Boarded by Love (28 page)

“Okay, well, this is Jude. Jude, these are my aunts: Elli, you remember Reese, Piper, Fallon, Harper, and Audrey.”

“Nice to meet you fine ladies,” I say with my lady-killing smile and all of them blush a deeper red before saying the same.

“Okay, well, we’re gonna go,” Claire says, lacing her fingers with mine.

“Where to?” Reese asks.

“I’m meeting his family,” she says and everyone looks as if they want to throw a party.

“That’s wonderful!” One of them says, I think Elli, maybe? She looks superfamiliar. Not sure where I know her from, but I’m sure I know her from somewhere. “We should have you over for dinner with everyone, Jude. It will be fun!”

“Sure,” I say. “That would be great.”

I’m not sure how Claire feels about that, but soon I see that she does not agree.

“Hell no, I am not bringing him into a firing squad of hockey players. Knowing them, they’ll tie him up and shoot pucks at him! No way!”

“Huh?” I ask.

“I told you Phillip plays for the Assassins. Elli’s the owner and her husband is Shea Adler, and then the rest of them are all married to players, and no freaking way. I won’t subject you to that.”

That’s where I know her from! Holy crap, now I’m starstruck.

“Don’t listen to her. We’ll make the guys play nice, Jude. But maybe we’ll let Phillip at him before we bring in everyone else,” Reese suggests. “Make sure he makes it through that first.”

They all laugh and Claire lets out a sound of frustration. “I’m leaving, bye! Let’s go,” she says to me and I comply, walking with her to my bike.

“Nice meeting you all,” I call at them, but when we are far enough away, I lean into Claire. “I wasn’t the least bit scared to meet your family, but I’m rethinking that now.”

She laughs as I hand her the helmet I had ordered for her. “Yeah, don’t worry. I’ll make sure you are good and in love with me before I do that to you. By then you won’t run, hopefully.”

I smile and then pull her to me, pressing my lips to hers for a longer kiss. I know her aunts are probably watching us, but I really don’t care. I want to feel her lips against mine; I’ve missed them. When she pulls back, I smile against her lips and whisper, “I won’t ever run.”

“So you say, but that could change when the hockey sticks and tape come out.”

I eye her. “That sounds superkinky.”

“You freaking freak, hush. Get on the bike. Let’s go meet your normal family,” she says, her face turning redder with every passing second.

Laughing, I get on my bike and say, “Baby, my family is nowhere near normal.”

“I don’t doubt that, but mine is crazy!” she says loud enough for the five women to hear, but I don’t think they care because they just laugh. “Nuts, I tell ya,” she mutters as she pulls out a pair of sweats and slides them up her body, covering her legs.

I smile as she puts her helmet on and then ask, “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” she says, climbing on the back of the bike.

With one last wave to the ladies, we’re off, driving through downtown Nashville then onto the interstate to head to my family’s home. Nerves are eating me alive and I really don’t know why. I am confident my mom will love her. She is amazing. Even Lucy and Jace will like her, but knowing my dad will be there has my stomach in knots. The only reason I agreed to this was because he wasn’t supposed to be home until tomorrow. For some fucked-up reason he came home early, and now I’m as nervous as I would be playing in the college finals. I’m not excited about this at all, but when Claire’s arms hug me tightly and her thighs squeeze me, I can’t help but feel a little better.

With her by my side, I’m pretty sure I can do anything.

It’s a nice evening, and I hope that the temperature stays like this. I don’t want her freezing her ass off on the way home, but if need be, I’ll drive Jayden’s car back, and he can drive the bike home. He should already be there by now. I kind of wish we would have all ridden together, but then I would have missed out on feeling my girl’s body wrapped around mine.

Pulling into my family’s driveway, I head down the gravel drive, kicking up rocks, and I know that my mom will probably tear me apart once I’m inside. Never stopped me before, though. Pulling in beside Lucy’s car, I shut off the bike and then pull my helmet off, brushing my hair to the side with my fingers.

“Wow, this is a beautiful home,” she says as I get off.

“Yeah, my dad had it built for my mom when I was two.”

She smiles before handing me her helmet, and I help her off her bike. As I strap the helmets to the bike, she takes off her sweats and tucks them in her bag. When she goes to put the bag on her shoulder, I take it from her, putting it on my own and then lacing my fingers with hers.

“Nervous?” I ask and she shakes her head.

“Nope, I’m actually excited.”

I smile, but I know that it’s fake because I’m nervous and not the least bit excited. Though, when the door opens and my mom comes out, throwing the screen door back, I put a huge grin on my face before leading Claire up the stairs.

“Hey, Mom,” I say, kissing her cheek, and she hugs me tightly before kissing the side of my mouth.

“Hey, honey. Move, I want to see her,” she says, pushing me to the side and then holding out her hands. Claire takes her hands and smiles as my mom takes her in. “Stunning. You did good, honey.”

“She’ll do,” I say with a wink, and like I expect, Claire glares. But what I don’t expect is for my mom to basically punch me in the chest, knocking the air out of me.

“I don’t know where I got him from. You’d think he was raised in a barn,” she scolds, wrapping her arms around Claire and leading her inside.

“I was joking!” I say, following in behind them. “Of course I did good. She’s freaking hot.”

Looking back at me, Claire sticks out her tongue playfully and I do the same, loving the laughter in her eyes. Setting her bag down, I go to catch up with them, but I’m attacked by a little monster who wraps her sweet little arms around me.

“Angie!” I say, kissing her cheeks and nuzzling her neck, which makes her laugh. She soon leads me to her dollhouse and has me playing with her before I know it. I don’t mind. Angie is my little princess, and I’ll do anything to make her happy. I’m a little worried about Claire, but then again, she can handle herself. She’s quick on her feet and can adjust to any situation, which is something I admire about her.

“Hey, bubba,” Lucy says as she comes up beside me. “Where is your lady?”

“Mom stole her,” I say, standing up to give her a side hug and kiss her cheek. “I think they’re in the kitchen.”

“I gotta go check her out, make sure she’s worthy of my brother.”

I laugh. “She is, probably better.”

Lucy sends me a grin, and I pick Angie up so we can follow. She complains a little bit, but soon she starts to inspect my nose and mouth and forgets that we aren’t playing anymore. When I reach the kitchen, I find Claire leaning on the counter that Lucy, Jace, and Jayden are sitting at as my mom talks loudly with her arms flailing in the air.

“You would have thought he broke all the bones in his body. He was screaming and crying so bad. I mean, he only fell two feet,” she says and everyone starts to laugh. I know she’s talking about the time I fell ten feet out of a tree and broke my arm. It’s one of her favorite stories. I’m not a fan of it.

Glaring, I say, “It was ten feet, and it hurt! What kind of mother makes fun of her kid breaking his arm?”

“A truthful one! You sprained it, and it was two feet. It didn’t even knock the air out of you,” she says, but I’m sure my mother must be losing her memory because that tree was a hundred feet in the air and I fell at least ten feet.

“Whatever,” I say as Angie reaches for Lucy. Handing her off, I head toward Claire, wrapping her up in my arms. “Don’t listen to her, she’s losing her memory. I’m tough and strong. I don’t ever cry.”

“He was screaming, Claire, like a freaking girl, big tears rolling down his girlish face,” Jace teases.

“How do you know? You were like five!” I counter.

“Nine,” Jace corrects me, and I’m not sure if he’s right or not, so I roll my eyes.

“Whatever,” I say, which makes everyone laugh. Claire’s body shakes my own, and I smile as I kiss her temple.

“He’s right, Claire. Jude is the biggest baby,” Jayden says, and I flip him off behind Claire’s back so that Mom can’t see me.

“I am not. Tell them, baby. Tell them I’m big and strong,” I say and she giggles.

“Strongest guy I know, hottest too,” she says, and my mother beams as Jace and Jayden roll their eyes.

“He is kinda cute, isn’t he?” Mom asks with a grin, cupping my face before turning to take the chicken out of the oven.

“I think he’s ugly,” Jayden says.

“Looks like a goblin to me,” Jace agrees.

“I was thinking an ogre,” Lucy chimes in and I let Claire go to flip them all off while my mom’s back is turned. Claire is laughing beside me, and I send her a mock glare before wrapping her up in my arms and kissing her hard against the lips.

Parting, she smiles as she says, “I think you’re hot.”

“That’s all that matters then,” I say and then smile at my mom when she turns to look at me. Her eyes are so full of love and happiness. I was so nervous about coming here, but now I feel good about it because I know Mom likes her. She has to. “So I see everyone is getting along? We like her?”

“Of course. She’s delightful,” Mom says with a grin before heading to the dining room.

“I think she’s great,” Lucy says. “Must be something amazing if she can pin you down.”

Claire grins up at me, and I return the grin before saying, “Yeah, she is.”

When my mom comes back into the room, she says, “Let’s head into the dining room. I hope you’re hungry, Claire. You are little skinny; I might need to fatten you up.”

Claire laughs as she shakes her head. “I guess I need to. My aunts said I was skinny today too.”

“I don’t think you’re too skinny,” I say as I walk with her to the dining room. “I think you look great.”

“That’s ’cause you like me.”

“Maybe,” I say before we both share an intimate grin, but as soon as we enter the dining room and I see my father, my grin disappears. “Dad.”

“Jude,” he says, and immediately I don’t like the way he’s looking at Claire. “So this is the guest of honor?”

I nod. “Claire, this is my dad, Mark Sinclair.”

My dad doesn’t move as he says, “You can call me Mr. Sinclair.”

“Of course. It’s nice to meet you,” she says and heads toward him to shake his hand. “You have a lovely home.”

“Thank you,” he says, still eyeing her, and I’m not sure if he’s disgusted or he likes what he sees. Either way, I am sure I don’t like the way he’s staring at her.

“Let’s eat,” Mom says, and I pull out a chair for Claire. She falls into it and then I sit beside her, taking her hand in mine and then taking Jayden’s. My mom blesses the food and then we dig in. “It’s so wonderful having you, Claire. I hope you enjoy the dinner.”

Claire’s grin is genuine as she says, “Everything is wonderful. Thank you for having me and making me feel at home.”

“Of course,” Mom says with a grin, but when I look at my dad, he’s still staring at Claire.

He then asks, “So you go to UB with Jude?”

Swallowing what’s in her mouth, she nods. “Yes, I’m a sophomore.”

“Scholarship or your family paying for it?”

Mom stops eating and looks at my dad. “Why does that matter?”

“’Cause only people with money go to UB.”

“So it matters if she has money? I don’t see how that makes a difference.”

My dad glares as he says, “Because I would like to know. Can I ask a question without being questioned by you?”

I grit my teeth as I stare at my plate. I refuse to fight with him in front of Claire. I may have told her we weren’t normal, but I don’t want her to think we’re insane.

“My uncle pays for my college,” Claire answers suddenly. “He plays for the Nashville Assassins.”

Looking up, I see my dad is interested. “Is that right? Who is he?”

“Phillip Anderson, number thirty-three.”

“Wow, that’s supercool!” Jace says. “Do you know the whole team?”

She nods. “Yeah, they are basically family.”

“That’s so cool!” Jace gushes as Jayden rolls his eyes. “I’m a huge Shea Adler fan.”

“He’s a supergreat guy, funny too. Maybe one day we can all go to a game. We can sit in my Aunt Elli’s box. Does Angie like hockey yet?” she asks Lucy as she tickles Angie’s neck.

She giggles as Lucy says, “You know it. She’s a Sinclair. There is no other way but loving hockey.”

“I approve going to the box. Please, Jude. Man, come on,” Jace says, looking at me as I give him a dark glare.

“Shut up,” I say, but Claire looks back at me.

“It’s fine. I’ll set something up, and I’d love for all of you to come.”

Everyone smiles, nodding, and I like that they are getting along, but then my dad clears his throat and I wish he would just disappear.

“So what are you going to school for, Claire?”

Looking at my dad, she answers, “Business.”

“So you want to start your own business?”

“Yeah, or take over my aunt’s. She’s the owner of Reese Allen’s Dance Company.”

He nods. “I know of that studio. I have colleagues who take their children there.”

“Maybe I know them. I work there now.”

“Hmm, so you’re a dancer?”

“I am.”

“Interesting,” he says, and I want to scream. What the hell does that mean? And why the hell do I care if he doesn’t like her! I fucking do, and that’s all that matters.

“And I assume you are good at it since you want to run the business?” my mom asks.

“I am. Not to toot my own horn, but I’m a national champion. I have seven classes that I teach, and right now I’m doing the choreography for the Bullies’ dance team,” she says, her face glowing with pride.

“Thank God. They kinda suck,” Jayden says, and Claire laughs.

“Used to suck,” she says with a wink.

“She’s spectacular, Mom, really good,” I say, and Claire smiles back at me, making my heart pick up speed.

“That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to see you perform. At the opening, I assume?” she asks, and I nod.