Evan

 

 

 

 

“What's going on with your girl?” My cousin, Elliot, asks before taking a drink of his bottled beer.

“What are you talking about?” I know exactly what he's talking about. I hadn't realized just how sick Krystal looked until I brought her out in the sun. And it hasn't gone unnoticed how she hasn't eaten anything.

She doesn't eat much these days, the medication she takes and the chemo she's on make her so sick, I often find her on the bathroom floor a sobbing mess. It kills me each time, and I just can't imagine how hard this is for her.

But she amazes me with her strength and will to survive. I'm not sure I could ever possess such strength. Although, right now, she looks like she's fighting to stay on her feet.

“Dude, the girl looks like she's...”

“Like she's what, El?” I snap.

“He's only pointing out what everyone else is thinking.” Great. When did my brother arrive? “What's going on, little brother?”

“None of your goddamned business!”

“It is my business when you've both been lying to me about where she's been these past couple weeks.”

“What the fuck has it got to do with you, Ed?” I face him head-on. Our cousins stand tight-lipped. They know not to get into it with Ed and me. It's been a lifelong thing, them knowing not to get involved. If they do, one of them will get hurt just as they did when were kids.

I fold my arms across my chest, standing my ground.

“If you honestly think no one can tell she's ill, you really are more stupid than I gave you credit for.”

Son of a bitch!

We're nose to nose, chest to chest. I don't wanna fight my brother right here, but I will. Asshole needs to be brought down a peg or two.

“You wanna fight me, brother?”

“Don't push me, Edison!”

“What the hell is going on?!”

Neither my brother or I answer Casey. He's pushing against me with his chest, I'm pushing back. We're as built as each other, this won't be good should we start fighting.

“Ed, what are you doing? Stop it!”

“Do as your wife says, Eddie boy.” I mock him. I know how to rile him, I know what buttons to press.

“You really don't wanna do this, Evan.”

“Oh, but I do.” I feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. The world around me has faded away, all I can see is the man in front of me, the jackass who has everything, my big brother.

I don't want to be this way. I don't want to fight with him. I don't want this awful feeling of jealousy and rage inside of me every time I so much as think about him. He's my brother, my best friend once upon a time. But I can't help it when life is so fucking unfair. His life is perfect, mine and Krystal's is not.

Why was he allowed to keep his child? The child I have never held, never so much as really looked at.

Why not?

Because it hurts too much to even look at her.

Why was his wife allowed to be healthy?

And why the fuck did everything in my life fuck up?

“Stop it, right now!” My mother pushes herself between us, her back to Ed's chest, her eyes boring into me. “What the hell has gotten into you, Evan? Squaring up to your own brother? What in the world is going on with you?!”

“Tell your precious son to keep his nose out of my business. Krystal is not his concern!”

“That's where you're wrong, brother. Krystal is my friend, Casey's best friend. She's a friend to our cousins. We each have every right to be worried about her and to voice such. She is ill and you're hiding something from us. Why, Evan?”

“Because I asked him to.” We all turn our heads in Krystal's direction. She's struggling to stay on her feet. She's weaker than she was this morning. She needs to lay down. The last thing she needed today was me blowing up at my brother in front of everyone.

“What are you talking about, Krys?”

“You're my best friend, Case.”

“I know that.” Casey smiles.

“I never meant to keep this from you.”

“Keep what from me? Krystal, what's going on?”

Krystal lets out a deep breath and sways. I rush to her side, holding her gently while lowering her onto the garden couch my mother put out for Krystal.

“Please tell me what's going on.” Casey crouches down in front of Krystal and takes her hands in her own.

“Evan only did what I asked of him. We sorted things out.” She smiles and I see the confused look on Casey's face when she looks at me. “I forgave him for what happened.”

“Wait. Are you telling me that you took him back?”

“Yes, I took him back.”

“Are you crazy? After everything he put you through?!” Casey all but screams.

“Yes,” Krystal nods her head, cutting Casey off. “What happened was not his fault. I cannot get into it, but please trust me when I say he suffered just as much as I did.”

Casey's eyes shoot to me and I see understanding in them. She's a smart girl.

“I forgave him for everything and I don't want to hear one word from any of you about how I shouldn't have.” Every damned person is watching us, all intrigued as to how I managed to get Krystal to forgive me. I still haven't a fucking clue how it happened either.

“I love him. I have loved him from our very first kiss. And love holds no bounds. He made a mistake, but he had his reasons. It's none of anyone else's business what those reasons were, and I won't tell anyone should you ask. It's between Evan and me only.

“I don't want anyone to hold this against him. He has been here for me one hundred percent. I couldn't've done any of this without him. Please, Casey, I need you to understand that I love him. I love him with all that I am, and he loves me, and we're moving forward.”

“Is this what's been making you ill? You were worried what I would think of you taking him back? Because, babe, that is seriously a silly thing to have been this worried over.”

“No,” Krystal shakes her head. “The truth is... Casey, I have cancer.”

“What? No,” Casey shakes her head in disbelief, her eyes filling with tears.

“Listen to me, Case,” I watch Krystal cup Casey's face with her hand. “I have breast cancer. Three weeks ago, I had a double mastectomy.” Every single person is listening intently, shocked at what they're hearing. Probably wondering why they didn't know before now. “I've been living here in the guest house with Evan since the surgery. He's been taking care of me.” She smiles. “I wanted to tell you before now, but I didn't want everyone pitying me.”

“But this is me, Krys. Your best friend. How could you keep this from me of all people?”

“I'm sorry. Please don't hate me.”

“Shh...” I rub her back. She hangs her head and cries to herself. “You were the last person she wanted to hurt, Casey, and I know that's what's happened. But try to understand how hard this has been for her. First the baby, then me doing what I did, then she finds out she has cancer. It was too much for her.”

“But you've been here for her?” I nod. “Thank you.” I tip my head and smile a little. She doesn't need to thank me, but it's nice that she did. “Krys?” My girl looks up at her friend. “I love you, and I'm going to be here for you always. You're going to beat this cancer.”

“You have cancer?” Silence drops like the quiet after a bomb has been dropped. All eyes are on the blonde bombshell in front of us. And she really is a bombshell. Jesus, she's changed. Of course, she's changed she was a guy the last time I saw her, which was years ago now. Physically at least. I knew her when she was a young boy, we all did.

Yeah, Krystal and her brother went to a different school. The same school as my cousin Freddy, and I don't remember them much. But once Krystal and I talked about our childhoods we laughed at the fact we had, in fact, met once or twice in the past.

And after speaking with Paula on Facetime, I remembered the confused little boy with the girly voice, the long hair, and the feminine clothes. I may have met him, but I've never met her.

She most definitely is not a guy now. She's stunning. Every inch of her is all woman. Even her voice is womanly, she doesn't have a noticeable Adam's apple either. But then, Krystal told me all about the fact Paula took hormone replacement pills from a young age to stop the male hormones coming in, making it easier for her to transition successfully.

She's wearing tight jeans and a baggy white blouse, sunglasses on her head and makeup fit for a princess. She looks like she just walked off a film set.

“Paula,” Krystal sobs her sister's name. I help her to her feet. “What are you doing here?” She holds her hand out to her sister, who takes it and pulls Krystal gently into her arms.

“Mr. Harrington called me,” My dad called her? “He said you needed me. I got the first flight here. I had no idea I would be walking into this place to find my big sister so... so sick.” Tears fall from her eyes. “Oh, Krys, why didn't you call me?”

“Because you had a lot going on. You look so good, little sister.”

“I do, don't I? You look like shit. But don't worry, I'm here now.” She winks. Great, she's one of those women who take over everything.

“I would just like to say thank you. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington, you've been wonderful letting my sister stay here, flying me over to be with her. And, Evan...” She smirks at me. “Long time no see.” Flirt. I would never have pegged her for a flirt.

“Now, no more sad faces. How about some music?” Laughter. Just what Krystal needs. I think it's what we all need right now.

My brother's eyes lock with mine. There is so much left unsaid between us. How am I meant to fix things with my brother when all I want to do is shake the life out of him?