Unlovely Things (Love By Design 2)

“Might I remind you I am technically an officer of the law and you are engaging in criminal activity with the threat to kidnap across state lines.” I shook my head buzzing back.

Chase clicked onto our frequency, “Says the Park Ranger.”

“Listen up Smokey Bear–just rough him up a little.” Because my bud deserved it as far as I was concerned. Whittaker was a Park Ranger for crying out loud acting like the damn FBI. My fucking wingman was leaving me for a chic and a suffocating ring around his finger. He deserved a little parting gift in my honest opinion.

“I feel like someone should be concerned about the outcome here.”

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head Boy Scout, just make sure he doesn’t get the first punch off and we’re golden.” Hunter had fists of steel I didn’t want to contend with so we had to follow the plan.

Whit continued to grumble over the radio pissing me off. “I feel like this isn’t going to turn out well, especially for me.”

“Fucking code!” If Whit wasn’t going to follow the rules then I damn well would pull this off solo. It was time to get this show on the road.

I entered the house with Whit on my tail using the key Taylor gave me while she did a girl’s night with my Pebbles. I paid to have the girls enjoy a spa night over at their favorite place and promised Taylor numerous times that Hunter would be just fine. You would think I really was a jerk the way she practically made me promise to keep him safe. Pfft. Such little trust they gave me. We weren’t reenacting the movie ‘The Hangover’ for crying out loud. We walked through the living room and were almost down the hall when the kitchen light flicked behind us on scaring the shit out of us both.

“Dude, come on!” Whit yelled before pushing me out of the way walking back in the direction of the kitchen, our flashlights and headlamps no longer necessary.

“I was waiting for you assholes to try knocking me out and bagging me for the airport, but you’re loud as fuck outside my windows.” I gave Whit a dirty look as Hunter gave us the rundown on our failed mission. “And honestly I got tired of waiting for your surprise appearance.” Hunter stood at the counter drinking a glass of water and I felt deflated while Whit at least has the decency to look shamefaced.

Instead I ignored the obvious question and went with, “Why you drinking so much water, cousin.”

Hunter raised a single telling eyebrow. “Because I figured when my fiancée is staying with your pack of trouble for spa night,” he said the later with quotation marks. ‘I’m probably only going to be offered alcohol for the next forty-eight hours.”

Shrugging I answered him, “more like seventy-two but who’s counting?”

“Uh huh.” Hunter downed the rest of his water and grabbed a duffle bag from the bar stool. “Let’s go numbnuts.” He walked out the door waiting for us to leave the house.

“Always the cute nicknames with you.” I flicked my cousin in the chest as we filed out of the house passing him, letting Hunter at least lock up.

Opening the door, Chase looked over his shoulder at us with a smirk while keeping the van running. “Nice, a cooperative victim.”

“Shut up and drive.” Hunter got into the front while Whit and I shared the seat in the back I had to install special for this trip..

“I take it you knew?”

“Of course. Like I wasn’t going to get it out of Taylor Jane when she lies worse than a politician and has more guilt than a priest.”

“Dude, you had sex and she told you.” Jealousy was pretty much second nature for me these days and I wish I had a last hurrah with Pebbles but she was a hissing she-devil I wanted no part of this week period or no period.

“Whatever.” Hunter wasn’t going to kiss and tell and no matter how drunk he got I was sure he would still be in charge of all his faculties this entire trip. I considered the win in just getting him in the van without us having a fist fight crashing in the house or yard. He could be as lame as he wanted this weekend, but we would force him to cut loose for his own good.

“Okay, our flight leaves Albany in the morning 8:35am so we’ve got a room for the night up there.”

“Cool we can play a few drinking games.” I suggested hoping to lighten the mood.

“Dude, if you even think of playing some Never Have I Ever shit, I’m out.” Hunter grumbled up front and I was starting to feel a little underappreciated for all the effort I put into coordinating this weekend.

“Hunter that was years ago and it’s not my fault you weren’t into a four person orgy in the pantry.” I swore my cousin had a broom stick shoved up his ass before we picked him up.

“Who plays that game in the pantry?” Whit asked while Hunter thumbed in my direction.

“The asshole sitting next to you with his sister.” Hunter then pointed at Chase who looked pissed from my view in the mirror.

Chase half turned from the driver’s seat looking at me not appreciating Hunter’s comment about Kristen when he added to me, “And I don’t want broken shit in the hotel since it’s on my credit card.” As if, though to be fair he’s probably recalling the one time we did get rowdy on the last guys trip to Canada, but whatever.

“I hope to god there are no other surprises Damien because I would hate to have to explain to my aunt why I killed her son.”

“Pfft, mom loves me and you’ve been threatening to kill me for years.”