Evan

 

 

 

 

I'm meeting my cousins tonight for Oliver's bachelor party. Sadly, that means I'll have to put up with my brother, but I promised Krystal that I wouldn't start anything with him.

Speaking of Krystal, she's finished her chemo. All we have to do now is wait a short while before we find out if it's work and she's going to make this, or if it hasn't... Well, we'll see where we go from there.

She's spending the night with the girls. Paula is having a small get together, few drinks and laughs. She didn't want to go out to a club because Krystal wouldn't be able to handle it right now. Of course, Krystal told Paula that she'd go if that's what she wanted, she'd do anything to make her sister happy. But Paula is so damn happy right now that she wouldn't care if they spent the night in pajamas and wearing mud masks.

This wedding is a little rushed if you ask me. Oliver only asked Paula to marry him a few weeks ago. His mother, along with the rest of the women in this family have pulled it off, though. They would have pulled it off in two days if that's all the time available.

We've all asked Ollie why he'd want to marry so quickly. He just told us all that when you know, you know. Ed said the same thing. He married Casey just hours after asking her. Each to their own.

Paula designed her own wedding dress, a guy working for Oliver made it for her. Fuck knows how he managed that with such a small amount of time available to him. But he did. And according to Krystal, Paula is going to blow Oliver away when she walks down the aisle.

I heard them talking the other night, Krystal and Paula. They were in the kitchen, laughing about wedding flowers, and bridesmaid dresses with my mother. Then I heard tears. I stood by the kitchen door listening to Paula and her sadness about having to walk down the aisle alone. She has no family as her uncle can't make the wedding and her aunt died a couple years ago. She was sad that no one would be walking by her side where her father should be. Because there's no way her parents would attend.

It doesn't mean anything to me, but I guess, to a woman it's heartbreaking. It made me wonder how sad Krystal would be if we got married and there was no one to walk her down the aisle.

I guess I'll find out soon enough because I plan on making that girl my wife sooner rather than later. I think I've proved I can be trusted. I've been going to my therapy sessions regularly. I didn't feel like I needed to go anymore, but Krystal thinks I still need the help. I'll do whatever she wants me to do.

“Here you go, cuz,” Freddy hands me a beer.

“Thanks,” He drops down in the seat beside me. Everyone else is out on the dance floor. Stupid fucks.

There was a time I would have been out there with them, all the girls around me, choosing which one or two I wanted to take home with me this time. I don't even notice them anymore. All the therapy and the fact I really do love Krystal has changed me.

“Little blondie over there hasn't taken her eyes off you.”

I look over to the corner near the bar where he's pointing with his beer bottle. He's right, little blonde thing is smiling at me shyly while tucking a curl behind her ear. Once upon a time, I would have been all over it. Now? I just shake my head and chuckle.

“Not gonna tap it?”

“Fuck off, Fred. You know very well I'm with Krystal. There's no way I'd do anything that'll cause me to lose her ever again.”

He slaps me on the back, knocking the wind out of me. Christ! He's a lot bigger built than I am, he's a boxer for God's sake. I am not. Obviously. “Good man. I'm proud of you.”

Maybe drinking so much wasn't a good idea. But I can't deny that I've enjoyed tonight. Elliot wanted to pull some crazy prank on Oliver, but I swore to Paula before I left the house that I wouldn't let anything to happen to him. She's terrified someone will do something that would mean Oliver won't make it to the altar. I won't let her down.

Elliot isn't pleased about it, but tough shit. I'm not about to let myself get skinned alive because Oliver got stranded on some boat that took him halfway across the damn ocean.

“Thanks for tonight, guys, I've enjoyed it.”

“Can't believe this time tomorrow you'll be a married man, Bro.”

“This time tomorrow he'll be fucking his new wife.”

“Shut your mouth, Harry!”

I chuckle to myself. It's always like this when we're all together drinking. Lincoln and Knox keeping an eye on us all so we don't do anything illegal, cops even in their sleep the pair of them.

Harry and Elliot, who don't come often because of their jobs, always the pranksters.

Andrew never speaks, but he and Freddy always know how to get us in trouble each and every time.

Edison is the old man of the group, always trying to keep the peace and us all out of trouble.

Then there's me, the ladies man. No matter where I go or who I'm with, the women flock around me. Tonight has been no different. But I've shown them all that I've changed, not one woman has turned my head. I have eyes only for Krystal. And that's the way it's going to stay for the rest of my life. She is it for me. And I will make her my wife. Very soon, I will.

“She's so beautiful.” Oliver is so drunk! “I've always loved her. Even before she had her operation. I've loved her from the moment I saw her.”

“I know, man.” Elliot is the only one who can deal with his brother right now. He's too drunk, I'll just laugh at him, the others will just make fun and get him in trouble. Oliver always speaks more when he's drunk. He's a lot like Andrew in the way he doesn't speak much. Okay, he speaks more than Andrew ever has, but he's a quiet guy in his own way.

“I'm so lucky, El. She's all mine.” He sags against Elliot, just as Andrew takes his other arm and holds him up. “She's beautiful, huh, Andy?” Andrew simply nods and chuckles. “You can't have her, she's mine!”

“Chill out, He-man,” Ed laughs. “She's all yours. Nobody wants to take her from you. We're just agreeing that she's a beautiful woman and you're very lucky.”

“That's right,” Ollie mumbles as they try to get him into the backseat of the car.

“Can I have a word with you?”

The last thing I want right now is to have a talk with my brother. We've both been drinking and we'll end up fighting. Krystal will kill me if I fight Ed. I have too much pent up anger towards him, and I know if I let it out, one of us will end up in hospital. He's always had a good twenty pounds on me, and he's quicker with his fists. He and Lincoln used to train in the ring with Freddy.

That's not to say I can't hold my own against my brother, I just don't think he's worth all the hassle that I'll get from everyone afterward.

“No now, Ed, I've got better things to do.”

“We can't go on like this, Evan. You hating me like this. I have no idea what the fuck you even hate me for.”

“That's because your head has been up your own ass for so long you know nothing about anything.”

“Just talk to me, Evan. Talk to me!”

I don't say anything. I walk away from him and grab a cab home. I have nothing to say to Edison that can't wait. I've kept it in for almost six months now. I can keep it in a little longer.