Merry Christmas!
It’s been good! Mom made biscuits this morning and we’re going to spend most of the day in pjs playing games. Wbu?
It’s good but I miss you…
I miss you too
T-minus 22 hrs till I get to see you again. It can’t come soon enough
Charlie has been in a particularly nasty mood this morning, and I can’t seem to figure out why. We had a lovely Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as a family. Ididcream him in poker, but we played for chocolates, so he can’t be that upset with me.
Tossing a duffle into the bed of his truck, Charlie grumbles, “Jax is supposed to be here any minute. Where’s your bag?”
“I already put it in the bed of your truck.” I point to my navy-blue duffel pressed into the back corner of the truck bed. “What’s with you this morning? I thought you’d be excited about going on a hunting trip with your best friend and your favorite sister. Not to mention your new favorite dog.” I scoop Bella up and bat my eyes angelically at Charlie.
“You’re my only sister.”
“Ouch.”
He sighs. “Sorry, I got a call from work this morning. They want me to come back early.”
“How early?” I set Bella down. She’s tied up to an extra-long leash so she can be out here with us.
“By the twenty-ninth.”
“What? No. They can’t do that! You’re supposed to come with us to the New Year’s Eve party at the Long Neck. Plus, I thought your office was closed through New Year’s Day.”
“The officeisclosed, but it doesn’t stop all those maniacs from working.” He surges into the house, and I follow him, helping him grab the pile of stuff he’s gathered by the door.
“I thought you had a bunch of time off saved up?”
“I do, mostly because I never get to take it.” He leads the way back to the truck and shoves Bella’s dog bed into the back seat. “We’re making a huge acquisition in the new year, and they need me around. Unfortunately, I’m good at what I do.”
“What does that mean for the rest of your time here? Do we have to cut the hunting trip short?”
“It means I’ll try not to be so bitter, but I need a day to wallow.” He gives me a wincing smile as he climbs into his truck bed, shifting a few things around to make more room. “As for our trip, we’ll stay two nights and come back early the next morning. This way I can spend one more evening with Mom and Dad before I have to go.”
My stomach sinks at the words. “I don’t want you to go.”
A tortured look flashes across his face, but he quickly replaces it with a smile. I hate seeing him put on a mask. That must be how Jax has felt, watching me insist I’m okay when he knew there was more going on underneath the surface. It sucks.
Charlie steps down and pulls me into a quick hug, mumbling something about how he’ll be back as soon as he can, but we both know that means nothing. This trip was an anomaly. I can’t expect Charlie to be home this long any time soon. Heck, I can’t expect Charlie to behomeany time soon.
Jax’s truck rumbles into the driveway, and Charlie releases me, hustling inside the house and muttering something about one more thing to grab. I let him go, knowing he needs the distraction.
When Jax slams his door closed, he smiles at me like he just won the lottery. “Hey, Freckles.” He wraps me up in a hug before I can hesitate. “Two days without you is too long. Never let me do it again.”
I bite my lip, looking up at him in curiosity. Two days ago, I was convinced he was hiding something from me because he didn’t think I was enough, but every text he’s sent me and the way he’s wrapping me up in his arms now is making me wonder how I could question the way Jax feels for me. He obviously cares immensely. I must’ve let my mind get the best of me yet again.
Jax pulls away, opening his tailgate. “Did you get the job posting up online?”
“I did, and Rhett agreed to keep an eye on anyapplications that come through.” I pull Jax’s duffel down. “He won’t hire anyone without my approval, but he’ll let me know if someone comes along who would be worth interviewing.”
“That’s great!” He grabs his bow. “Are you ready to be away from the ranch for a few nights?”
“As ready as I can be. My little therapy dog helps too.” I drop Jax’s bag next to mine and gesture to Bella. “It’s only been a few days, but she’s already forced me to be back at reasonable mealtimes, and I got the okay from the vet to take her on a very slow, very short walk. I think she enjoyed it.” I turn back to the chocolate furball at my side. “It was fun. Wasn’t it, Bella?”
She nuzzles into my hand, blinking up at me with bright green eyes.
