Hard to Love You (12 page)

“Pig,” Hailey laughs.

I look over at my best friend, her eyes are all red and puffy but she’s beautiful anyway. I take a few steps over to her and hand her the drink I got for her.

“God I love you. For a minute there I thought you were two fisting it.” Hailey says while taking the glass out of my hand.

“Would I ever leave you hanging like that?” I kid around with Hailey.

“Well our job is done here. Save me a dance, hot stuff?” Bentley asks.

“Of course.”

I catch both Bentley and Zeke wink at Hailey as they leave.

“Going on a trip?” I probe.

She shrugs her shoulders at me, “Maybe, still deciding.”

We are both quiet for a few minutes. It’s a little uncomfortable and I feel the need to say something to fix it.

“You know I love you right?” I say with a smirk on my face.

“Like I’d ever give you a choice.” Hailey quips back.

“I need you to do me one favor to make this wedding of mine even better.”

She raises her eyebrows at. “What’s that?”

“Just let go of your shit with Mason. Just for the rest of the night. For me, please.” I beg.

She stares at me like I just asked her to cut off her right arm. Finally she says, “Fine, but the second you leave, things are going back to the way they were. Let me introduce you to Cole and then we can go and grab another drink. I need to cool off a little after your brother tried to kill me with that song.”

I fling my arms around her tiny little body, “Thanks Hails.”

As we walk out of the bathroom we almost run into someone I don’t recognize. Hailey grabs my arm. “Kenz, I want you to meet Cole.”

So this is Hailey’s date. “Nice to meet you, Cole.”

“Nice to meet you too, and congratulations.” Cole says.

Someone taps me on the arm; I turn and look, Mason. Shit, this is going to be weird. “You may want to go rescue your husband; the twins talked him into getting drinks. You know how they get.”

Oh hell.
I look over and sure enough my twin cousins, Nicole and Laura, have Hunter between them with what looks to be about six shots between the three of them.

“Go.” Hailey says when she sees my face.

I hear Mason chuckling as I walk away.
Asshole.
He could have helped Hunter out there.

I finally steal my husband away from my cousins and we take our seats at the head of the table as dinner is being served. Mason makes his best man speech and Hailey says a few words as well.

After everyone finishes with dinner we make our way back out on the deck. The DJ is playing all the latest hits and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. It’s so good seeing all my family that I don’t get to see often enough. Hailey is dancing all crazy with Ryder snuggled close, giggling away, and poor Cole is trying to keep up. If Hailey wasn’t so hung up on my brother then she and Cole would make a really cute couple. The music changes to
I Will Be There by Art Of Dying
. I make a bee-line directly to Hailey, wanting to steal a slow song with my little monkey.

I see Mason watching Hailey just off to the side of the bar that’s closest to the dance floor. I reach Hailey and hold my arms out. “You’re stealing my date away?” she whines.

Ryder gets all excited when he sees me, arms and legs flailing all over. “Yes, give me my baby boy.” Ryder practically leaps out of Hailey’s hands.

“I think someone wants to dance with your Aunt Hailey, huh Ryder?” I croon to him while looking over at Mason who smiles at us.

Hailey looks all around, purposely avoiding Mason. “What are you talking about? Cole is right here.” she says dumbfound.

Cole scratches the back of his head, “Uh, I think I’m gonna ask your mom if she wants to dance. She looks a little lonely over there.”

Cole meets my eye and I silently thank him. Then he turns on his heel to go and grab Ms. Taylor.

As soon as Cole turns away Mason quickly walks up to us and whispers, “me.” into Hailey’s ear.

Hailey jumps and her left hand flies to hold her chest, “Damn it, Mase, you scared the hell out of me.”

Mason pulls Hailey close and she wraps her arms around his neck. I spin around with Ryder in my arms and leave them to the dance.

“You gonna help me get them back together right monkey?” I say to Ryder who now has my finger in his mouth.

“His teeth bothering him?” My mom asks as she cuts into our dance.

Mom takes Ryder out of my hands and I slip into Jackson’s arms.

“I didn’t see you standing there.” I tell him.

“I know. I finally saw my opening. You’re a pretty popular girl today.” He says, smiling at me.

“That’s ‘cause I got the dance moves.” I joke with him.

“I’m proud of you, Kenz. I know I don’t tell you that often but I am.” I gaze up at my big brother. My heart skips a beat. Jackson and I haven’t ever really been that close, the age difference affects us. Plus he’s been wrapped up in Chloe for so long, I never bonded with him like I did the twins.

“Thanks Jackson. I’m trying. I’ve got a pretty good teacher as a brother you know.”

“Is that so?”

“Yup.”

We dance for a few more minutes while the song wraps up. Chloe asks to dance with her husband and before I even have a chance to look around for Hunter to take his place, Cooper sweeps me away.

“I don’t think you should have invited so many people.” Cooper says.

“And why’s that? I thought Hunter and I did fairly well. We only invited family and our closest friends. Could you have pictured it if we invited everyone we wanted?”

“I’m just kidding with you, Kenz. I’m just bustin’ your balls ‘cause I keep trying to catch a dance with you.” He laughs.

I push my hair off my shoulder, “What can I say, everyone loves me.”

“We sure do.” He winks at me.

“So what’s up with Mase?” I ask. Cooper goes tense.

We sway past mom and Ryder and I blow my baby boy a kiss.

He’s staring over my shoulder like he’s a million miles away. “I don’t know.”

“Coop …”

“I don’t, Kenz. He’ll talk to us when he’s ready. You know Mase, he has to do everything his way.” Cooper reminds me.

“I know, but I hate that he’s so stubborn.” I complain.

“You should talk.” He chuckles. And the mood changes light again.

I roll my eyes, “Shut up.”

“You look beautiful, Kenz.”

I smile at him; Cooper’s always been the laid back brother. He’s great with the ladies, always has been. I wish him and Jaylinn would get their shit together. Those two are next on my list to figure out.

“Where’s Jaylinn?”

“Dancing with your husband.” He answers with a nod of his head.

The DJ makes an announcement for the father of the bride and the bride to please make our way to the dance floor. Cooper kisses my forehead and heads back to his seat.

The floor is just about empty when I see my dad.
I Loved Her First
by Heartland starts playing and the tears burn my eyes.

“Hey baby girl.” Dad says while he places a hand on my back and holds my right hand.

“Hey Daddy.” I’m trying to hold the tears back, I really am.

“You look like a princess today.”

The dam breaks and the tears fall. I look over my dad’s shoulder, trying to calm myself down. The whole room is watching us. I spot Hunter holding Ryder just off to the side, he waves Ryder’s little hand at me.

I laugh. “Thanks Dad. You don’t look so bad yourself. You know, for being a grandpa.”

“Such a smart ass.” He laughs. “Your mom and I are really proud of you MacKenzie. You’ve grown up to be such a great young woman and a wonderful mom to Ryder. You really stepped up.”

“Oh Dad,” I manage to choke out.

“Just because I gave you away today, it doesn’t mean you’re not my baby girl anymore. I’m always going to be here, whenever you need me.”

I take a few moments to compose myself, “I love you Daddy, more than you’ll ever know.”

The song comes to an end as my dad says, “I love you too baby girl.” He kisses me on the cheek and I hear him sniffle.

The song ends and the DJ starts playing
Cupid Shuffle by Cupid
. I’m so happy for the upbeat song; I think I’ve cried enough for one day. Mason is sitting at the table looking miserable. I dance over to him and force him onto the dance floor. He knows better than to say no to me today.

Mason stands to the side while I dance and he looks on, laughing at me and Aunt Betty. Our Aunt Betty is in her seventies, she’s a trip to hang out with. You would never know she was that old by the moves she has.

When the song ends, I link my arm with Mason’s and pull him down to the beach with me. I’m all sweaty from dancing and need some fresh air.

“Wow, look at it out here. I love the way the beach is lit up with these candles.”

Mason doesn’t reply, he just sighs loudly.

“You hanging in there?”

He looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind. “You let her bring that Cole guy?”

I knew he was going to ask that. “Mase, what choice did I have? She asked, I couldn’t exactly tell her no.”

He sighs again, “I know.” He digs his feet in the sand.

We stand there for a few minutes; the reception carrying on behind us, the ocean crashing in front of us.

“Don’t make me regret what I’m about to tell you.” I say to Mason.

He looks over to me and nods.

“Hailey is taking care of Ryder from Sunday until Tuesday at my house. If you can find the time in your busy ass schedule, stop over there.”

“Is he going to be there?” Mason questions.

“Cole?”

He nods.

“No. It’s not like that with them, Mase. Hailey isn’t ready to move on, she’s still heartbroken. I’m hoping that this time I’m giving you guys to ‘play house’ will help. I know you had plans to move her in with you.”

He snaps his head over to me.

“Remember, no more secrets between Hunter and me.” I wink.

He laughs, “This ought to be good.”

I get chills from the mental images flashing around in my head. “No, we don’t talk about that shit. I don’t ever want to know.”

We both laugh.

I see a couple standing up down near the ocean, it takes me a minute to figure out who it is. Once the wind picks up and they walk a little closer to one of the candles I can tell its Hailey and Cole. Hailey turns towards the ocean again while Cole keeps walking. I tap Mason with my elbow and nod in her direction. Mason stares at her with a painful expression on his face. Cole passes by us and I give him a little wave.

I lean over and kiss my brother on the cheek, “Go talk to her. I’m going to go get Hunter and get out of here.”

Mason groans, “I didn’t really need to hear that last part, Kenz.”

I laugh as I start to walk away. “Try to keep her from walking in on us huh?”

He shakes his head and wanders over to Hailey. As I walk back up on the deck Hunter swoops in and wraps me in his arms.

“There you are, baby.”

I wrap my arms around his waist, “You ready to get out of here soon?”

“Hell yes.” He moans in my ear.

Hunter and I walk over to the DJ and ask him to play one last song for us since we are heading out when it’s over.

The Time Of My Life
by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes starts playing. Hunter and I start singing it to each other, laughing and carrying on. Damn, I love him with everything that I am. He’s so handsome when he isn’t worrying about the rest of world.

He pulls me close to him. Our fingers entwined and hands down to our sides, chest to chest, and our noses just about touch. He stares into my eyes and it makes me weak in the knees. “I’ve got one last little gift for you.”

“Yeah?” I say breathlessly.

He lets go of my right hand and reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a little blue Tiffany’s box with a white bow.

“Hunter, I think you’ve given me everything a girl could possibly need. You didn’t need to do anything else.” I say as I reach with shaky hands to take the box.

“I didn’t buy this recently.” He says as I slip off the bow.

When I take off the top of the box, nestled inside is a diamond encrusted key. I look up at him, a bit confused.

Hunter kisses me. “It’s the key for the locket I gave you a two Christmases ago. I told you it had a key and I would give it to you when I was ready.” He kisses my lips again and a tear slips down my cheek. “I’m ready CC.”

I put the lid back on and slide my arms around his neck, “I love you. I love you so much that sometimes I feel like this is all a dream.”

Hunter wraps me tightly in his arms and lifts me up off the ground. “Then is a dream that I don’t want to wake up from.”

I kiss him until we are both breathless.

After the song ends, Hunter and I walk around and say our goodbyes to our friends and family. We tell a few of my cousins we will get together soon and we promise to stop down to see Bentley and Zeke when we get back. I thank Logan for coming and tell him we’ll stop and see him when we visit Bentley and Zeke. I smile over at Dominic and thank him for coming as well. He barely meets my eyes when he congratulates us again.

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into letting him come.” Hunter says as we make our way over to Mom, Dad, Hunter’s mom and Ryder.

I pat him on the stomach, “Hey, if it wasn’t for him screwing up then we may not be together.”

Hunter stops walking. “I was coming after you one way or another, CC. It just took me a little too long to realize that I couldn’t live without you.”

I stand up on my tip toes and kiss him, long and hard.

“I love you so damn much, baby.” He says as he rests his forehead on mine.

“And I love you too.”

We say goodbyes to our parents and make plans to meet for breakfast so that we can say our goodbyes to Ryder before we leave for our honeymoon.

“Let’s go, Mrs. McCormick.” Hunter says when I finally pry myself away from Ryder. “We’ve got a honeymoon suite calling our name and I plan on putting that room to good use.” He whispers in my ear while we wait for the elevator.

“Lead the way, Mr. McCormick.”

It’s an incredible ending to an incredible day. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.