20. Kennedy

Chapter Song: Nostalgic- Arizona

"So are you taking anyone home tonight or what," I smiled through a sip of my drink at Ty. I don't know why but I kind of wanted him to. Maybe just to add some spice to the night. Give me something to root for besides the undying love between my brother and best friend.

We had spent the last hour or so dancing with each other or anyone around us. He was fun to dance with I'll admit. So were Mason and Hayden too. I had a few dances with them.

I think everyone cried when I danced with Liam. It wasn't a special dance or a planned dance like the father daughter things, but it was special to us. He was my built in best friend.

" I'm happy for you, you know," I told him as we swayed together.

"Thank you," he tried to hide his grin.

"Remember when you were too embarrassed about your crush," I teased him poking his side.

"God please don't bring it up," he whined shutting his eyes. I couldn't help but laugh at him. It was a throwing my head back and cackle sort of laugh. It probably embarrassed him further but who cared? He was married to that crush now. It all worked out for them.

"You're never going to let me live it down huh?"

"Nope never."

"The pains of having a baby sister," he sighed.

"Oh my god you're not even that much older than me," I groaned.

He twirled me around. "Yes but I'm still older so I win."

After our dance he twirled me to Riley. To which ended up me dancing with everyone for the next hour. I didn't mind it. Normally dancing was okay for me, but with my favorite people I had the best time.

"I don't know I need to make sure might date gets home okay. Where are you going anyway?" Ty asked from across the table.

"Liam's. Our dad is taking them to the airport tonight. So I house sit until they come back and then I'm off."

"The European tour," he winked.

"No not even," I rolled my eyes. "Just have to tie up my loose ends."

"And then what?" He eyed me carefully.

"Come back here, settle down I suppose." I sighed happily lifting my legs onto another chair. My heels were starting to pinch my feet.

"Like get married pop out some kids have a house?" He smirked.

"More like find a place to live and keep my photography stuff going to make an income." I say to him. "And then we'll see what else happens."

I haven't thought about marriage or babies or any of that. I'd been trying to work on things I had control over. Things that were more in front of me. I'd been trying to stay afloat for so long that I might have forgotten how to swim.

"Besides I have to have suitors to have a marriage," I scoffed.

"So what you and Cal are done? That's it? The end of the era?" He exclaimed. I think he was faking it.

"Okay Mason calm down," I laughed taking another drink.

"What about me needing to calm down?" The familiar voice came and plopped down beside me in a chair. He handed me another drink to my surprise.

"Thank you."

"Of course."

"I was asking KP if Caligan over there," he gestured towards Cal who was dancing with Riley. "Was no longer an option for a suitor."

"Oh please." He made a sound. "It's never not an option." He leans in to whisper something in Ty's ear.

"Truth or lie, Ken," Ty whispered.

"Do we have to?" I winced. I knew where this was going and I didn't feel like talking about this today.

"It's always going to be him huh?" Mason asked.

I continue to stare at the two of them waiting for either one to say something. But instead, they keep looking at me.

"What?" I practically yell. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"What's your answer," Mason matched my tone. He even waved his arms around in the air wildly.

"I don't know," I groaned. "I can't think about that right now! I'm tired." I said. "I'm tired of playing the cat and mouse game. I don't want to hold him back. He deserves good things." I threw my head into my hands. I didn't want to look at them. I didn't want to talk about this.

"Okay." Ty interrupted. "Did you ever think about being with any of the rest of us? Like when we were back in high school?"

Wait like him or Mason?

"Like the two of you?" They both shake their heads. "Uhhhh..."

This was a weird moment. I mean here we were at my brother's wedding. We were all best friends and they were waiting for me to respond about if I ever had crushes on them?

"Don't get me wrong you guys were attractive," I start. Ty held his wicked grin that he displayed in high school. While Mason rolled his eyes at my word choice. "You guys still are, but-"

"But we aren't Cal."

"No. No, it's not that. I mean you're not him, that's true. Because you're Mason," I point to him. "And you're Ty," I nod towards Ty.

"But Ty you were always an asshole. And I don't mean the cute I'll get past it. Like you were an asshole," I laughed as I said it. In truth it was funny. I wasn't sunshine and rainbows to him either. "Mace you were like my puppy I wanted to protect you."

"It didn't help that I tried to date Riley either," he shrugged.

"You know what's weird?" I asked the two of them as Hayden and Natalie came to join us.

"What?" They all asked.

"I kind of thought it was going to be you and Riley," I pointed to Ty.

"Really?" He raised his brows. I nodded. "I think it could have happened. But it's not that I'm hurt it didn't. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah. I get that." I smiled at the thought. "I forget you guys had a thing Mace."

He gave me a goofy smile that formed into a chuckle. "Honestly me too," he shrugged. "It nudged our boy in the right direction, so I'd say it was a win."

Cal, Riley, and Liam joined us next. By then we were reliving the glory days of high school. Sharing our random memories and laughing our asses off.

Riley was leaning against Liam and her legs were draped across my dress. It was heavy and probably caking me in dirt, but I didn't care. My legs were now across Cal's lap since he took up residence in my leg rest chair. He gently caressed my legs with one hand while a drink occupied his other. I had to say something about it felt completely normal.

As I sat and looked around at the table I couldn't help but feel a little sad. I felt like I was missing out on something even though I was right there with them. I was actively participating. Yet something was pulling me and I couldn't place it.

I tried to shake it off and join back in on the conversation.

"We should play dare!" Riley shouted. She was a little drunk. Maybe a lot.

"No no no," Ty chuckled.

"Oh c'mon," she whined. "Can I call the bride card?"

We all gave her a pointed look then laughed. She sat and pouted against Liam.

"Fine," I rolled my eyes. "Riley I dare you to dance with me."

"That's the lamest dare I've ever gotten," she pouted. "But okay."

She happily took my arm and I guided her out to the dance floor. We twirled and dipped each other. We bumped into other people and laughed our asses off. As much as my feet hurt it was good to do this. To share this moment with her. My chest ached at how much this moment meant. I was such a sap.

The rest of the night was slightly a blur. Not because of alcohol, but because it went by too fast. I had too much fun, and I know everyone else did too. It was truly the perfect night.

I convinced Ty he'd be fine without me. Plus he'd been hitting it off with one of Riley's roommates from NYU.

I was currently sitting in the passenger seat of Cal's car per his mother's recommendation. She insisted she wanted to sit in the back like Cal was her driver, but I think she just wanted to watch the scene in front of her.

"It was a beautiful night," she sighed happily. I turned to look at her and nod in agreement. Cal looked so much like her. He also got her amazing manners.

"Yeah it turned out pretty great," he muttered.

"Kennedy when you come back you have to come over for dinner."

"Oh absolutely. You can teach me your recipes," I grinned. That's the best part about Cal's mom, she always made you feel included and important.

"As long as you make a copy of your lemon pasta recipe."

"Why haven't I tried this famous lemon pasta," Cal asked sounding exasperated. I knew he was playing it up for dramatics with how often his mom talked about. At least that's what he told me.

"You've had it before," we both insisted.

"I need a refresher," he grinned at me. I could have sworn I saw a wink. Out of the corner of my eye his mom had a look of approval. What in the world?

"Okay when I'm home, we'll have a pasta night the three of us? Maybe my parents too why not," I shrugged. "Maybe Liam and Riley too."

"Maybe the whole damn crowd." Cal suggested.

"That's fine bring them all." Cal's mom brushed it off. By this time she was getting out of the car and nagging Cal about driving safe and calling her more.

"Be safe Kennedy. Love you both."

"Love you too," we called back.

We drove back to Liam and Riley's in mostly silence. The radio was playing random songs but it was enough noise to fill the space.

We pulled into the garage and I found myself not wanting to go in. I turned to Cal and looked at him. He was handsome, but that was a given.

"I'm glad I get to exist at the same time as you," I whispered. He gave me a smile that I couldn't tell if it was happy or sad.

"Me too, Parker."

"Can you stay the night?" I asked. I immediately followed it up with, "no funny business. I just kind of don't want to be alone."

"Of course." He said unbuckling his seatbelt. "Besides I think I'd walk into a porn set if I went home."

I headed into my room to find some of Liam's old clothes to change into while Cal grabbed us beers from the fridge. I threw on a ratty black t shirt and some shorts of mine. The shirt was king that it covered my shorts but I didn't care.

I walked out and Cal handed me the beer giving me a once over. "Where's you get that shirt?"

"It's Liam's old shirt." I said pulling it to look at it.

"Bottom drawer?" He raised a brow. I nodded. "It's mine."

"Oh I'm sorry-"

"No don't be. I left clothes in there a few times. I should probably take them home eventually."

"There's more in there if you want to get out of that suit." I suggested. "Although you look rather dashing."

"Dashing, eh?" He grinned clutching his chest. "Kennedy Parker you're full of compliments."

I shrugged taking another sip of my beer. I found the corner of the couch and grabbed a throw blanket. I watched as Cal walked away.

Moments later her returned in sweats and a T-shirt. Something about this scenario gave me an idea of what nights could have been like with him. It pained my chest a little. I hoped it didn't show on my face.

He came and settled next to me. I even let him pull some of my blanket to him. That was the problem with us. We liked the same spot of the couch and weren't able to give it up for each other. So we were forced to share the space because we were too damn stubborn to do anything differently.

We sat quietly drinking our beers enjoying the peace. I think that after today and all the noise we were enjoying just to sit. No need for conversation or anything, but just enjoying each other's presence.

We should go to sleep. Everyone was going to come over tomorrow and we'd have a presumably hungover Pancake Sunday. We had one last week before Liam and Riley left so they could be included. But I thought it'd be a good idea to have one post wedding. It'd more than likely be lunch but nevertheless it was Pancake Sunday.

"Thanks for this," I said breaking the silence.

"Of course, Parker." He nudged my shoulder causing me to smile.

"You're going to make me spill beer all over me," I laughed nudging him back.

"Better than that pumpkin spice shit." His dimples deepened further.

"Stop you said you drank it now! Don't even try to deny it," my eyes felt like they were going to pop out of my head.

He laughed shaking his head. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding." He took one of my hands in his and played with my fingers. He set our hands in his lap and I leaned against him some more.

"You know what I realized tonight?"

"Hmmm?" He hummed. He drew shapes into my palm. It was calming. I was hoping he wouldn't stop. I think it could make me fall asleep.

"I never heard the story of how you got the dare."

His finger stalled and I wrapped my hand around it. I didn't want him to pull away. I know he hated what he did and how stupid he said he was, but I was over it. I didn't want him to hold it over himself forever.

"You know I forgave you a long time ago right?"

"Yeah," he muttered wrapping his hand in mine. My mouth perked up.

"When Riley asked to play the Dare Game, I don't know it got me thinking." I shrugged. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to talk about it."

"No. If you want to know I'll tell you, Parker."

"Think of it as a bed time story, McCormick." I settled deeper into his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and it was the safest I've felt in a while.

"Of course you'd say that," his chest vibrated against me.

"You have to start it with once upon a time."

"Fine," he sighed. I could tell he was grinning. "Once upon a time there was a boy and a girl. And the boy had a crush on the girl. But he was an idiot."

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There will probably be some mistakes in this chapter but I wanted to get it up tonight!

We only have 3 chapters left 🥺 we'll really 2 and the epilogue. The next chapter will be a flashback in Cal's pov.

I'm so sad about this story coming to an end. Thank you for being patient and reading. All the comments are my favorite thing. They make my heart happy ❤️

I would love to try to finish these next chapters by the end of the weekend but I can't promise it. So against thank you for being patient.

I would love to hear what has been your favorite moment so far? It could be from this story or from the other two! Your fav Cal and Kenny moments? Or any!

Thank you for reading I love you so much ❤️