Chapter 178
Star Wars Day
Amelie
A giggle escapes me as a giant hairy bear-dog-type thing stands on the doorstep.
At my ankles, Momo is going apeshit. Even he’s been wrangled into some sort of costume that makes him look like a teddy bear.
Kalen is obsessed. The intimidating shaggy-furred monster growls back at my dog and Momo whimpers, turns tail and runs.
“I don’t even know what you are, but if you upset my dog again you will not be welcome.” I threaten with a scowl, stepping back to welcome the person. “But come in.”
The person steps inside, ducking slightly to avoid hitting their head on the door frame.
Kalen tells me they are dressed in a full-body Chewbacca costume, complete with a bandolier strapped across their chest. The furry mask covers their face, but I can see a pair of mischievous eyes peering out from behind it.
“Sorry about that,” they say in a deep, rumbling voice that sounds like they’re trying to imitate Chewbacca’s signature growl.
Kalen laughs and slings an arm around the giant beast’s shoulders, having to go up on tiptoes to do so. “Chewie here can be a bit intimidating, but he’s harmless, I promise.”
That earns him a solid thump to the chest from ‘Chewie’.
I can’t help but chuckle at the sight before me. It’s not every day that someone shows up at my door dressed as a Wookiee. “Well, Chewie is certainly making an impression,” I reply with a grin. “And who might be hiding behind that furry exterior?”
“It’s part of the surprise! You can guess later. May the Fourth be with you,” Kalen exclaims, holding up a bag filled with Star Wars themed snacks and goodies.
I shake my head in amusement, knowing that this unexpected visit is just the beginning of another unforgettable Kalen celebration with my eccentric and wonderful boyfriend.
Apparently, it’s for Sawyer’s birthday, which is also today, but as he hates Star Wars, I know that it was just Kalen’s excuse to throw another party.
Kalen shimmies up to me, a sight to behold in a golden bikini that’s apparently an exact replica of the one Carrie Fisher wore in the movie.
He pouted up a storm when I refused to wear it, claiming it cost too much money to go unworn.
I told him if he paid so damn much for it, he could wear it, swiping his Luke costume from him instead.
Of course he got us matching brother and sister costumes, the boy’s obsessed.
I didn’t expect him to follow through with it, but this is Kalen. I don’t know how he still manages to shock me after all this time.
“Kalen, I think you need some boxers to go with that outfit,” I tell him, eyeing the costume warily. It’s indecent.
“Princess Leia didn’t wear boxer shorts with it!” He retorts, starting to do lunges.
“Princess Leia didn’t have a python hanging between her legs when she wore it though, did she? You’re going to put our guests off their food.”
“Fine!” Kalen throws his hands up in the air dramatically before disappearing into the bedroom. I can hear him rummaging around for a moment, then he emerges wearing a pair of boxers patterned with little stormtrooper helmets under his gold slave-girl outfit.
“There, happy now?” he asks, striking a pose with one hand on his hip and the other pointing dramatically into the air.
I burst out laughing at the sight. “You’re a fashion icon,” I tease, shaking my head in mock disapproval. But deep down, I’m grateful for his antics. Kalen has a way of bringing lightness and joy into even the most mundane moments of life.
As Kalen continues his lunges in the golden bikini, I can’t contain my laughter.
The sheer absurdity of the situation has me in stitches.
Chewie lets out a noise that sounds suspiciously like a chuckle too, adding to the hilarity of the moment.
Despite my initial reservations about the unexpected Star Wars-themed party, I find myself getting caught up in the fun and excitement of it all.
Sawyer arrives shortly after, looking bewildered by the scene unfolding in the living room.
His expression shifts from confusion to amusement as he takes in Kalen’s outfit and the Chewbacca impersonator standing beside him.
Kalen bounds over to Sawyer, giving him a bear hug that nearly knocks the wind out of him.
“Happy birthday, bro! May the Fourth be with you!” Kalen exclaims, his enthusiasm infectious.
Sawyer shakes his head in disbelief but can’t hide the smile that tugs at his lips. He’s always been the more reserved one out of the brothers, and not just due to his age, but even he can’t resist the lure of Kalen’s over-the-top celebrations.
As the party gets into full swing, with Star Wars music blaring from the speakers and lightsabers clashing in mock battles, I catch myself feeling grateful for these moments of pure joy and camaraderie.
Despite our differences and quirks, we always come together to celebrate each other’s milestones in the most unexpected ways.
I watch Chewie and Princess Leia (aka Kalen) engage in a dance-off that has everyone cheering and laughing, and I realise that sometimes it’s the moments that veer completely off course that end up being the most memorable and cherished.
“Hey gorgeous,” Sawyer murmurs in my ear, sneaking up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. “Having fun?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” I reply, twisting in his arms so that I can face him and pull his head down to mine for a kiss.
“I am now,” he quips when we eventually break for air. That was no PG kiss. Pretty sure someone shouted get a room, and I happen to think it was a damn good idea.
Kalen, still in his gold bikini, interrupts our moment with a dramatic gasp.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” he exclaims, reaching into the bag of Star Wars goodies and pulling out a pair of lightsabers.
One red, one blue. He tosses them to Sawyer and me with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“It wouldn’t be a true Star Wars party without a lightsaber duel! ”
Sawyer chuckles and twirls the blue lightsaber in his hand, while I ignite the red one with a satisfying snap-hiss.
We circle each other playfully, caught up in the excitement of the moment.
The room fades away as we focus on each other, the only sound being the hum of the lightsabers clashing together.
For a few minutes, we lose ourselves in the battle, laughing and jesting as we try to outmanoeuvre each other.
Kalen watches with glee, egging us on with shouts and cheers.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity of swinging and parrying, Sawyer manages to disarm me, causing my red lightsaber to fizzle out.
He holds his blue lightsaber at my throat dramatically, a grin spreading across his face. “I believe that makes me the victor,” he declares triumphantly.
I raise my hands in mock surrender, playfully shaking my head. “Fine, fine. You win this round, birthday boy,” I tease, implying that I let him win when in truth, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. “What do you want as a prize?”
Sawyer’s gaze darkens.
He leans in closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he whispers, “I think I know exactly what I want as my prize.” Without waiting for a response, he captures my lips in another searing kiss that leaves me breathless and wanting more.
The world around us fades into the background as we lose ourselves in each other, the electricity between us palpable.
Kalen lets out a wolf whistle from the sidelines, breaking the spell between us, and we’re forced to stop. Sawyer chuckles, his eyes warm as he gazes down at me. “What do you say we take this party to a more private setting?” he suggests, his voice low and husky.
I nod, my heart racing with anticipation as Sawyer takes my hand, ready to lead me away from the chaos of the Star Wars-themed party. We make it all of two paces before Kalen stops us.
“You can’t leave!” he whines. “We haven’t even done cake.”
I sigh, and Sawyer takes my hand as Kalen shouts for the cake to come out.
A party goer – no idea who thanks to their elaborate alien costume – wheels, yes bloody wheels out Sawyer’s birthday cake. Holy shit it’s a life size R2D2 cake. The room starts to sing happy birthday and I join in.
Sawyer blows out his candles and everyone cheers.
“Now you get to guess who is in the Chewie costume,” Kalen says excitedly, pulling them towards us.
I look up at them and there is no way to know who it is because the costume covers all of their body.
“I have no idea who it is,” I say. I know it’s not Onyx, there is no way Kalen could get him to play along – and I know he is on a mission right now – and it’s not Slate, he will be here later after his meeting with his label.
Adrienne is over at a table with Falon and Cap, and everyone we know are in costumes with their faces visible.
“Anyway,” I continue. “Shouldn’t Sawyer be guessing? It’s his birthday?”
“Boo, you’re no fun anymore!” Kalen pouts but Sawyer has a knowing grin on his face.
“You know who it is?” I demand, my tone accusing.
Sawyer shrugs. “You have to guess.”
“Well it’s not Baxter. He would never agree to dress up and after the bubble wrap incident I think he’d shank you in the kidney if you even suggested it.”
Sawyer laughs.
“I honestly don’t know who it could be. Give me a clue at least, I want cake.”
Kalen sighs, his infamous pout somehow getting even bigger. “Fine.” Then he seems to shake himself. He beams and yells with a flourish, “Chewie, reveal yourself!”
Chewie pulls the head off the outfit and my eyes go wide.
No fucking way!
My best friend is here in the flesh!
It’s been way too long. After he moved to New Hope and started his new life, he’s been too busy to fly over and visit. I launch myself at Smalls, and he catches me with a laugh.
“Long time no see,” he says, the familiar twang of his accent immediately transporting me back home.
“How the hell did he convince you to fly over?” I ask and Smalls smiles at me.
“He threatened to come to Australia and stay with me for an entire month and shadow me at work. I’m a mechanic now, do you know how dangerous having him in a shop would be?”
I snort, “Yep, it would be a health and safety issue for sure.”
Smalls laughs and turns to Sawyer, “Happy birthday mate, shitty day to be born with a brother like that.”
“Thanks, could have been worse. With Kalen so many things could be worse.”
Both men chuckle, I give Smalls one last squeeze.
I don’t really want to let him go – I have so much to catch up with him – but right now it’s my man’s birthday and I have a surprise for him.
Besides, while my guys may be secure in our relationship, they still get a little funny about me being in the company of men so much.
They know there’s nothing between Smalls and me, but that doesn’t mean they’re not counting exactly how long our hug lasts and growing impatient.
“We’ll be having drinks later and catching up. Let’s just get through this first.”
“I don’t know about you but I’m living out a childhood dream with this costume, Aaddi will be so jealous.”
“Nah, he always loved Darth Vader, he likes to think he’s a villain. But you, this suits you.”
“Hey,” he says defensively. “I could be a villain.”
“Uh huh, sure you could.”
Smalls flips me off and excuses himself to go and talk to Monty. Kalen flits off to have a lightsaber fight with Falon.
“You, me, laundry. Now,” Sawyer says, whispering in my ear. A shiver shoots down my spine. Sawyer is my most conservative boyfriend, spontaneous sex in public is not his go to, so I won’t be turning him down.
“Who would have thought that my Luke costume would turn you on?” I joke. “Maybe you have a thing for keeping it in the family too.”
“Anything you wear turns me on,” he says, linking our hands and pulling me out of the room, taking a sharp right to the end of the hall and into the laundry room.
He closes the door and spins me, slamming my back into the wood, pinning me to the spot, bringing his lips down to hover just above mine.
“I kissed my sister once,” I whisper, joking about my costume.
He smirks, “Me too,” he says pressing his lips to mine.