Chapped {h.g}

{21}

February 20th 2025

"No, Jordyn and I will figure it out. We can just ask Mom if he can stay for a couple of days".

I walked in the living room to see Nash talking on the phone. 'Who is that?', I mouthed.

"Hayes", Nash replied. I reached down and picked up Ash.

"Well, I'm happy for you, man. I really am. And I'll ask about Jordyn about it". Nash said bye before putting down the phone.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "What was that about?". Nash smiled and took Ash from me as Ash had been reaching for him.

"Hey buddy", he said to Ash and then began to speak to me. "We're going camping!", he said excitingly. I just stared at him.

Now I know what you're probably thinking; 'What happened to the old Jordyn? The one that loved going outdoors and didn't care if she had dirt all over her?'. Well, that Jordyn is gone. I don't know if that's a good thing or not, but look what I have in life: a husband and a beautiful baby boy. So, I think I'm doing pretty good, as a matter of fact.

"Camping?"

Nash nodded happily. "Yes, camping!"

"Okay?", I said in more of a questioning manor.

"What? You use to love camping".

"I also use to love Hayes, but things change, right?", I laughed.

Nash chuckled and kissed my cheek while handing Ash back to me. "Yes, baby. And I'm so glad they did". He began to walk away while saying, "So I'm going to go get the tents. I'm pretty sure they're in-". I interrupted him.

"Nash . . . I didn't say I was going".

He looked hurt. "When was the last time we've spent together alone? It's been almost a year, Jordyn. C'mon, Honey. Just a couple of days, you and I", he took steps closer to me "alone". A smirk was present on his face. I laughed and put my hand on his chest to push him away.

"Okay, whatever, but-".

"Woo!", he yelled, causing Ash to jump and start crying. "Oh, I'm sorry, buddy", he chuckled while smoothing Ash's dark hair back.

He began to leave the living room, once again while saying, "I'm going to look for the tents". I replied with just an "Okay", putting a bottle in Ash's chubby hands.

"Hey", Nash said before leaving. I looked to the doorway to where he was standing. "I love you".

"I love you" I replied, but he was gone before I had time to say it.

February 21st

The morning of our camping trip was pretty hectic: Ash was crying when we dropped him off at Nash's mom's house, the tent ended up having a hole in it, so we had to get up early and buy a new one (that'll we'll never use again). Oh, and I was just informed that Hayes' would be joining us, along with his girlfriend.

"Nash, why didn't you tell me?", I continued to ask him. He looked over at me from the drivers seat. We were on our way to pick up Hayes' and his girlfriend now. "Jordyn, I didn't think it would really matter".

"Well it does. I thought it was just the two of us".

"Hey, It'll be fun, You'll see".

I'm not going to lie and say I'm not a little upset. He's the one saying we never have time alone, yet here we are, not having time alone.

He placed his hand on top of mine and looked at me. "You're going to have fun". I rolled my eyes and he frowned. I felt guilty as soon as I seen his frown. You don't ever want to see Nash sad. It's the most upsetting thing.

I changed the subject. "I didn't know Hayes' had a girlfriend".

"Me either. He just told me over the phone" he chuckled and shook his head. "Hayes could never keep a girlfriend for very long. I don't if he just got bored of one girl or he was too scared of commitment. I thought he would grow out of it by now, but I guess not".

I smiled. "Funny how things work out, huh? I remember you would tease Hayes and I on the bus all the time". He too, smiled, and glanced at me. "I always was a bit envious of what Hayes had when we were younger". I now looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"He definitely didn't waste his time getting to know and spending time with the most beautiful piece of art I've ever seen. He was given it at a young age and I don't see how he ever let it go". I smiled and looked at my hands. "His pocketknife my dad got him from Guam. The handle was wooden with this intricate design on it".

"What?"

"Yeah, Hayes just sold it at our family garage sale for like ten dollars. And you know what he did with that money? He took a girl on a date to an ice cream parlor and bought her a triple scoop ice cream cone. And I remember thinking like 'what a waste of money'".

I stared at him speechless. "I thought . . . you were talking about-".

"You thought I was talking about you? Me being envious that Hayes' had you?". I nodded, feeling stupid.

"It's funny, because like I had already told you I thought spending money on a girl was a waste. That's what I thought when I was younger. I now understood why Hayes did it though. Why he sold a pocket knife that my father brought back from a different country", he laughed as he was saying this. "Because that girl wasn't just anyone. It was you, Jordyn".

I stared at him, trying to remember. And then it hit me.

'What flavor do you want, Jordyn?' Hayes asked me, rocking back and forth on his feet.

'Uhmm . . . I think I'll do . . . Superman', I replied, getting a few crumpled dollars out.

'I'll get it' he said, already handing over a ten dollar bill. 'Three scoops on each please', he told the man at the register.

Hayes smiled at me, handing me my Superman flavored ice cream while holding his chocolate mint ice cream. And it was a day I never wanted to forget.

I didn't have time to reply before we were already stopped where we were meeting Hayes. Nash got out of the SUV and began helping Hayes shove bags in the trunk. I could see a girl slowly get out of the car wearing an outfit that I wouldn't exactly find comfortable for camping; tight leather pants, a silk blouse, and knee high boots. It wasn't until the girl took her sunglasses off did I realize who it was.

McKenna.