Chapter 25 Laced Luggage
Laced Luggage
Claire barely slept.
She spent half the night doing what every overthinker does before a trip—packing, then unpacking, then repacking the same three outfits like rearranging them might somehow calm her nerves.
Jeans. T-shirts. A dress she might not wear but had to bring.
Heels, because the dress. Tennis shoes, in case they wandered downtown or stumbled across some adventure.
“Perfect,” she mumbled, then jumped in the shower just to wash the indecision off her skin.
She finally crashed into bed, only for her alarm to jolt her awake six hours later at 8:30. Groggy, but wired with anticipation, she took another shower just to feel something close to human.
The only thing missing? Coffee.
She threw on jeans and a T-shirt, tugged her suitcase behind her, and headed downstairs.
The minute she hit the last step—
“Damn,” Sara said, sipping from her own mug. “It’s the end of July, not January. You’re gonna sweat your ass off in those jeans.”
Claire rolled her eyes. “Planes are cold. It’s a six-hour flight.”
“I’m more concerned that you packed jeans at all.”
Laughter filled the kitchen as Claire moved toward the coffee maker like it held all her answers.
“What time is Jaxon picking you up?” Macie asked.
“Ten.”
“I still can’t believe he’s taking you to Denver.”
Claire smiled into her cup. “I know. Feels… unreal.”
Sara leaned against the counter. “I need to figure out what you did to get so lucky—because I’m doing that immediately.”
“Okay, enough about me. What are y’all doing today?”
“Beach,” Macie said. “Cart’s already charged. I need the sun.”
“We know you do,” Claire teased.
“Hush. I’m getting darker every day.”
Claire grinned. “Maybe a darker shade of red, but sure.”
The kitchen lit up with giggles.
As Claire sipped her coffee, the girls grabbed their beach bags and made their way to the front door.
Sara turned, arms open. “Okay, sis. Be safe. Text when you land.”
“I will. Should be around 6:00 your time.”
Sara hugged her tight. “Take care of yourself. And take care of Jaxon too.” She added a wink.
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
The door closed behind them, and the quiet settled in hard.
For the first time since arriving in North Carolina, Claire was alone.
No laughter echoing up the stairs. No chaos. Just the sound of the wind whistling off the ocean, sliding between the houses like a secret.
Her carry-on stood at the door, handle up, waiting.
To kill the next forty-five minutes, Claire did what she always did when her mind wouldn’t shut off—she cleaned. Guest bathroom. Counters. Living room. Then the kitchen. She was still mopping when a knock hit the front door.
She opened it to find Jaxon standing there, smile easy, sun already warming his skin.
“You ready?”
Claire nodded. “All packed. Just waiting on you.”
He stepped inside, grabbed her bag. “Now I’m waiting on you.”
Claire took one last look around, then locked the door behind her and followed him down the steps.
He loaded her suitcase next to his in the backseat, climbed into the driver’s side, buckled his seatbelt, and turned toward her with that grin that always made her heart hiccup.
“Let’s hit the road.”