Easy to Love You (11 page)

I set Ryder on the dining room table, pulled off his blanket and belts and scooped him up. Jaylinn walked out and looked at me with eyes full of fear and worry.

“Get that look off your face. That dickbag isn’t going to touch us again, Jay.” Ryder started fussing. “I’ll let you know when you have to worry.”

Jaylinn still looked scared but dropped the issue and went to go sit with Cooper again. I took Ryder to my bedroom, changed him and fed him his bottle. He passed out shortly after that and so did I. He woke up a few hours later and I started all over again. I changed him, fed him and then we both went back to sleep. The problems started that morning after Jaylinn and Cooper left for work. I was getting calls from unknown numbers and when I’d pick up, all I heard was breathing. I didn’t want CC to come home to this but what could I do? I had no proof it was the dickbag playing games.

I was trying to feed Ryder when CC called me and begged me to make sure she could come home tonight. The little one could probably sense that something was wrong because he wasn’t eating for me. I was stressed the fuck out. I packed him all up and just wanted to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

When I got there CC was talking to Dr. Clearly about Lynn assisting us, I promised CC I would bring her home so I had to make sure that happened. After everything was settled I told her I was going to put some of her stuff in the car. I had to give myself a few minutes before facing her again, I hated not telling her about my piece of shit father but she didn’t need to worry about that right now. These next few weeks were going to be hard enough on her because she’s so independent and she hated not being able to do stuff her way when she wants to. I was more worried about running into my dad again when we brought CC down as well, so taking the things to the car was also my way of looking around for him.

A little while later it was finally time for us to head home, and thankfully there was no sign of my sperm donor anywhere. I got Ryder all situated back in his car seat and Lynn came in with a wheelchair. “You ready for this?” I asked CC, a huge grin spreading across my face. I couldn’t wait to get her home and in our bed. I knew there would be no sex for at least six to eight weeks but I just wanted her next to me. Us together, skin to skin.

“Yes! Let’s get the hell out of here and never, ever come back.” She said; her smile just as big as mine.

I scooped her up and put her in the wheelchair, according to hospital procedures I wasn’t allowed to push CC downstairs, so Lynn was there to do it for us.

She winced as I put her in the chair, “You ok?”

She squeezed her eyes shut, “Yeah.” She took a deep breath, “It’s my stomach,” she opened her eyes, “I’m fine now.”

I looked up at Lynn, nodded my head and she wheeled CC out while I grabbed Ryder and the last bag from the room. As we approached the elevators Lynn hit the button and said, “Would you like me to stop over tonight and assist or would you like to pick up things tomorrow?”

CC glared at Lynn behind her back, “Tomorrow please and just so you know by the end of the week, I won’t need your assistance. I’ll figure out a way to do this on my own.”

I tried to hide the smirk on my face by looking down at Ryder and busying myself with his blanket. That was my girl, courageous, self-assertive, gutsy and tough. She was intoxicating to me at times, I just got so caught up in her that I saw nothing else.

“I’ll be here to help as long as you need me to.” Lynn tried to keep her face neutral but I could tell she was infuriated by CC’s determination. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea that we allowed her to be our nurse. It was too late to change it now, but if things got too bad or if CC wasn’t on her own by the end of the week, I’d talk to her about bringing in someone else.

The elevator doors dinged and we stepped in, the ride down was quiet. The doors dinged again and we stepped out. Lynn wheeled CC over to the front doors, “I’ll go get the car.” I said.

She nodded, “Leave him; he’ll be fine with me.” I glanced up to Lynn who nodded as well.

I walked out the doors to go get the car and pulled it up out front. I parked, got out and came around the car and my heart stopped.

“Awe, isn’t he a handsome looking baby?” said a man’s voice behind me. I turned to see an older guy and couldn’t help but notice how much he looked like Hunter.

“He is, isn’t he?” I replied back, looking down at Ryder sitting next to me in his car seat. He was all decked out in his Nike track suit with hat included.

“He is. Is his dad pulling the car around?” The older guy asked. That last comment was giving me a weird vibe, what the hell was taking Hunter so long? I reached down with my good arm and held onto Ryder’s car seat, needing that extra reassurance.

“Yeah,” I looked out the front door and nodded with my chin. “He’s actually right there.” Hunter came sprinting in, the second he put the car in park. Christ, I don’t even know if he put it in park, he was out so fast.

The guy started backing away when he noticed Hunter coming in our direction, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he roared.

The guy smiled and kept on backing up while staring Hunter down.
Well that’s just creepy.
Lynn was just holding on to the back of my wheelchair the whole time, a lot of help she would be if something were to happen.

“Baby, you ok? What did he say to you?” Hunter asked. He was on his knees next to me, red faced with a vein popping out of the side of his neck. That vein proved to me just how pissed off he was, I figured he would be a little over protective but the guy had only said that Ryder was handsome.

“Relax, nothing happened, we’re both fine. He only said that Ryder was handsome, that’s it. He didn’t try to touch us or anything.” I let go of Ryder’s car seat and reached over to cup Hunter’s cheek. He covered my hand with his and leaned into it.

“Sorry.” He said gently. I could see the storm in his eyes start to clear out.

“It’s fine, we may be a little fragile right now but we aren’t going to break.” I stared into his crystal clear blue eyes, willing him to understand. “Take us home.” I winked and started to slowly pull my hand away.

Hunter looked down at the ground and shook his head and then stood, reached for Ryder and picked him up. He gave me a half smile, glanced over his shoulder and then walked to the car parked outside.

I could hear Lynn breathing harder behind me as she wheeled us out to the car. She even got a little too close to hitting my broken ankle on the door. I muttered under my breath, “Bitch!” Then I glared at Hunter so he would know to get me the hell away from her.

Hunter scooped me up and gently placed me in the car, “I’ll stop by tomorrow afternoon when I get off my shift.” Lynn said, stepping away from the car.

“Don’t hurry.” I muttered.

Hunter chuckled. “We’ll be there.” He told her while walking around the front of the car to get in.

We pulled away from the curb, and I glanced around the car. It was pretty awesome. There were so many buttons that I couldn’t even figure out what half of them were used for. We’d only made it a few blocks from the hospital but the car ride was like driving in mid-air. You barely felt any bumps. That could all have something to do with Hunter though.

I looked in the side mirror and noticed a line of cars behind us. I glanced at Hunter, who had a death grip on the steering wheel, and then to the gauges to see how fast we were going. He was going 25 mph in a 40 mph zone. “Um,” I looked in the side mirror again, then back to Hunter. “You do realize the speed limit is 40, right?”

“Yeah, I know, why?” He answered, still not removing his eyes from the road.

“Oh I don’t know, maybe because there are like ten cars behind us.” I said rolling my eyes.

“So?”

Really?
“Hunter relax, nothing is going to happen. Shouldn’t I be the one that’s worried?” His knuckles started turning pink again. “Doesn’t this car have like ten air bags in it?”

“Yeah, the salesman said it was one of the safest SUV’s they make.” He glanced quickly at me then returned his eyes right back to the road.

“Good, then drive the damn car.” I said smiling at him. Big old worry wart.

He chuckled, “Yes ma’am.”

Before we even had a chance to really settle into the car we were pulling up at home. Home sweet home.

“Coop and Jay are working. Let me get Ryder inside and then I’ll come grab you.” Hunter said as he shut off the car and unbuckled his seatbelt.

“Okay.” I couldn’t wait to get settled inside, I missed being home. Being home with Hunter and Ryder made me feel complete. I would have to figure out a way to get rid of Lynn and then slowly kick Cooper and Jaylinn out as well. I’m giving my body five days, five days, that’s it.

True to CC’s word, she had Lynn removing the catheter by the end of the week and was quickly kicking her to the curb. Lynn brought CC a pair of crutches two days ago against doctors’ orders and she’s been determined to make it on her own. This is one of the things that I found so sexy about her, when she puts her mind to something, there’s no changing it. I adored her all the more for it. You can tell her she can’t do it, but she’ll prove you fucking wrong over and over again.

Before Lynn would sign off on CC’s discharge paperwork she had to prove that she could do it with no help from anyone. Like I said, you can’t tell her she can’t do something because that only makes her more determined.

We were in the bedroom and CC was lying in bed, “Ok CC,” It’s the first time Lynn had called MacKenzie that since the time in the hospital. I didn’t even have a chance to correct her before she spoke up about it, “My name is MacKenzie, not CC.” she snarled at Lynn. My little firecracker was in full force today.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t realize I called you CC.” Lynn replied. “Now, what I was about to say MacKenzie, I need you to get up from this position to the bathroom with no assistance.”

CC barely let her finish before she was swinging her legs off the bed, she reached over and grabbed the crutch that was leaning against the nightstand next to the bed. She hoisted herself up and hobbled over to the wheelchair, sat down and leaned the crutch up against the bed. Then she pushed herself down to the bathroom, stopped in front of the sink and hoisted herself out of the chair and then jumped with her good leg to the toilet and sat on the lid.

She looked up at Lynn, slightly breathless and smiled. Task complete.

Lynn smiled, “Very good. If you can do it back I’ll sign the paperwork and be on my way.”

CC loved a challenge and she completed it just as gracefully as she had on the way there. I went over to her, kissed her head, then bent down and let her kiss Ryder.

“Mommy’s a fighter huh, big guy?” I said to him.

“I look up to the best, Chunky Monkey.” CC said, beaming up at me.

Lynn cleared her throat, “Here is a copy of the paperwork, please be sure to follow up with the specialist in a few weeks to see if the cast can be removed.” Lynn tossed the paperwork on the bed.

CC squealed and flung herself back on the bed. I raised my eyebrows at the nurse, “Thanks for everything, Lynn.” I followed behind her down the stairs to see her out.

She opened the door but stopped before stepping out and turned to look at me, “If there’s anything,” she emphasized the word anything, “At all, I can do for you; here’s my cell phone number.”

She held her hand out for me to take the card but I just said, “No thanks, we’ll be fine.”

She looked like I’d slapped her, she huffed and then turned on her heel and left.

Ryder and I took the steps two at a time to get back upstairs to CC. When we walked in she was laying there resting her eyes. “You ok?”

She opened her eyes and smiled, “Better than ok.”

Ryder started fussing; it was about time for him to eat. “Someone’s hungry.”

“Yeah it’s about that time; here lay him next to me while you go get the bottle ready.” I placed him next to her on the bed and went to make up the formula.

A few minutes later, I was heading back upstairs when I heard singing. I stopped and listened, her voice was so soothing and calm. Ryder must have thought so too, because he wasn’t making a sound. I crept to the door and peeked in, not wanting to interrupt her.