Keep On Walking (A Hunter Hayes Fanfiction, Book 3 of the Hardships Saga)

Chapter Forty-Five

❝quick (pronounced kwɪk or kwik), adjective
to be done in a very short period of time- fast.
e.g. 0-100 real quick.❞

Ryan got home after school that same day, sighing as she put her bag down on the couch. She noticed the pillow fort in the living room, but didn't have the energy to start packing it up. Instead, she made her way to the kitchen and made herself a green tea.

She felt arms wrap around her from behind, and lips on her neck. "Boo," he breathed into her ear.

"Oh, I'm so scared," she said sarcastically, turning around and pecking him on the lips. "Hey, baby."

Hunter smiled. "Have a good day?"

"Not really."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"I had a fight with Peter and I've just been thinking about all this stuff about trying to get pregnant and all. Mina's getting married."

"Oh, congrats to her! When's the wedding?"

"No idea. She wants me to be her maid of honour."

"That's great. You're going to look so beautiful."

She chuckled slightly, and he smiled. "Well, I checked your charts. It's ovulation day!"

"Which is why you're being extra-sweet to me today."

"Don't be like that," he said, chuckling. "I love you."

"Love you too, bluejay." She sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just having a bad day."

"So let's try and make it a good one," he said, beginning to massage her shoulders. It felt incredibly good, and she sighed. "If you want, I could give you a nice massage before dinner."

"That would be wonderful, actually."

"I'll make dinner, love," he said. "Why don't you go and relax, and I'll catch up?"

"Alright. I'll just take my tea as well."

"Of course." He kissed her. "I love you, darling."

"I know," she said with a smile. "I love you, too."

"It'll work this time," he promised. "It'll all work out this time. I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

"I always make promises I can keep, darling. And I'm telling you, this will work out. We're gonna have four kids."

She smiled. "Thank you, Hunt."

She walked to the bedroom, and took off her shirt, laying on her stomach. Hunter appeared a few minutes later with some lavender oil. "Alright," he said gently, pouring some into his hands and beginning to knead the knots out of her lower back. She sighed, closing her eyes. This relaxation was exactly what she needed right now. Time to just think.

"Is that alright?"

"A little harder right there," she said, and he did so. "There we go," she mumbled. "I might just fall asleep like this, honestly. You give the best massages."

He laughed slightly, moving to the middle of her back. "You make the best food. And of course, you're absolutely stunning, and doing things like this is a privilege most people wouldn't have." He leaned down and kissed the back of her neck. "You're so wonderful, my dove."

She laughed. "Thank you, darling."

"I love you, you know."

"Of course I know."

"Well, the tour is all set."

She remembered suddenly. "Oh, right. Next week, right?"

"Yeah. It'll be about six months, and we'll go right around America, maybe the UK and Australia if we can."