Easy to Love You

by Megan Smith

  Chloe and Hailey went back out to Chloe’s SUV to grab our stuff. They brought in Ryder’s bouncer so I sat him down, covered him up and then went to go help the girls. I needed something to distract me anyway. I was slowly becoming a wreck just looking around the house.

  After everything was unloaded and unpacked we sat down to watch movies. After the second film it was nearing midnight, Ryder would need to get his three a.m. feeding so I told the girls I was calling it a night.

  It just so happens that I was put in the room where Hunter and I had slept. I knew I wouldn’t be getting much sleep, but I at least was going to try and have an hour or so.

  I woke up with that damn nightmare again. I was dripping sweat and panting.

  “You ok?” Hailey asked from beside me.

  Deep breaths Kenz, deep breaths.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  I laid back down after looking over at Ryder sleeping peacefully in his Pack-N-Play. I took a deep breath in and let it out, slowly, “I keep having a stupid nightmare that someone takes Ryder.”

  It’s the first time I’ve told anyone about having this God awful nightmare.

  “Oh Kenz, don’t worry. Nothing’s going to happen to him.” Hailey said as she started rubbing circles on my back.

  “I’m just worried that something like what happened to Jaylinn will happen to Ryder. I know it’s stupid but it just keeps replaying.” I said as the tears started coming again.

  Hailey was shushing me while continuing to rub circles on my back, “Don’t worry, nothing will happen to him.” After a few minutes she spoke again, “I think you need to talk to Hunter, Kenz.”

  I let out a shuddering breath, “I know and I will. Maybe once we get back.”

  I didn’t need to turn around to know she was smiling. Hailey continued to rub circles on my back until I eventually fell back asleep.

  The next morning the girls declared it was makeover day. They’d packed all their nail polish, curling irons, flat irons, sprays, scrubs… You name it they had it packed. Jaylinn had even brought her stuff to chalk your hair.

  Hailey was working on painting my toes, Jaylinn was chalking my hair and I was painting my nails while Chloe fed Ryder for me. We were all gossiping and carrying on. I pushed Hunter and everything else to the back of mind, needing this time for myself.

  Hours later, after everyone was all dolled up with nowhere to go; we were bored out of our minds. Hailey was antsy because Mason wasn’t answering his phone.

  “Ok Kenz, I have a game. Jaylinn, I think I saw Battleship. Can you grab that for me?”

  What the hell is she up to with that? We haven’t played that in years.

  “Chloe, would you keep an eye on Ryder for a little bit while Kenz and I play?” Hailey asked her.

  I eyed Hailey suspiciously. “Stop that. It’s going to be fun.”

  Jaylinn got the game for Hailey and she went into the kitchen to set it up while I used the bathroom. When I came back out she had the game set up along with two shot glasses and vodka.

  “What’s that for?” I asked, eyeing the vodka on the table.

  She shrugged her shoulder, “Battleshots.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Sit down, shut up and play with me. It’s gonna be fun. Chloe and Jay are on Ryder duty.”

  Well she had everything covered and I could use a drink, maybe it would help me sleep.

  “Every time a ship is hit, a shot has to be taken. That’s the only rule change.”

  “Easy enough,” I never lost at this game anyway.

  Shit, I was losing and I was getting really wasted. We’d played two rounds and I’d lost both. Hailey was practically sober.

  “You set me up.” I stated.

  Hailey looked around the room, “What are you talking about?”

  I started laughing and couldn’t stop.

  “Okay funny girl, off to bed you go.” Hailey helped me to my feet. I was thankful because I couldn’t stand on my own. I couldn’t feel my legs.

  She dumped me on the bed, I laid my head on the pillow and sleep took over.

  After I tucked MacKenzie into bed, sometime after one in the morning, I went back downstairs where Jaylinn and Chloe were still waiting for the boys to arrive.

  “Battleshot one, Kenz zero.” I said snickering, while Jaylinn and Chloe high fived. MacKenzie never caught on to Jaylinn signaling which spots I should choose.

  I picked up my phone and dialed Mason.

  “Kenz is passed out in bed babe, you almost here?” I asked Mason when he picked up his phone.

  “We’re pulling up to Hunter’s house in ten minutes.” I figured Hunter was still awake since Mason didn’t ask how I’d managed that.

  Operation ‘get MacKenzie and Hunter back together’ was in full motion.

  Being stuck in a car with these three guys, listening to the thumping of the radio, was doing nothing for my pounding headache. I’d tried to bail on them but they’d insisted I go.

  “Turn here into this driveway.” I told Mason. All I wanted to do was go to bed.

  When we rounded the bend, I noticed the light on in the house. I didn’t think anything of it at first, maybe the cleaning company had left them on. When we got close enough and I saw Chloe’s SUV, my head snapped in Mason’s direction.

  “What the hell are they doing here? You said they were at the shore house.”

  What the hell? CC’s going to take one look at me and freak the hell out.

  “Relax, okay? We need you and Kenz to work this shit out, Hunter. You two not talking to each other isn’t helping anything.” Mason said in a calming voice.

  Cooper reached both his hands over either side of the headrest and patted my shoulders. “You need this bro.”

  I did need this but I wanted it to be on CC’s terms, when she was ready to forgive me.

  Mason parked the car and they all piled out, I did not. Mason walked over to my side of the car and yanked my door open.

  “Let’s go, Hunter.”

  “You’re really going to make me go in there and piss her off?” I grabbed my hat off the dash board and put it on backwards.

  “Stop fretting. She’s passed out.” Cooper said standing behind Mason.

  If she’s passed out, “Who’s watching Ryder?”

  Mason and Cooper both rolled their eyes. Jackson pushed Mason out of the way and tossed me my bag, “The rest of the girls have him.”

  We walked inside and the girls were braced on the couch, all three actually looked a little scared.

  “I’m not happy about this and neither will she be when she realizes what’s going on.” I told everyone.

  “Sorry Hunter.” Jaylinn said softly from the couch. Cooper walked over and sat down next to her.

  Mason walked over and perched himself on the other side of Hailey, “I’ll take the blame for it when she gets all pissed off.” Hailey confessed.

  I walked over to the couch, across from Jaylinn and Cooper, took a sleeping Ryder from Chloe and sat down. Everyone’s eyes were on me. “What?”

  “You’re not going to try and leave?” Jackson asked.

  I tucked Ryder’s hand under the blanket, “No. You guys can all deal with her wrath in the morning and then pay for our motel room when she kicks us out, ‘cause you know she’s going to.”

  We all sat around for a while before everyone said they were calling it a night. Cooper and Jaylinn were taking the couch in the game room, Jackson and Chloe took the bedroom upstairs, and Mason and Hailey were going to take the couch across from the one I was sitting on.

  The next morning I woke up and decided to try to get a run in. I also decided to avoid CC at all cost in the morning, she hated mornings.

  After Hunter snuck out of the house this morning, I woke Hailey up. We went and woke Jackson, Chloe, Cooper and Jaylinn so we could all get the hell out of here while we could.

  “I’m going to go wake up Kenz and tell her we are running to town for coffee and taking Ryder
with us. I’ll be right back.” Hailey told us.

  We all walked out and piled into the two SUVs and warmed them up while waiting for Hailey and Ryder. A few minutes later she came out with Ryder in his car seat and a huge smile. She got him buckled into the seat behind my chair, next to Cooper and Jaylinn.

  “She bought it. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  The seven of us went into town in search of a diner to get some food. Then we were planning on spending the rest of the day out while Hunter and MacKenzie worked through their shit.

  I woke up with a splitting headache. “I’m never drinking again.” I mumbled to myself.

  After the girls left with Ryder, I climbed out of bed to take a shower, hoping to feel better. When I walked into the bathroom I recognized one of Cooper’s shirts on the floor. I didn’t think anything of it; Jaylinn had probably slept in it.

  Adjusting the temperature of the water I stepped in. I instantly started feeling better. I used the body wash I’d packed, it was Hunter’s favorite. I leaned the back of my head against the shower wall, needing a minute to collect myself. I took a couple of deep breaths then finished up my shower. This weekend was supposed to be fun, I’m not going to sit here and cry.

  Once I was dressed, makeup on, and my hair was done, I went towards the stairs to see if the girls were back with my coffee yet. I took a step and heard a crunch under my right foot. I looked down and saw ‘I’m sorry’ spelled out in seashells. I glanced up, looking around for Hunter, but I didn’t see him. I bent down to grab one of the shells when I noticed there were more going towards the stairs.

  As I walked past the shells I noticed more letters on them. I looked back at the ones I’d already passed and read ‘This was’. I took a few more steps, ‘not my’ I took the last few steps, ‘idea’. I got to the top of the stairs and more seashells but no Hunter.

  There were fourteen stairs; each held a letter that spelled out ‘I’m sorry’ twice. I got to the bottom and Hunter was standing in the kitchen, hands in his front pockets, hat backwards, leaning against the counter. His long sleeve T-shirt stretched tight across his broad chest, tattoo peeking out at the collar of his shirt.

  “Hi,” he said with a sad smile.

  I looked up into the blue eyes that I’d missed every damn day that we were apart. I was on the verge of crying, but I didn’t want to do it in front of him. “Hi.”

  “I’m sorry.” He said bashfully. I know he is; I can see it in his eyes. We were dealt a shitty hand and Hunter thought he was doing his best to protect Ryder and me.

  I huffed, “I read,” then looked back towards the steps.

  He didn’t try to take a step closer and I was thankful for that because I wouldn’t be able to form a sentence, let alone think clearly.

  “This wasn’t my idea. I was ambushed into it just like you. I’ll leave as soon as one of them gets back with a car.” Hunter explained.

  My heart rate sped up. I didn’t want him to go.

  I shrugged my shoulder. “It’s okay, it’s your house.”

  I walked into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water from the fridge.

  She was so close, I just wanted to reach out and hold her. She grabbed a bottle of water then went to sit at the kitchen table.

  “Where’d you get the shells?” She asked. Figures she’d catch on to that.

  “You aren’t the only one that collects them, my grandma did too. There’s still a box of them downstairs in the storage closet.”

  Damn she’s so beautiful. Long brown hair, clear blue eyes, it was like watching the ocean in her eyes. She was dressed in tight ass jeans and a cream color sweater that hung off her shoulder, showing the milky white skin that I just wanted to kiss. She had light colored makeup on and that gloss stuff that made her lips shimmer.

  She shook her head, turned to look the other way and whispered, “I’m sorry too.” She looked so broken, so lost. I never wanted to put that look on her face again.

  I went and sat across from her at the table; she turned and started playing with the label on her bottle. “You don’t have any reason to be sorry, CC. I should’ve told you from the beginning, I shouldn’t have kept something like this from you.”

  I’d had plenty of time to think about it, every night I would lie awake and think how stupid it was that I hadn’t told her. I knew she’d understand; she’s the most understanding person I know.

  “I’m sorry for the shitty things your father put your family through. No one deserves that.” She said as she looked me in the eyes.

  I reached across the table and took one of her hands in mine and repeated the words that were tattooed on us, needing her to remember what it meant to us, “I can conquer the world with one hand…”

  “As long as you are holding the other,” she finished for me.

  I pushed my seat back and fell to my knees in front of her, “I love you, CC. Please forgive me.” The tears were falling down her cheeks; I reached up and wiped them away. “Please, CC. We can work through this. I want my family back.”

  She cupped my face with both of her hands and kissed me. I hugged her to me, never wanting to let her go.

  We were both breathless when she said, “You have us back Hunter. I can handle things, have faith in me. Don’t ever hide things from me again, ever.”

  “Never.”

  Shit! I needed to tell her about Lily in case she ever found out.

  I sighed, “One thing. After I left you that night I went to the bar. I ran into Lily and she tried to kiss me, she missed and kissed my cheek instead. I got the hell out of there after that.”

  “Whore.” CC grumbled.

  I laughed. “I love you, CC.”

  “I love you too.” She kissed me again then whispered in my ear. “Take me upstairs.”

  She didn’t have to tell me twice, I threw her over my shoulder and took the stairs two at a time.

  I knew we should go slowly and take time to revel in each other’s bodies, but this wasn’t one of those times. We both needed it this way.

  After we’d completely exhausted each other, we lay there wrapped together, utterly spent. . While we were enjoying the sounds of our breathing, our heartbeats, CC asked, “Why do you love me?”

  I gazed into her beautiful eyes and said the only thing that made sense, “Because it’s so easy to love you.”

  Hunter and I decided to push our wedding out until May. We felt like the winter months were tainted. For the last two years running some kind of drama had gone down. First it was Hunter and I fighting to be together, and then Jason showing back up.

  Ryder was getting so big and even crawling around and getting into everything. Hunter’s mom offered to watch him for us while I went back to college and Hunter was at work. Trying to juggle classes, homework, playing with Ryder, cooking dinner and everything else was hard but we were managing. Hunter and I declared every Friday night as a date night as long as we could find someone to watch Ryder for us. We needed this time to ourselves.

  We hadn’t heard a word from Jason, Lynn or Brittany since Hunter confronted them. I hoped it stayed that way but I had a feeling it wouldn’t.

  It was the weekend of my bachelorette party and I let Hailey talk me into pole dancing. We were at my house getting ready for our night out while the guys were over at Jackson’s. They were going to the batting cages and then going to the bar afterwards. Mason and Cooper were lucky enough to have this weekend free and we’d planned it so they could be included.

  Jaylinn was doing my hair while Hailey and Chloe were getting dressed. “So do you have your letter for Hailey done already?” Jaylinn asked.

  “Yup, it’s under my pillow.”

  I’d decided to write Hailey a note listing the top ten reasons why she was my best friend. I’d never be able to thank her and Mason enough for that morning in the mountains.

  “Can I read it?” Jaylinn asked.

  “Yeah sure,” We finished up my hair then locked ourselves in the bathroom so Hail
ey couldn’t sneak up on us.

  Jaylinn was teary eyed when she finished. “She’s gonna love it.”

  “No crying, we’re too dolled up for that shit. Let’s get the hell out of here.” I told her.

  A few hours later we were finished with our pole dancing lessons. How those strippers did that for a living was beyond me, my legs were sore as shit.

  “Let’s go meet the guys.” I suggested.

  “You sure that’s a good idea?” Hailey asked.

  “Yeah, it’s not like there at some strip club.” I explained.

  I texted Hunter that we were on our way and he said he couldn’t wait to see me. When we arrived it was dark, the club music was blasting through the speakers and it was packed.

  I spotted him sitting at the bar with Jackson and Cooper so we made our way over.

  “Hey baby.” I crooned in Hunter’s ear.

  “Hey sexy,” he said as he spun around in his chair. “You want something to drink?”

  Chloe ordered her drink while Hailey, Jaylinn and I got water, this whole not being twenty-one shit really sucks.

  “Hunter, where’s Mase?” Hailey asked.

  “He was playing pool.” Hunter answered.

  “Kenz, can you run to the bathroom with me real quick?” Hailey asked.

  “Alright,” I kissed Hunter on the cheek and told him I’d be right back.

  I figured now was a good time to ask Hailey to stay with me the night before the wedding. We hadn’t really talked about the night before but I wanted to make sure it was spent with her. After she finished drying her hands and fixing her hair I handed her the letter. “What are you doing the night before the wedding?”

  She eyed me, “What do you mean? I’m staying with you.”

  I shrugged, “Just wanted to make sure. I want to spend it with my biffy.”

  “I love you Kenz. That means more than you know.”

  “Love you too. Now let’s go dance.”

  Hailey held the door open for me but froze suddenly. “Hails, what the hell…”

  My words froze in my mouth. Mason was standing in this little nook in the wall with a girl with long tanned legs and stripper heels.