm beyond excited." He yawned, enjoying the feeling of Claire laying so close to him. "But something's been bugging me."
"What?"
He looked at her, his hair still moist from their swim. "The Ashbend Rebuilds and Construction. That name sounds way too familiar for it to just be Déjà vu." He rolled over, propping himself up on his elbow. "I mean, it's like I have this fuzzy memory of hearing it in my house… like maybe it was something important I should remember, but I can't put my finger on what it is I should remember about it."
She nodded, remembering seeing the signs for the company on the freeway on their way into town. "I mean, it could just be a coincidence, but it might be something." She laughed, looking up at his confused face. "Wouldn't it be weird if your dad wasn't one of twins but one of triplets?"
"Fuck no." He stated, shuddering at the thought of there being more of his dad. "If there were three of them, I'm fairly certain I would have been dead by now."
Claire kissed his cheek, pushing him down and sitting on top of his hips. "Well, you're not dead." She smiled, feeling his hands on her thighs. "And you won't be anytime soon." She kissed his mouth, feeling his hands move to her back as they kissed. She pushed her tongue into his mouth, tasting the salt water that he'd gotten in his mouth when the wave had washed over them. She felt him move closer to her, his body flexing with his love. She let him lift her shirt slightly, feeling his calloused hands on her back as he traced little patterns on her skin.
They jumped as someone cleared their throat, Claire flying off of John's body and quickly adjusting her t-shirt. "Hi Daddy..." She smiled, trying to appear innocent.
Thomas shook his head, pointing at his daughter. "I know that one was you." He chuckled, looking at John. "And watch the hands kiddo."
John smirked, happy that he wasn't getting his ass chewed for that kiss. "Yes, Sir." He looked at Claire, smiling at her mussed hair. "I'll watch it."
Thomas nodded, pulling something from the shopping bag in his hand. "I got you two something." He handed John the wrapped box, watching how he and Claire both tore into it.
"Sweet!" John smiled, pulling out the photos of he and Claire over the last few months. "How did you guys get this one?" He asked, pointing to the one of he and Claire sitting in the garage while he worked on his Harley and she braided Kaylie's hair back.
Thomas smiled, watching as John's expression changed when he saw the copy of he and Dominic as babies. "We're sneaky."
John tossed the photo of he and Dominic away, letting it land on the corner of his bed. "Thanks Dad."
Claire crawled over him, picking up the photo and looking at it closer. "You guys were so tiny."
John nodded, his lip curling. "We were born premature. Our moms kept drinking for most of the time they were pregnant. Dominic was supposed to be born in July, but he was born in June instead. I was supposed to be January but I ended up in December."
Claire rubbed his back, noticing the pain in his eyes. "You're both healthy though."
John scoffed, motioning to his skinny body. "I am not healthy. I look like I'm anorexic."
Thomas ruffled John's hair, looking down at the photos. "You'll get it back." He smiled, patting John's ribs with the back of his hand. "I can't quite see those ribs now, and you're starting to go up in numbers again."
John chuckled, jumping away as Claire started to tickle him. "AH! Stop!" He gasped as his hand connected with something looking up to see the red spot on Claire's cheek. "Fuck! I'm sorry Claire. I didn't mean it." He moved her hand away from the mark he'd left, his heart hurting with the guilt of what he'd done. "Fuck. I'm so sorry." He kissed her cheek, relief flooding over him as she turned to kiss him.
"It's okay, you didn't mean it." She smiled, brushing a tear from his eye. "Hey, I'm fine. You didn't mean it. It wasn't abuse."
He nodded, holding her closer to him. "I'm sorry."
Thomas rubbed John's back, trying to comfort him. "It wasn't your fault. Heck, I'll bet that won't even bruise."
John looked up at the man, hope flashing behind his eyes. "You think so?"
Claire nodded, taking his hand and holding it to her face. "You didn't get me that hard." She kissed his fingers, feeling the rough skin on her lips. "I'm not hurt."
John smiled, happy that she knew he hadn't meant it. "I love you."
"I love you too." She held him close, making sure he knew she meant it.