More Than Enough

by Johnson, Ashley

  For a brief moment when I opened my eyes, I almost forgot we weren’t in our home. The reality hit me when I noticed the swimsuit model to my right. I wanted to flip her awesome body off but I was too tired to do so. I rolled over and noticed Luke was already up. Geez. Why didn’t he wake me up so I didn’t have to face the awkward walking into the kitchen alone?

  I slid my shorts back on but kept the t-shirt on as I made my way to the kitchen. The aroma of coffee and bacon hit my nose and I knew the awkwardness would be worth it. My stomach was growling and all I wanted was to eat something.

  Sherry was the first to greet me. She was sipping on a cup of coffee reading the newspaper. “Good morning doll, did you sleep well?”

  “Yes ma’am. Thank you again for letting us stay the night.”

  “Anytime Macy. You two are welcome anytime.” Sherry was sincere when she told me that. I could tell by the way her eyes smiled.

  Randy’s eyes held the same smile as he looked at me and replied, “Macy, you don’t let him wait so long to bring you back here. Like Sherry said, you two are always welcome here no matter what. And if he won’t bring you, then you can come and visit us.”

  Those words meant the world to me. Randy just didn’t realize it. I gave him a warm smile as I replied, “We definitely won’t wait as long next time. I had no idea you guys lived here until yesterday and now that I know, you’ll be seeing more of us.”

  Both Sherry and Randy warmly smiled at me as I felt myself becoming more and more at home.

  Luke came walking up to me with a cup of coffee and I couldn’t help but smile. God bless this man. He’s sexy and he makes me coffee in the morning. He’s definitely more than just a keeper. “I made it just how you like it.”

  “Good to know I have you trained well.” I grinned as I graciously accepted the cup and took a sip. Sherry and Randy began laughing and soon we all were.

  Once I stopped laughing I kissed his cheek then went to sit at the table. As I walked by I overheard his mom tell him, “She seems like a good woman. I like her son. Hold onto her, don’t let her go.”

  I also heard him tell her, “I don’t plan on it.”

  All kinds of happy thoughts were swimming through my head after hearing that. His mom approved of me. She liked me, really liked me. Was I really more than enough for him? Obviously so because he proposed to me last night. Oh gosh, just thinking of it makes my cheeks flush several shades of pink and the infectious grin won’t go away. The thought just made me all giddy inside. I continued to sip on the coffee and began eating when the food was placed on the table.

  Sherry looked at me as I took a sip of coffee and asked, “So Luke hasn’t told me how you two met.”

  I swallowed the hot coffee quicker than I meant to. My throat probably had third degree burns now. I tried not to let the pain show on my face as I coughed attempting to soothe my throat.

  Luke noticed my apparent issue and spoke up, “We met at Gills in Bakersville one night. I decided I should keep her around after that.” He smiled and patted my thigh under the table. I giggled at his touch and felt my insides tingle at his words.

  Sherry and Randy smiled. I hoped they didn’t think any less of me. I was not the bar hopping whore I used to be. Although in my defense I never was a whore I just drank a lot so that would make me a bar hopping alcoholic. Trevor was the first guy from the bar I ever got involved with. I really didn’t plan to ever get involved with anyone ever again, let alone someone from the bar but well I couldn’t really help this one. It was just too right.

  Randy smiled and touched Sherry’s hand. “That’s ok son, you know your mother and I met at a ZZ Top concert.”

  I tried not to laugh. Somehow I could imagine them going to concerts when they were younger. I could almost picture a meeting like that and how random but perfect it was. I bet they were a blast to hang with back then just like they are now.

  “Yeah, Randy was drunk and just walked up to the spot my friends and I were hanging at and he sat in my chair and refused to get up. He even smoked most of my pot. I was mad, but there was just something about him. We were inseparable after that.”

  That was probably one of the funniest stories I’ve ever heard. At least I know if Luke and I ever had kids our story was nowhere near as crazy as that. We could always tell them grandma and grandpas story and have a good laugh.

  Randy spoke up attempting to steer the conversation in a different direction. It’s not like they had a story of really being ashamed of but you could just tell by his face that he’d heard enough of it.

  Luke cleared his throat in an attempt to change the subject and grabbed my hand. “Mom, Dad, I wanted to tell ya’ll that I asked Macy to marry me last night. It was spontaneous but well, I can’t help it. I’m in love with this girl and she makes my world spin around.

  My face flushed a little more because I wasn’t realizing we were announcing it this morning. Sherry eyes suddenly lit up as what he just said sunk in. “Congratulations! Oh honey come here and hug me!”

  Randy stood up and hugged us both and I suddenly couldn’t be too frustrated for him announcing the news without me knowing.

  “Thank ya’ll, I was really taken by surprise.” And I really was but it was totally worth it.

  “Welcome to the family Macy, we’re more than pleased to have you.” Randy couldn’t help but hug me again and I smiled. “How long you guys staying? We should celebrate.”

  “We’re probably going to head back soon Dad. Macy’s best friend is getting married in a few weeks and she called this morning with a wedding emergency.”

  This was news to me. Of course, I hadn’t had my phone on me and I sure wasn’t answering any of her calls or texts. I glanced over at Luke with a questioned look on my face.

  “She called you this morning?”

  “Yeah, she said she’s been trying to reach you but you must not have your phone on you.”

  “What kind of emergency does she have going on?” I was dying to hear what this could possibly be. Knowing her she called and completely made it up to get me to talk to her so she could beg for my forgiveness. This was surely just a sleazy plan to get me back into her wedding and I was not planning on caving. I really hated the fact that she had Luke’s number.

  “She said something about Oreo got ahold of some of the ribbons that you tied and tore them up and she needs help redoing them. I told her we’d be home in the next hour or so and she may stop by.” He cringed as he finished the last part. I’m guessing he saw my facial expression and knew I wasn’t happy. I was going to ring her neck and the dog’s neck. This was some crap.

  What the hell. Silently, I kicked myself again in the ass for having given her Luke’s number in case of emergency. She had to be lying, that’s the only logical explanation I could think of. This really had to be some sort of sick joke.

  I plastered the best fake smile I could on my face and replied, “I’ll call her as soon as we get home.”

  Oreo was a rowdy dog; I know this because she had chewed up at least one of my favorite pairs of shoes when I still lived in the apartment. After that happened, I never forgot to shut my door again when I left. And anything I had lying around in the kitchen or living room was placed to where she couldn’t reach it. She was still a puppy so it was a possibility that the ribbons I worked so hard at tying were no more. I supposed I wouldn’t know until I actually called her back.

  We stayed another thirty minutes just talking with Randy and Sherry. This was the most relaxed and laid back I think I’ve ever been and I wasn’t ready to let that go and have to resume normal everyday life. Here, there were no remnants of the past waiting to be brought back up and thrown in your face. That was my favorite part of being here. No one knew me or the baggage I carried around. I could be just me.

  “You bring Macy back you hear me Luke? And soon because we’ve got a wedding to plan” Sherry leaned into Luke and gave him a hug holding him for a good minute.

  “Mom I will don’t
worry about that. You women can knock yourselves out with that.”

  She hugged him once more then embraced me. Her arms wrapped around me just as tight. “We’re so excited for ya’ll! Make sure he treats you right.”

  “He does, I promise. He’s perfect to me.” Smiling came easy because it was the truth. He was nothing but pure perfection from the moment we met. This was the one thing I could tell honestly.

  We said our goodbyes and hugged some more. They stood outside waving as we drove off leaving the salty air behind. I missed that air already, dammit.

  I reached in my purse for my phone and turned it on. Notifications popped up left and right. Geez, and they were all from Halley. I held my breath as I read every single one of them but none were from Trevor. I let the breath out and began breathing normally again. They were all really from her.

  I opened the latest message and without reading whatever she sent I typed, “On our way home. You bringing the stuff over?”

  Instantly she replied, “Oh, now you can answer me? Please reconsider.”

  “Reconsider what?” I replied almost as quickly as she did.

  “Don’t play stupid Macy. You know what I’m talking about.”

  Unfortunately I did know what she was talking about. She wanted me to reconsider being in her wedding. Walking with Trevor and all that happy shit. No thank you. I rolled my eyes as I typed the answer she wasn’t going to be happy to read.

  “My answer is final. Don’t push your luck.”

  “Whatever I’ll be there in a few.”

  I turned the phone back off and closed my eyes the rest of the way home bringing myself back to yesterday and last night where I was probably at the most peace I’ve ever been in a long, long time.

  Chapter 6

  Yesterday and last night were some of the happiest moments of my life. Clarity seemed to find its way into my hectic life. I always knew I loved Luke, from that moment in his apartment the night he brought me home. Of course I didn’t blurt it out right away that would have been crazy. Knowing that I loved him was no issue. The issue was Trevor slowly trying to creep back in and the feelings that surrounded that. He was the first guy I ever really loved and gave my heart to. I had let him in and showed him the real me. All my walls had been torn down just for him, that was a huge deal for me. We were engaged to be married for crying out loud and were supposed to have a baby. I just hated that those feelings were coming back up.

  Something about meeting Luke’s parents and hearing him say the wonderful things he did made my butterflies swarm. Clarity. I was more than enough for him, but never enough for Trevor. Funny how these things happen in life. I’ve always heard the saying that things fall apart for even better things to fall into place, and I truly believe with all my heart that Luke was the better thing.

  Luke changed my whole world in the blink of an eye last night when he proposed to me on the back patio of Shells. Oh my gee, I didn’t see that one coming. The emotions involved were absolutely unreal I was excited and not one ounce of fear resided in my body. Everything about this was right and more than perfect. Finally, this is the man I know I’m supposed to be with for the rest of my life. No doubt about that. I expected his parents to kind of flip out on us and tell us we were rushing but Sherry and Randy did the complete opposite. They made me feel like I belonged with them and I know that I do.

  Luke carried our bags into the apartment that looked the same as we left it yesterday morning. Home sweet home, except for the dirty dishes we left out after breakfast. I began washing the two plates and just as I placed them back in the cabinet, there was a knock at the door.

  “I’ve got it.” I hollered at Luke. I heard the shower turn on and realized he hadn’t probably even heard the knock. Oh well, I know it was Halley anyway.

  Rolling my eyes, I took a deep breath and opened the door. Halley stood there with a bag of ribbon and flowers in one hand and her purse in the other. Her sunglasses were pushed up on her head and she wasn’t smiling. Great, I come home from a great night and have to deal with attitude.

  She didn’t even wait for me to say hi, she pushed past me like she owned the place and set her purse on the table. After giving the room a quick scan, I’m assuming for Luke, she stared at me. When she realized he wasn’t around, I knew I was in for it. Why did he have to pick right this second to go take a damn shower? He was perfectly fine just the way he was.

  “Do you have any idea how stressed I’ve been?”

  Halley stood there with her hand on her hip staring me down. What the hell does she think she’s doing? I retorted just as quickly, “I’m so sorry. Do you have any idea how pissed I’ve been? He showed up at the damn bar Halley. Texting me and watching me. Then he called me from your phone. What the hell?”

  “I didn’t know he had my phone Macy.” The look on her face told me she didn’t know but I wasn’t ready to believe her. Not when she had withheld information in the first place. “He really did leave Taylor though.”

  “Good for him. That doesn’t change anything.” I threw my hands up in the air like a maniac. Why did I care if he really left Taylor? None of that concerned me anymore. My hands came back to rest at my side before crossing them over my chest.

  She tried to reach out and touch my arm but I moved away. I brushed my bangs out of my face and then continued to stare at her.

  “I didn’t say it would, I just know he told you that.”

  “I thought you said you didn’t know he had your phone.”

  “He said he called you, he never said what phone from. I just know what he told me ok? Please be in my wedding Macy. I can’t do this without you.”

  “Yes you can. You made the decision to do it whenever you blatantly didn’t ask me if it were ok with me to walk with Trevor.” I heard the shower cut off and I continued in a whispered voice. “I’m happy Halley for once in my damned life. I am purely happy. Being in your wedding will cause nothing but trouble for me. I love you; I really do but find another friend. I will help you tie these ribbons again but that is the last thing I will do for this wedding. Got it?”

  Halley wasn’t budging. Her body was leaned against the side of the counter and her gaze was continuing to burn into me. “You are my best friend. Trevor is Marcus’ best friend. You know this. Why are you being such a bitch? It’s a five second walk down the aisle then you never have to see him again.”

  “No. Halley. Dammit no. I’ve told you already and I’m telling you again. NO! I won’t do it, I refuse.” I slammed my hands on the counter out of nothing but pure anger. Agitated wasn’t even the word for this right now. This conversation wasn’t happening in my kitchen, but then yes it was.

  Luke came walking up behind me and placed his arms around my waist. I jumped because he scared me and I was nervous he heard more than he needed to. The way his lips slowly kissed my neck let me know he heard nothing.

  “What does my baby refuse?” His voice had a light air about it and I could smell body wash. I love that smell on him. If she weren’t here, we’d totally be having sex right now.

  Trying to come with the quickest response I rambled, “To wear the damn dress she has picked out, it looks hideous. If she picks another style then I’m good.”

  Halley looked at me and let her lips form into a small smirk. She knew I was lying and I knew that if she were really a bitch she would rat me out. Good thing I knew she wouldn’t dare especially since she was so hell bent on me being in her wedding. Let’s just face it, she has to have me or she has no one.

  She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine Macy, pick out whatever style you want. I really just thought you would have liked that one.”

  I eased up and offered her a smile despite my attitude. “Good, thank you.”

  “Well, I’m going to watch some TV while you ladies tie your ribbons or whatever it is you do. Just forget I’m here.”

  Luke disappeared into the living room and was watching some movie that involved blowing shit up. When I was sure he c
ouldn’t hear anything I looked at her again as I started tying ribbons around the flowers.

  “I hope you’re happy Halley. I’ll be in your wedding, but only because I love you. Not for any other reason.”

  Her smile was genuine and she stopped tying her ribbon to look me in my eyes. “Thank you Macy. I’m sorry. I just wanted you to know Marcus had asked him. Believe me; I wasn’t happy when he first told me because I knew you were going to be pissed. He’s going to be my husband though, I had to choose him.”

  “I know and I’m sorry for reacting how he did. Luke doesn’t know Halley. How am I supposed to tell him?”

  She finished the arrangement she was working on and dropped her jaw. “You haven’t told him? You need to Mace. I don’t want to see anything happen to you two.”

  “I’ll tell him later.” Like maybe the day of the wedding as we’re heading up to the church. That ought to go over real well. This was going to be hard. Actually it wasn’t hard at all but I was making it hard because I was scared of the possible consequences. What if he broke up with me and kicked me out of the apartment? What if he accused me of having an affair? There were so many what if’s going through my head, it was starting to hurt. Maybe I was overthinking this entire situation though. Luke was amazing. Maybe he would understand. It’s not like I asked Trevor to be in the wedding.

  “Tell him after I leave. Please. Oh, I know you were probably supposed to be the person who planned my bachelorette party but since you went all AWOL on me, I took it into my own hands. I didn’t think you would change your mind. We’re probably going to go between Gills and The Lounge. Marcus is doing his the same night but we aren’t going to be in the same place at the same time.” She added the last part cautiously watching my every expression.

  “Ok that sounds good. When is it?”

  “Two weeks. Does that sound good?”

  Five arrangements were done. She only did one; I had done the other four. Big surprise there. There was only one left and I assumed it was mine so I grabbed it and began putting it together strategically placing the ribbon around the arrangement.