Hard to Love You

Mason raises his hand and Alex gives him a high five and tells him good job. Mason unties the rings from the pillow and tells Alex to go stand back with his dad. Mason hands the rings over to Dylan. I notice Hailey shakes her head as if clearing her thoughts. CC looks at me and winks. I wonder if Mason is doing the same thing, both picturing themselves up here.

Dylan is going on about blessing the rings and then instructs, “Hunter, please place this ring on MacKenzie’s left hand and repeat after me.”

I can feel the finish line.

“MacKenzie, I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love, and my choice to share my life and dreams with you. I give you this ring, with the pledge to love you, today, tomorrow, and always.”

Dylan hands CC my ring and asks her to repeat after him.

“Hunter, I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love, and my choice to share my life and dreams with you. I give you this ring, with the pledge to love you, today, tomorrow, and always.”

A few more minutes and my best friend will finally be my wife. If he doesn’t hurry the hell up I’m going to say screw it and just kiss her. I can’t wait any longer. It’s been almost twenty-four hours since I had her lips on mine.

“MacKenzie and Hunter, you have committed yourselves to each other in marriage. Having pledged your faith and love to one another in the presence of God and these witnesses, by the exchange of your wedding vows and the giving and receiving of the rings.” Alright Dylan, enough, I want to kiss my wife. “It is with great joy and happiness, and by the power vested in me, that I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”

I pull CC into my embrace; she slips her hands up my chest and places both her tiny hands on either side of my cheeks. I say, “I love you, wife.” While at the same time she says, “I love you, husband.”

I place a soft, gentle kiss on her lips. We never talked about our kiss so I wasn’t exactly sure how to do it. CC takes the lead, needing more; she licks the seam of my lips. We deepen the kiss and get lost in the moment, memorizing every single detail about our amazing day so far. It feels like our kiss is short but probably isn’t by the way all three of her brothers clear their throats.

We break apart and CC says, “I guess some things will never change.”

We both laugh. “Sucks they can’t do a damn thing about it now, wife.”

I offer my arm to my wife, my other half; she grabs it and we make our way down the aisle while our friends and family cheer and congratulate us.

My life is finally complete and I couldn’t be any happier. Well, except for what I have planned for us tonight. Just the thoughts of stripping her out of that dress are making me want to fake being sick so I can wrap my body around hers.

11

Our ceremony is over and I’ve got my prince charming. Our day is only half over and it couldn’t have been anymore magical. The sun is about halfway set, our guests are all having cocktails while my wedding party and I are having our pictures taken.

The photographer has us all out on the beach posing for different shots. We’ve taken some formal ones and funny ones too. Now that the formal pictures are taken with my brothers, we start the funny ones. I am being held up across their bodies.

Mason is holding me up by my shoulders, and I feel the need to start grilling him. “I saw you repeating the vows to Hailey.”

He looks surprised.

“Was she watching you?” I question him.

He doesn’t answer at first because the photographer is making us change position.

“Yeah.” He finally responds.

“Was she saying them back?” I probe.

He nods.

“Mase, talk to me.” I beg. He’s breaking my heart, I know he loves her. He worships the ground she walks on. I know my brother, he wouldn’t cheat on Hailey. He despises Lily so there has to be a reason why he was with her that night in the bar. I want to beat it out of him. I want to yell at him.

We change positions again, “I can’t Kenz.” He looks out over the ocean. “I want to, God I want too but it’s something I just can’t do right now.”

I place my hand on his shoulder and stand on my tip toes so I’m somewhat eye level with him, “I’m here when you’re ready. I don’t care what time or where I am.”

He looks at me and smirks.

“Well, just not until I’m back from my honeymoon.” I tell him.

Mason groans and I laugh.

“Everything will work out. Don’t worry that pretty little head of yours.” Then he kisses my cheek.

The photographer calls over Hunter and the girls while I stand aside with my brothers and watch.

I look on as Hunter bends down on one knee while Hailey sits on his other and Jaylinn and Chloe stand behind them and to the sides. The photographer snaps a few pictures and I see Hunter and Hailey start talking. I wonder if he’s questioning her like I did Mason. After our honeymoon I’m stepping in and calling a family meeting, I think to myself. We all promised to tell each other everything. No more secrets. It’s supposed to be us against the world.

The photographer dismisses Jackson, Chloe, Alex, Jaylinn and Cooper. Now it’s time for pictures with the bride, groom, best man and maid of honor.

The tension is making it feel awkward. We take a few just as the sun is setting behind the ocean, it’s beautiful. The sky is lit up pink, purple, orange and blue. The photographer places Hunter and I facing each other, hands held. Then he stands Hailey and Mason just behind us but to the side in the same position.

I hear Hailey say, “This is really beautiful.” And I couldn’t agree more.

Then I hear, but just barely, “so are you,” come from Mason. Hailey gasps and Hunter squeezes my hand, he heard it too. It’s the first time they have spoken to each other all day. I know Hailey would need alcohol to deal with this situation, but since it’s my wedding day she’s handling it fairly well. I think I would have run.

The photographer says she’s got all the shots she needs and tells us to go on ahead and join the rest of the party in the bridal suite. We walk into the suite; it’s our own little party. Everyone has champagne and they all cheer when we walk in. The group is talking about the wedding and how much fun the reception is going to be.

Hailey, Jaylinn and Chloe pull me aside and help me get my dress bustled. When we finish and join everyone else, I see Cooper and Hunter huddled in the corner talking softly to each other. I snake my arms around Hunter’s stomach, and he turns and pulls me in front of him. He kisses the side of my head. Cooper rolls his eyes.