Meet Me in Myrtle Beach (Hunt Family Book 1)

by St. James, Brooke

  He helped me up since I was sitting on the ground, and he never let go of my hand. I almost pulled my hand from his so I could dust off my bottom, but once I noticed that his intention was to keep a hold of me, I opted for dusting off with one hand.

  Holding hands, we walked across the yard, up the stairs, and onto the deck. "Shoot," I said as we passed the ring toss game. "I wanted to make you play this with me earlier and I forgot."

  "And now we can't?" he asked.

  "It's late. You need to get to bed."

  "It's never too late for a little friendly competition," he said. He reached out and grabbed the swinging ring, handing it to me. "The one who rings the most wins. You get ten shots and I get three."

  "The thing is, I forgot that trick you showed me," I said.

  We both knew I was trying to get him to stand behind me again in that hot way guys did when they were showing you something sports related.

  He smiled. "Oh you forgot?" he asked, knowing what I was up to.

  "Yes, and I barely even know where to stand." I shrugged with a fake worried expression. "I pretty much remember nothing about what you showed me."

  His smile broadened. "It's hard for me to believe you forgot everything," he said. He stepped behind me and took a hold of my waist he pulled me back a step, showing me where to stand. He was standing so close, that I turned my head so that my face rested against his chest the same as I had done by the beach. He smelled good, like woodsy cologne mixed with campfire. I could have nuzzled in and stayed there forever.

  "First step is looking at the hook," he said.

  I put my hand up to meet his and grab the ring, but I waited a few seconds before I bothered facing the hook. "Okay, I'm ready." I said.

  He explained again about using finesse and approaching the ring from one side or the other. I barely listened. I was just in it for the feel of his hand on mine.

  Cody made two out of three of his shots. He went first, so I knew I had to make at least two, but the advantage wasn't enough. I made one out of ten but laughed about it and threatened that I'd practice while he wasn't watching.

  We took turns using the shower when we got upstairs. I went first, and by the time Cody was done with his, I was cuddled into my spot on the couch. The first thing he did was go to the closet and pull out some bedding. I watched curiously as he came over to my couch carrying a couple of blankets. I thought maybe he assumed I was cold and was giving them to me, but he spread them out on the floor right next to my couch.

  "What are you doing?" I asked.

  "I feel like sleeping right here," he said. "Is that okay with you?"

  "Well, of course it's okay with me," I said. "But I don’t want you to have to sleep on the floor."

  "I'm comfortable," he said. "And I only have a few hours to close my eyes anyway."

  "Are you sure you don't want to take one of the couches?" I asked.

  "No, but I will if you'd rather me not sleep right here." He slid into the blanket and covered halfway with it as if he knew I'd tell him to stay.

  "I love you there," I said. I flopped my head onto the pillow and sighed contentedly.

  "Night," he said.

  "Night. Cody?"

  I reached up and turned off the lamp that was on an end table near the couch. It was mostly dark, but I could still see his outline.

  "Yeah," he replied.

  "I guess you should probably kiss me goodnight."

  He sat up without the slightest hesitation, which made me giggle.

  "I thought you would never ask," he said.

  He got to his knees and leaned over the couch putting a hand on each side of my face. We smiled at each other. I loved seeing the outlines of his face in the dim lighting.

  "Why'd you wait for me to ask?"

  "Because I don’t even know where to begin, Paige. You're different, and I'm afraid if I don't get it perfect, I'll lose you—or mess it up somehow."

  "Kissing me will not mess anything up," I assured him.

  He left one hand on my face as he bent to put his mouth near mine. He stopped when he was only an inch or so from making contact, and after waiting a second or two, I got impatient and let out a noise similar to a brief moan.

  "I can't make myself do it," he said.

  "I can."

  I reached up, and in one fluid motion, I wrapped my hand around his head and pulled him into me, leaning forward in the process to make sure we made contact. He opened his mouth to me instantly. Cody wasted no time with teasing kisses. He took advantage of the fact that I had been the one to pull him forward and kissed me deeply, letting his tongue delve into my mouth several times.

  He was making a statement with the kiss. There was no misunderstanding his intention. I was his. This was the type of kiss that proved it. He kissed me deeply, daring anything to stand in our way. I opened to him, and let my tongue dance with his, letting him know I was officially a player in this game.

  He pulled back, and then let our lips touch again several times before pulling back far enough to stare down at me in the darkness.

  "Goodnight, Paige," he said.

  "Goodnight," I whispered.

  ***

  When I woke up the following morning, there was no sign that Cody had slept next to me. I wondered if I had dreamed that part. It felt a bit like I had dreamed the whole thing. I squinted at my phone to see that it was 9AM.

  I took my time waking up, so it was about fifteen minutes later when I sat up and found the note he left on the nearby table.

  Good morning, Paige!

  I hope you slept well. I did. I thought I should warn you that I'm throwing out the idea of faking it in front of my family. I just don't think I'll be able to manage that. I'm already thinking about the next time I see you, and I'm relatively sure I won't be able to avoid having you near me and holding your hand. So just get ready for everyone to find out about us. Just thought I'd warn you.

  Yours, Cody

  I read it twice before smiling at the ceiling with the note clutched to my chest. I felt giddy at the thought of seeing him again, and I wondered what time he would be home.

  I went downstairs to find that most everybody was already in the first floor living room. I talked with Christy who said the boys should be back before noon.

  Everyone was asking me about the party. I told them I had come home early, and they began speculating at how late Mia, Charlotte, Evan, and Logan had been out and how late they'd sleep. Someone said they thought they heard them come in around 1AM, and I didn't say that could have been Cody and me.

  I ate some cereal and poured a cup of coffee before stepping onto the deck. Diane had been out there with David, but he came inside, leaving her alone.

  "How was your night?" she asked, smiling at me when I came to stand next to her at the railing of the deck.

  "It was great," I said.

  She glanced at me again, and I smiled from behind my coffee mug.

  "You look happy," she said.

  "I am happy."

  She shifted and regarded me with a curious expression that morphed into a smile. "How happy are you?" she asked.

  I knew her love meter was turned on just by the way she smiled at me. I didn't want her to get her hopes up about Evan, so without even thinking, I said, "I know you hoped Evan and I might, uh… I, uh… I just wanted you to know that Evan and I aren't…"

  She smiled patiently as she put her hand on my forearm. "What made you think I had those types of expectations?" she asked.

  I thought about beating around the bush, but I decided to come out with the truth. "I might've overheard a conversation you had about it. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hear it."

  She was silent for several long seconds, and she let out a long sigh before staring out at the ocean. "I'm sorry you heard that. I'm too old to make deals with God," she said. "I know better than to do that."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Evan's out doing all sorts of crazy, dangerous stuff to try to save the wor
ld, meanwhile, his grandma just wants to see him safe at home. In my opinion, he's just as suited for saving Charlotte."

  "I know," I said, "and I get why you'd want to try to make him stay home. I'm sorry I wasn't the girl who could make that happen for you."

  "Don't be sorry, sweetheart. I'm really sorry you heard that conversation. I hope you know how wonderful I think you are. I'm so glad you came with us."

  We watched the waves roll in for a full minute. I took a sip of my coffee and let the breeze hit my face.

  "What'd you mean about making deals with God?" I asked.

  She let out a humorless laugh. "Because I had myself convinced that you were the one for my grandson. I thought I'd seen a sign from God Himself."

  "What kind of sign?" I asked.

  She gave me a self-deprecating smile. "The night before I went into Amy's to get breakfast, I had this experience where I was the only one in the room not staring down at some sort of screen. There were twenty or thirty people in the room, and literally everyone was doing it. Even old women like me and babies were all staring straight down at their devices. I had the thought that I hated cell phones and the way they caused humans not to see what's right in front of them. I thought about it a lot that night. The issue ended up creeping it's way into my reflections and prayer, and somewhere in my thoughts I made a deal with God that I would know my next granddaughter by the way she refrained from staring at her phone."

  She paused and smiled at me.

  "Silly, I know. I was probably delirious when I had all those thoughts, and I'm sure I would have forgotten all about them, but seeing you without your phone the very next day made me think the whole thing was real."

  My heart raced as I listened to her story. I wondered if she'd feel as happy about the possibility of me ending up with a different grandson.

  "It could possibly still work out the way you thought," I said, nervously.

  She rubbed my arm again, smiling at me like she didn't want me to force anything. "You can't make yourself try to feel something that isn't there," she said, sweetly. "Neither can Evan. That wouldn't be fair to either of you."

  "It wouldn't be Evan," I said.

  She tilted her head, trying to understand what I was getting at. Andy, Willow, and Ava came out of the house and greeted us before they headed down the stairs toward the beach. We smiled and waved at them, but Diane's expression shifted to serious as soon as they were gone.

  "What are you saying?" she asked.

  "Cody," I said simply.

  Another pause while she registered what I was saying.

  "You and Cody?" she asked with a serious, unreadable expression.

  I nodded.

  "You and Cody?" she repeated slowly.

  This time her voice was an octave higher. I could tell she was on the verge of tears.

  I nodded again.

  Her chin quivered, and tears started welling in her eyes, but she just stared at me like she couldn’t believe it.

  "Cody's the one with Ryan," she said, as if I might have no idea.

  I nodded again, and smiled a little.

  "You love my Cody?" she asked.

  My smile grew as I nodded again.

  Her face crumpled as she took me into her arms. I nearly spilled my coffee. I set my cup on the rail and turned to hug her. She squeezed me tightly before pulling back with tears streaming down her face.

  "Cody and Ryan?" she asked again, just to make sure.

  I nodded again, and she regarded me with the sweetest sincere smile I'd ever seen. She stared straight into my eyes and said, "You have no idea how overjoyed I am at this news, Paige."

  "I'm so happy to hear that," I said as a silent tear fell onto my cheek. I wiped it away with the back of my arm.

  "I can't believe He let me find you for him," she said, blinking away tears as she stared at the ocean. "I'm so thankful that He let me do that."

  "I'm thankful too," I said.

  Ryan came outside while Diane and I were still standing at the rail. I turned to tell her good morning, feeling all sorts of new love toward her. She ran to us to pass out hugs, and a myriad of emotions hit me when I stooped to greet her. She was beautiful, and I wanted to be her mom more than anything in the world. I never knew I was ready for motherhood, but there was no question in my mind, as I stared at this beautiful baby, that she was mine and I was hers. I was proud of her, and I had nothing to do with the way she was turning out. That was about to change.

  Chapter 20

  I had just finished styling Ryan's hair in a loose bun with flowers when Cody and his dad got home from their fishing trip. Everyone was excited to eat fresh fish sandwiches for lunch.

  They had already cleaned the fish at the marina, but there were plenty of pictures to show off of their best catches. Everyone stood around the kitchen, waiting to hear all about it, and looking at the pictures on Cody's phone.

  Ryan and I had come into the kitchen when they arrived. I stood off to the side, and she ran directly to the ice chest to take a peek at what was inside. Cody stooped and explained something to her, but I couldn't hear what it was because everyone was talking.

  He stood, and leaned casually against the counter, regarding me like he was relieved to finally lay his eyes on me.

  I smiled shyly at him.

  He motioned to his shirt. "I'm stinky," he mouthed at me from several feet away, scrunching up his nose. Those dark eyes smiled right along with his mouth. I was so captivated that I didn't even hear all the chatter in the kitchen. Cody's mom must have asked him a direct question because he turned to her with a, "Yes ma'am," but his gaze came directly back to me.

  There was at least ten feet of space between us, and he started toward me. "I smell like fish, or I'd hug you right now," he said quietly as he came to stand next to me. He paused for a second before looking over at me.

  I shrugged and gave him a challenging smirk. "I have a brother," I said. "He smells like fish even when he hasn't been fishing."

  Cody laughed as he slowly came to stand closer. He was crowding my space, and I loved it. I bit my lip as I stared up at him.

  "Did you get my note?" he asked.

  I nodded.

  He put his mouth right next to my ear. "Then it won't surprise you if I do this…" he said. He placed a sweet kiss on my cheek before pulling away to look at me.

  I shook my head and smiled, telling him I wasn't surprised.

  A few people standing around the kitchen noticed our little encounter. They did their best to hide their curiosity as they stole glances at us.

  "I just want everybody to remember that I was the one who found her and brought her here," Diane announced.

  This caused everyone to laugh.

  "God was involved too," she said, "but you can all take note that she rode down here in my Volvo."

  Everyone sent good-natured glances in our direction like they understood what Dee-dee was implying, but they seemed to be content not to ask for an official statement.

  The subject of cooking the fish became the new topic of conversation, and Cody and I were left to continue our conversation in peace.

  "I should go take a shower," he said.

  I nodded, which made him laugh. "That bad?" he asked.

  "No, actually. I don't even really smell you."

  "How about now?" he asked, nuzzling his head near my cheek and neck.

  I took in a big whiff. "Nope. You smell like Cody plus a little salt, and some sun."

  "What's sun smell like?" he asked.

  "Sun smells," I said. "I can't explain what it smells like, but it does smell."

  He smiled and cocked his head a little to one side as if he was wondering something. "Should I go ahead and tell you I love you?" he asked in a quiet voice so that I was the only one who heard.

  I shifted to stare into his eyes—so dark I felt like I could dive into them and never touch bottom. "It's preferable if you do," I whispered with a deadpan expression.

  The corner of
his mouth turned upward in a slow grin. "Good. Then I love you."

  I wanted to say it back, I really did. I loved him. I loved him more than I ever dreamed I could love anybody. I was in love with every single thing about Cody Hunt. I just couldn’t get the words to leave my mouth. They were stuck in my throat. It was like I didn't think I could say it quietly enough for only him to hear, and since I wasn't quite ready for announcing it with a megaphone in front of all his family, I could say nothing at all. I giggled nervously and sank my face into my hands.

  "I'm gonna go shower," he said, pinching my arm a little. I peeked at him to see that he was smiling at me like there was no pressure. It seemed as if my inability to say it back hadn't affected him at all. He continued to smile as he lifted his chin at me. "I'll be down in a minute."

  "I love you too," I said.

  I was so afraid of yelling it out that my whisper was almost inaudible.

  Cody leaned in, placing his ear right up to my mouth. "Come again," he said.

  "I said I love you too, Cody Hunt." I whispered it directly into his ear.

  He shivered, causing me to giggle again.

  "I'll be down in a few," he said.

  The family had already set to work sautéing fish by the time Cody headed upstairs. I sort of expected them to ask questions about what they'd just witnessed, but none of them did. They all went about their business like they didn't notice or weren't surprised to see us together.

  "Tell me if I can help," I said when Christy came near me to grab a pan out of the cabinet.

  "I think we've got it under control," she said. "Thank you, sweetheart." She retrieved the pan, but paused for a second to smile at me before taking it to the stove. It was a brief pause, but her expression told me she approved of what she saw, and that meant so much to me. I was nervous around the family all over again now that things had changed between Cody and me, but I did my best to remain cool. I returned her smile with a thankful one of my own.

  "Wanna go to the beach before lunch?" Ryan asked, tugging on the back of my shirt.