28. Kaden
Kaden
I’m hunched over the guitar in my lap, absently picking a few chords, while I stare at my phone on the coffee table. Biting my lip, I mute the strings and reach for it.
I read the message for the third time today while bouncing my leg up and down. Every time I read it, the knot in my stomach grows, making me feel slightly sick.
My oldest friend, and former band mate, Finn, is getting married. Because, apparently, my life is the only one on hold. Everyone just keeps on living, like the past two years never happened.
And now I’m expected at his bachelor party.
I really fucking don’t want to go.
He was still single when COVID hit, for fuck’s sake. How’s he now engaged?
I throw the phone on the coffee table, and stand. Putting the guitar back, I go to wash my hands, hating every second of it, before I grab my phone and keys and leave.
“Finn’s getting married,” I say, drying a pan. Mom raises her eyebrows, turns off the faucet, and shakes the water off her hands.
“He’s having a bachelor party a few weeks from now.”
“And you don’t wanna go,” she states, turning towards me, wiping her hands on a towel before she reaches for her rings on the counter. Putting them on one by one.
“No, I don’t. And I think it’s reckless, and a bit stupid to throw a bachelor party during a burning pandemic, but apparently, I’m the only one.”
“Burning pandemic,” she parrots, clicking her tongue. “You gotta stop hidin’, K. Ain’t nobody can keep living like that.”
“Living like what?” I frown. “I don’t make the rules.”
“I’m worried, y’know.” She purses her lips. “You’ve always been a loner, but I worry you’ll end up alone.”
“I’m not alone, Mom.” I roll my eyes. “But I’m not risking my life to go to a bachelor party for someone I haven’t seen in—”
“Risk your life?” She frowns. “K, you’re young, healthy—”
“That’s what Zach thought.”
When my foster-brother Zach was hospitalized last year, they found out he has a rare heart condition that probably wouldn’t have made itself known, hadn’t it been for COVID. And that almost cost him his life. So, excuse me for being fucking cautious!
“And hadn’t he gotten sick, they probably wouldn’t have found out about his heart, and that might have killed him instead,” she says, a hand on her hip.
I drag a hand down my face. “Fine. Whatever.” I pick up my phone from the table, pocketing it, and pull on my hoodie. “I’m gonna get going.”
“Got plans?”
“I’m meeting Seth.” I walk over to hug her and smack a kiss on the top of her head.
“How is Seth?” she asks, following me into the hallway.
“He’s good.”
“Is he seeing someone?”
“Nope.”
“It’s a damn shame. Cute face like his?” She clicks her tongue. “Helpful too,” she adds, side-eyeing me as if I didn’t just clean the dishes. I roll my eyes.
“Alright. You go have fun. Tell Seth to get over here soon so I can cook him a real meal.”
My phone pings with a text as I walk out the door.
Sethele
Can you buy me cherry ropes?
Me
At the store?
Sethele
…
Me
Fine
Also, my mom wants to feed you
Sethele
Why'd you have to make it sound dirty?
Me
Dude
That's in your head
Sethele
Sorry, you're breaking up. You wanna give me head?
I snort and shoot him the flipping off emoji.
“I just don’t get why everyone’s getting married now?” I say, hitting the buttons on the PlayStation controller. “Are we supposed to wear face masks at the reception? Keeping a six feet distance on the dance floor?”
“You dance?” Seth asks, dribbling past a player, heading for the goal.
“You know what I mean,” I mumble. “Like, I get that people wanna get married…” I dribble past one of his players, and score.
“Yeah, like for financial benefits.”
“I mean, yeah, that too.” I nod. “But I kinda like the idea of two people being all ‘I dig you, let’s spend the rest of our lives together’. I think it’s nice.”
Seth’s quiet for a bit, and I glance at him. He’s frowning. Don’t know if it’s the game or what I said. He’s not a relationship kind of guy though, so maybe he doesn’t get what I mean. Or he just doesn’t agree. I know marriage isn’t for everyone.
“So, when’s the bachelor party?” he asks then.
“Three weeks from now.”
I score again and Seth tosses the controller on the table, leaning back and spreading his legs wide.
“And the wedding?” he asks.
“Like, next year, or something,” I say, placing the controller on the table, leaning back. “I don’t know. I mean, why would you throw a bachelor party six months before the actual wedding? Just wait, man?”
“Maybe she’s got family overseas or something?”
I sigh, dragging a hand down my face. “Yeah, maybe.”
I get up and go into the kitchen, washing my hands like the crazy person I am. Seth’s looking at me out of the corner of his eye, but he doesn’t say anything.
When I walk back, he’s on his feet, walking over to me.
“You seem a little tense, Kadey-babe,” he says, squeezing my shoulder.
I shrug. “Not real—”
He clears his throat. “Let me rephrase that. You seem to be in need for a release.” He makes a point of staring at my crotch, eyebrows raised.
“Smooth,” I huff out on a laugh, as he pulls me in by the loop of my pants. He drops to his knees, and my laugh is exchanged for a gasp as Seth wraps his lips around my dick.