Stepping onto the porch, placing my hockey bag to the side, kicking off my boots and hanging up my jacket, I stepped inside. “I’m home.” I bellowed as I went through the mail upon the counter, grabbing mine. Seeing a note on the counter from mom. Reading it and nods as I head into the living room, placing my mail upon the coffee table, starting a fire in the fire place to get the house warmed up. Settling down in a chair, after getting a good fire going. Enjoying the quiet before tonight, it was Christmas Eve. Most of the family was coming over tonight, so we would have Christmas day to ourselves, except for the guys that were staying and the family stopping over, cause they couldn’t make it tonight. I had turned the radio on as I yawned a bit, rubbing the base of my neck, I was sore from the game today. I got hit pretty good, still sore from it. Moving over to the couch as I curled up under a blanket, taking a light nap.
I felt hands rubbing my shoulders as I sighed, thinking it was Dave. I slowly opened my eyes, as they focused as I growled, pushing CJ off me as he fell backwards onto the floor. “Hey! What was that for?” He asked as he rubbed his chest, where I have elbowed him. I sat up as I got to my feet, “Didn’t I warn you to keep your damn hands off me Chris? You deserve that.” I folded the blanket as I went to place some more wood upon the fire. Slowly getting to his feet, “I’m sorry. I saw the bruises at the base of your neck, across your shoulders. Thought I was helping you out.” Sighing as I finished and looked to him over my shoulder, “I know you meant well Chris. But what would of happen if Dave or anybody walked in and saw you? You would be dead.”
Chris nods his head some as I sat down in front of the fire place. Chris placed his hands in the front pockets of his blue jeans, slowly walking over as he seated himself upon the floor. “Jessie..” Sliding his hands out of his pockets, running one of them through his short blonde locks. I slowly looked to him, “What’s on your mind Chris? I can at least give you that.” Chris sighed gently, “I know you hate my ever living guts for what I did. But I’m sorry I didn’t follow through with what I promised you. I was too stupid and wrapped up in other shit to realize that until it was too late. I know it won’t make up for the heart ache I gave you or anything. But I wanted to apologize for my stupidity and not being fair to you. I was hoping you can forgive me in the future, maybe become friends again. Just friends though, I know you and Dave are an item. I’m going to respect that.”
I took everything in that Chris had said. Ever since he took two years off and did his music and such on the side, he had really finally grew up so to speak. Nodding my head some, “That is very man of you to admit your mistake Chris. I except your apology, but it’s going to take me a long time to trust you again.” Chris nods his head gently as he bent his right knee, wrapping his arm around it. His blue eyes caught the reflection of the dancing flames as he looked to them, “I understand Jessie. Just hope your brother and the guys can be as excepting to that as you are.” “Do you blame them?” Chris shook his head with a gentle sigh, “No I don’t. But I hope they can see past it some time.” Sighing a bit as I slid over to him, placing a hand upon his arm, “I’ll have a talk with them. But you must promise me something.” Chris looks to her as he feels her hand upon his arm, “What?” Lifting a hand up and smacking him upside the head, “Stop being such a dumbass.”
Chris lifted a hand up and rubbed the side of his head, “Alright, alright... You got my word.” Nodding my head, “Good now that we’re on the same page again. It is good to have you around and back in the company. I’ve missed bugging you.” Chris chuckles as he lowers his hand to his side, “So you did miss me?” Waggling his eyebrows at me. Sighing as I narrowed my eyes towards him, placing his hands up in defense, “I was kidding.. Calm down.” Chuckling to his reaction as he settled down. “Do I least get a hug?” He asked. Sighing as I got to my knees, wrapping my arms around him, him doing it back to me. “That’s all you get.” Slowly releasing it as I hear the back door opening, getting to my feet to go help mom into the house, with bags of stuff.
Yawning as I felt Dave move beside me on the bed. Slowly opening my eyes as I saw him sitting up. I slid myself over, wrapping my arms around him. “Morning.” I yawned as he patted my arms, “Morning Jess. Sleep well?” Slowly sitting up as I wrapped my arms lightly around his neck, “Always with you beside me.” Kissing his neck gently as he looked to me, kissing my forehead. “I can’t believe it’s Christmas morning already.” Running a hand over his face some as he yawn. Hearing the pounding of feet in the hallway, then a pounding on my door. “Enter or go away.” I bellowed to the door as it opened as John poked his head in. “Come down stairs. Time for gifts.” Sighing a bit, “Give us a minute John. Go start the coffee you big kid.” Nodding as he left. Dave chuckles, “Some of us grow up, but still act like kids.” I unwrap my arms from around Dave’s neck. Slowly rising to my feet as I slipped on a pair of sweat pants, “God it’s cold.” Dave grabbed a shirt and slipped it on, already wearing sweats as he got to his feet, grabbing his crutches, “We better get downstairs before John comes back.” Chuckling as I grab my hooded sweat shirt, “Come on hop a long.” “Who you calling hop a long...” Giggling as I disappeared around the corner, “You..” I answered as I head downstairs.
Walking down stairs as I stretched a bit, John was in the kitchen making coffee and helping mom. Marc and Rey were starting a fire in the fire place. I slid on my hoodie as Dave made it down stairs, followed by Layfield and CJ. I plopped onto the couch as I curled up, “John you wake us up again. I’ll hog tie you up boy.” Layfield said as he walked into the kitchen. Evelyn patted his shoulder, “Calm down dear. I was already awake.” Grumbling as he walked back into the living room, sitting on the love seat with his coffee. Dave seated himself beside me on the couch. I took his crutches, placing them out of the way. Rey and Marc finished as Marc took a spot of the floor with Rey and CJ. John hurdled the couch, with me on it. Plopping his butt, on my other side. “You’re lucky Dave was sitting over there or you would be on the floor in pain.” Dave snorts as he put his foot up on a foot stool. John chuckles and places an arm around my shoulders, Mom came walking in with a tray of coffee and box of pastries, “Who’s hungry?” She put the tray down, taking the box off, placing it upon the table. The guys dove for it as I got out of the feeding frenzy. Mom handed me a cup of coffee, the way I like it as I seated myself with her on the other love seat, waiting until the guys were fed. “It’s like feeding time on a ranch.” Evelyn commented as she sipped her coffee.
Getting to my feet as I headed into the kitchen, I heard a scratching at the back door. “Is someone expecting someone? There’s a scratching at the back door.” Evelyn looked to me, “Nobody isn’t suppose to show until later on this morning hun.” Stepping over to the living room, “Anybody?” All the guys looked to me shaking their heads as they finished eating. “Why don’t you take a look Jessie..” Rey said as I shrugged my shoulders, heading over to the back door, opening the door to the porch. Next thing I knew it I was knocked to the floor being bombed by kisses. I giggled as I finally got to take a look, the dog climbed off me and sat it’s furry butt on the floor, wagging it’s tail like a mad dog. Slowly sitting up as I closed the door, wiping my face off from doggy drool. Getting to my knees as I looked to the dog, it was a year old black and white pitbull, with the brightest brown eyes, I have ever seen. Reminded me of Terrance. Slowly getting to my feet as I saw a red bow around his neck, bending down as I saw a tag with the bow. Getting the dog to calm down for a moment as I tried to read it.
Mom and John stood in the doorway. “A dog.. Who’s idea?” John asked as he leaned against the wall. “I don’t know. Any of you?” I lifted a brow as John shook his head, “None of us Jessie.” Mom shook her head, “Not me either hun. What’s the tag say?” Giggling as the dog climbed into my lap with his front half. “I can’t get to it at the moment. Someone care to help..” The rest of the guys got up as I was knocked onto my butt as the dog went mad with the kisses again. John walked over as he gave the dog a scratch behind the ears as he finally got the tag. He stood to his full height as he read the tag. “You’re not going to believe it, even if I told you.” The dog got off me once again as Marc crouched down as the dog went to him and started in on bombing him with kisses. “Damn friendly dog. I will say that.” Marc chuckles as he gives the dog the attention it so desired.
Dave hobbled over and stood next to John as he read the tag, “I don’t believe it. He went through with it.” John looked to Dave, “You knew about this?” Dave shook his head, “Not really. He mentioned it, but I didn’t think he would go through with it.” I slowly rose to my feet, “Who sent the dog..” John looked to his sister and handed her the tag from the dog’s neck. “Guess who?” I looked to the tag as John went over to the door. Slipping on boots as he headed outside, “We’ve got more company.” Mom ran upstairs to change into something more decent as I read it. “I don’t believe it.” I looked to Dave as he nodded his head. John came walking in with hands full of stuff as he headed into the living room. I grabbed the dog by the dark blue harness as the guys headed into the living room. John headed back out and came back one last time as he was followed by Paul and Stephanie.
Evelyn came walking back down the stairs and over to greet them, “Paul.. Stephanie.. How wonderful to see you both.” Getting hugs from both as she took jackets and placed them in the back bedroom. I hugged Stephanie as she headed into the living room, being greeted by everybody. Paul stopped as he crouched, “I see you got him.” I looked to Paul as the dog leaned into Paul’s petting. Slowly rising to his feet as he looked to me, “John told me about Terrance when he came back. I knew how much he meant to you. Well Steph and I decided to not replace him, but give you someone else to love, along with my best friend.” I let go of the dog as I hugged Paul, “Thank you Paul. I really appreciate it.” Paul wrapped his arms around Jessie as they released it, “You’re welcome. I hope you don’t mind, but he has a name already. I thought it suited his personality once you get by the mushy part.” Lifting a brow as I looked to the harness, seeing in big yellow letters ‘King’. I giggled as I looked to Paul as we walked into the living room, “Of course I should of known.” Paul chuckled as he was greeted by everybody, taking a seat beside Stephanie on the love seat Layfield was occupying, he joined Evelyn on the other. I took a seat on the floor, in front of Dave. King laid down finally after getting to sniff everybody and laid down next to me. We got into small conversation before John got too antsy and we ended up opening gifts.
