The Difference Between Getting and Needing

f o r t y

It was also stricter than I anticipated. It was classified as "adults only" which meant Duncan couldn't even bring Madelyn. Since he watched her solely on the weekends, my mom scrambled to call her parents as babysitters while we all went to the ceremony without them. Considering this, Asher was lucky he just about made the age cutoff by being eighteen or else he'd be at home too.

Basically, it was super fucking formal. I was dumbfounded at how over-the-top it was.

By the time the main part of the ceremony had concluded – meaning all the speeches had been made and awards were given out – I was two drinks deep at a table for ten. We had eaten dinner and all the guests were free to mingle, occupy the marble dance floor, or pay a visit to the bar. Rather than do any of the aforementioned, everyone at my table was confined to their chairs.

Guys on the police force kept popping over to talk to my parents while my grandparents observed my dad in awe, not wanting to miss a moment of their son in his element. Duncan was awfully quiet for the majority of the night and only got up to replace his beer anytime he finished one. Asher, Gus, and Koa were nonstop chattering away like they were at their personal manly book club. Sutton was in a trance with Koa and every move he made like he was the sole creator of the earth. I finished off my second cocktail and scarcely started to feel the effects of the whiskey; I wasn't drunk, I wasn't even sure if I was properly buzzed. It tasted like there was alcohol in these drinks, but the lack of inebriation made me wonder if they were gypping us because it was an open bar, after all.

I wasn't planning on drinking too much tonight. Pretty damn unbelievable considering I was the token roaring drunk at family events, but I wanted to pull it together somewhat for my dad's sake. I would never be able to forgive myself if I caused a scene on his night. When I found out that the bartender could indeed make me an Old Fashioned, I caved. But like I said, they were weak.

Somehow, the boys' conversation transitioned into my least favorite person as the subject. I didn't want to participate, but I found my ears lending to their voices anyway. Besides, whether I wanted to admit it or not he did sort of change my life for the better.

"How's Keone doing?" Asher directed the question at Koa with genuine curiosity. I had to hold back my eye-roll at the mention of his name.

"He actually just booked a new show," Koa said, and his enthusiasm was infectious. "He's so hype about it. Doesn't know too many details yet, but I know it's a pretty major role."

"I like him, he's really fun to be around," Asher chirped.

Of course, Keone would be the one to corrupt my little brother. Sutton vocalized my thoughts on the spot.

"We all know Bayla's not his biggest fan," she scoffed, which earned her a look of bewilderment from her husband that she took no notice of. At least she and I could agree on something. "Can you blame her? He's always hitting on her. I know he's your best friend but he's a perv."

Gus' hand that was curled around my thigh under the table tightened its hold on me.

At Sutton's declaration, Koa's eyes landed on me, so I gave him a timid nod for an answer and he grimaced as if he were the one at fault. "E kala mai. I didn't know that."

I dismissively waved my hand at this whole discussion and said, "It's all good. I can't stand him but I do kind of owe him my life."

"Why?" Koa chuckled in confusion, furrowing his thick brows.

"Well, he helped us elope–"

The words came tumbling from my lips before my lagging ass brain could catch up. What started out as a promisingly bold reply quickly tapered off into a regretfully conscious whisper.