Hard To Love You

9 By your side - Mason -

I toss and turn for a while; I can’t sleep worth a shit, the anticipation of what’s to come tomorrow. I wish that the day isn’t going to be painful for me, or for Hailey either. It’s my fault, like always. Maybe it’s better if Hailey and I do go our separate ways. I always seem to screw things up where she is concerned. I’ve told her for years that I would always protect her but I just seem to hurt her more. I should have just told her why I had Lily cornered. It’s stupid that I didn’t. Hailey and I made a promise to never ask the other to keep secrets. It wasn’t fair that we asked each other to hide things. I know she would probably understand why I did it. But on the other hand I knew it was a possibility that she might not, why should I trust anything that Lily said? She couldn’t be trusted. This was why I wanted to wait until after the wedding to talk to her.

I hear Ryder babbling and cooing down the hall. I figure since I’m up I figured I might as well go check on him and give Hunter a few extra hours of sleep.

I push his bedroom door open; Ryder is standing up in his pack-n-play, batting at his mobile. I cross the room to him and his eyes light up. “Hey big guy.”

Ryder smiles, showing me his gums and his two little bottom teeth that have popped up.

I reach down and pick him up, along with his blanket and his binky. I take a seat in the rocking chair with him and hope to rock him back to sleep. He’s sucking away on his binky and he’s got a hold of my finger.

“You know how lucky you are, Ryder?” He kicks his little feet. “Mommy is gonna look like a princess tomorrow, and your daddy is going to sweep her off her feet. You got pretty lucky with those two.”

He starts grunting and rubs his eyes with his hand. His blanket slides off of us; I reach down and grab it for him. I turn his little body so that we are chest to chest and his head is resting on my shoulder.

“Your mommy is one of the strongest women I know, aside from your grandma. She doesn’t look brave on the outside but she is on the inside. Don’t be fooled by her.” He tucks his arm up under my chin. “I’m gonna need you to help me out tomorrow, buddy. Aunt Hailey is going to be there and it’s going to mess with my head.” I take a deep breath. “I miss her.”

I listen closely to see if he’s gone back to sleep and I hear his soft breathing and feel it against my neck. I don’t want to move just yet in case he wakes up while I’m moving around so I hold him for a little while longer.

Holding him like this in my arms does something inside me. I want this with Hailey. I want the house with the white picket fence, the two point four kids and the dog. The last time I wanted something like this was when I begged my dad to let me play baseball all those years ago.

I feel Ryder moving so I hold on a little tighter to make sure I don’t drop him. Then I feel someone tap my arm.

“I’m going to put him down.” Hunter says when I open my eyes.

The room is bright, sun shining through the blinds. I must have fallen asleep while I was rocking Ryder.

I get up and walk quietly out into the hallway. Hunter follows once he lays Ryder down.

“How long have you been in there?” Hunter asks.

I shrug. “Not sure. It was around four when I heard him.”

Hunter nods. “I didn’t even hear him on the monitor.”

“No big deal, I was up.” We walk down the hall towards the stairs. “What time is it?”

I roll my stiff neck as he answers, “About ten. I peeked in to make sure Ryder was ok because he’s normally up way before now.”

When we reach the kitchen; I reach in the fridge for a bottle of water. “You want one?” I ask Hunter who is sitting at the kitchen table.

“No thanks.”

I shut the door and take a seat next time him. It’s quiet; Cooper, Jackson and Alex must either be out or still sleeping.

“Everything ok with you?” Hunter questions me.

I knew it was only a matter of time before someone asked me that.

“Yup, couldn’t be better.” I say sarcastically.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“What do you want me to say? I fucked up. What else is new?”

“What happened that night?” Hunter is looking at me with concern in his eyes. He knows I don’t do shit for no good reason, not where it concerns Hailey.

“Doesn’t matter, what’s done is done. Let’s not try to fix me today. Today is about you and my little sister. My shit will still be here later.”

Hunter watches me for a long few minutes, making me uncomfortable.

“I’ll drop it for now.” He tells me. “Cooper, Jackson and Alex will be back with breakfast soon. No one felt like cooking.”

I don’t answer back; food is the least of my worries. I grab my water bottle and head out on the back deck. I strip out of my shirt and take a run down on the beach, needing to clear my head.

A few hours later we are all dressed in our tuxes. The limo is outside, waiting to take us over to the hotel. The photographer is here, taking pictures of all of us out on the beach. She’s been snapping some with just Hunter and Ryder and a few with me, his best man. She’s finished now so we all pile into the limo and head to the hotel.

It’s show time.

- Hailey -

We order room service once we are all awake and functioning. We stayed up pretty late last night as no one could sleep. The hairstylist and make-up artist should be showing up any minute to get started.

“Are you getting nervous yet?” Chloe asks MacKenzie.

She shakes her head, “No. Is that normal? I mean, I’m excited but I’m not nervous. Is that bad? Oh god, maybe it’s a sign or something.”

We all start giggling. “Hate to point this out to you but you’re a nervous wreck, Sweetie.” Chloe tells her.

MacKenzie frowns.

Elle, MacKenzie’s mom, walks in with a single red rose and a piece of paper in her hand. She walks over and hands it to MacKenzie. Chloe, Jaylinn, Elle and I, all share a knowing look. Hunter wrote MacKenzie a letter about her something new, old, borrowed and blue.

“What’s this?” MacKenzie asks.

Elle places a hand on her shoulder. “Open it, baby girl.”

She looks up and we all smile at her. She opens it and reads it silently. When MacKenzie is done she looks up at us with tears in her eyes.

“Well, what did it say?” Jaylinn questions.

I can tell MacKenzie is trying hard to not cry. Jaylinn reaches for the letter and reads it out loud.

Morning baby,

I hope you were able to get some sleep. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since dinner last night. Can’t wait to see you in a few hours and be able to call you my wife. Thank you for today.

I told you I wanted to take care of your new, old, borrowed and blue.

Your mom is holding your something old.

Chloe has your something borrowed.

Jaylinn has your blue.

And last but not least, Hailey has your new.

Each girl has been given certain times to reveal your items throughout the morning and afternoon. I hope you love them.

Love you always and forever,

Your soon to be husband

We all look over at Elle who is placing diamond hairpins on the table in front of MacKenzie.

“These were your grandmother’s, who then passed them down to me. And now I’m giving them to you to wear on your special day.” Elle explains.

We all have tears in our eyes now. “Who knew my brother could be such a sap.” Jaylinn sniffles.

Someone knocks on the door; I look down at my cell phone. The hair stylist and make-up artist are right on time, “I’ll get it.” I tell them.

For the next hour, MacKenzie’s hair is being styled while I get my makeup done. When we finish, Chloe disappears upstairs to get MacKenzie’s something borrowed.

MacKenzie looks over at Chloe who comes back into the room with a black box.

“Here’s your something borrowed. Your brother bought this for me on our wedding day and I think it would go perfectly with your dress.” Chloe explains.

Inside the box is a beautiful, diamond, tennis bracelet. We all sigh, including the makeup artist and hair stylist. MacKenzie and I switch places, I’m getting my hair styled and MacKenzie is now getting her makeup done.

After we finish, Jaylinn presents MacKenzie’s something blue. MacKenzie smiles brightly at her as she hands her a blue piece of fabric. “I know you thought you lot Ryder’s blanket but don’t worry, you didn’t Hunter took it and it’s now back in Ryder’s crib.”

“He’s trying to kill me with these tears today.” MacKenzie says while wiping her cheeks.

MacKenzie, who now has her makeup and hair done, relaxes out on the balcony not that the sun is starting to set; talking to Elle and Sadie, Hunter’s mom. Chloe and Jaylinn are finishing up with their hair and makeup so I make my way upstairs and lay MacKenzie’s wedding dress across the bed, being careful not to wrinkle it. I dig in my small overnight bag for the gift that I get to give to her from Hunter. I place her shoes on the floor; take one more look at her dress and her gift that I’ve placed on it. My best friend is one lucky bitch. I feel the burn in my eyes. I wave my hands in front of my face so the tears don’t fall. I’m so happy for her, she deserves this.

Chloe calls my name, letting me know they are done. I tighten my robe and pad down the stairs to let MacKenzie know we need to get dressed. When I reach the bottom of the stairs I hear Jaylinn explaining to the photographer that MacKenzie is about to get dressed and if she wants to head upstairs to set up for photos she can.

I slide the balcony door open and Elle, Sadie and MacKenzie all look over at me. “It’s time.”

I see MacKenzie take a deep breath and both moms grab one of her hands and squeeze. She stands and we all follow her upstairs.

As soon as she reaches the top, we all see a light flash from the photographer. MacKenzie has her hand covering her mouth. We all pile in the room and it really is a sight to see. Her gorgeous dress is spread out on the bed with her veil lying next to it and her blue shoes, that are dyed to match our dresses, are placed on the floor along with the last and final gift.

MacKenzie looks at all of us and when her eyes land on me I wink.

“I love you girls. This day couldn’t have started out any better than it has.” She tells us.

MacKenzie moves forward to the bed and reaches for the small black box. She turns towards us and a single tears slips down her cheek.

I blink a few times, trying to keep my own tears away.

“Hunter said they remind him of your eyes and I have to agree with him.” I explain as she holds the box in her hand.

Hunter’s so sweet. I would never have guessed Hunter had all this sweetness to him; no wonder MacKenzie couldn’t ever give up on him.

MacKenzie flips the little black box open and her hand immediately flies to her mouth. We all step closer to look over her shoulder. Tucked inside the box is a pair of blue and white, diamond twist drop earrings. They shimmer and glitter every time she moves the box.

“Just like your eyes.” I whisper in her ear.

MacKenzie turns around and flings her arms around me, hugging me tightly. I see the moms hugging each other as well as Jaylinn and Chloe. MacKenzie sniffles a few times and I feel the wetness on my shoulder through my silk robe. She squeezes me even tighter, takes a deep breath and finally lets go.

I’m so glad that Hunter told MacKenzie that he wanted to handle these gifts. He’d heard her stressing about it one night while we were hanging out and talking about the wedding. I was a little worried that he was in a little over his head but he nailed it. He’s a keeper in my book.

“Ok ladies, no more tears. We need to get dressed and get our asses downstairs.” I tell them all.

As we all help MacKenzie get dressed, and then sort out ourselves, the photographer takes pictures. Now that we are all dressed we take group photos, mom photos and then a few of MacKenzie and me.

“Let’s go girls, I can’t wait anymore.” MacKenzie exclaims.

It’s show time.