Better vs. Worse

Chapter 1-2

Ada delivered her parting blow with all the flourish of a funeral director. She didn’t offer me anything beyond her words and her back, telling me I’d truly crushed her.

I wanted to yell, but it would only alert everyone else that something was seriously wrong. Something none of them could fix. It was up to me, and I didn’t know how in the hell I was going to solve it.

I numbly followed Ada to the back where people rushed all over the place as though they were singlehandedly responsible for the wedding. I spotted my sister and pushed Ada from my mind so I could go to work.

“Where do you need me?”

“Kapena. Hey. Um, you can go. I’m sorry. I’ll figure it out.”

“Ada told you to get rid of me?” I accused.

Kiki immediately shook her head. “No. Of course not. I just figured it would be easier on both of you if you weren’t here together.”

“I already saw her. I’ll stay out of her way. If you don’t need the help, I’ll go, but that’s not what you said just a few minutes ago.”

Kiki chewed on her bottom lip and glanced at the waiters scurrying around. “Fine. I need the help. If you can handle it, I’d really appreciate it.”

I nodded and went to work. I knew the drill from helping her get the place off the ground. It was easy enough to jump in and help the guys finish setting up the space for the reception and the tables for dinner.

We finished just in time. As per usual, all the guests showed up together. We were ready for them and directed them to the beach for the ceremony.

“I didn’t know you’d be here,” a voice said from behind me once the guests were gone and things settled down.

I spun and grinned when I saw Alvin, Ada’s brother, behind the bar. “You work here? Kiki didn’t tell me.”

Alvin nodded. “I do. She hired me a few months back.”

I clasped his hand over the bar surface and nodded. “Good to see you. It’s been too long.”

“It has,” Alvin agreed. “What have you been up to?”

“Still surfing. You know me. Living life on the water.”

“We’re just a couple screw-ups, aren’t we?” Alvin said with a laugh. “My sister tells me all the time that I should do more with my life than serve drinks, but she doesn’t get it.”

The mention of Ada and her reservations about any man without a traditional job that afforded certain luxuries turned my stomach.

“I love your sister, but she doesn’t have nearly enough fun.”

Alvin laughed. “I tell her the same thing. She says she’s happy with her life, though. I think she’s crazy.”

I nodded, thinking about the woman in the parking lot. She was definitely not happy with her life. That Ada was damaged. I damaged her.

“Maybe she’ll find someone who makes her happy. Brings a little excitement to her life,” I forced out, hating myself for every word. I wanted her to be happy, but dammit, I didn’t want her to be happy with someone else.

And I was an asshole for it.

Alvin snorted. “She has the worst taste in men. I don’t think she could pick a good one if you paid her to. I don’t know what it is, but my sister can’t find a decent guy for anything. I’ve almost given up hope that she’ll end up with someone who will treat her right, let alone someone who will bring her that excitement we’re talking about. The one she’s been dating the last few months seems good enough. He checks all those boxes she wants a guy to check. You know, good job, clean-cut, nice, boring. Nothing like us. I figure a guy like this one might be what she needs. At least I know he won’t hurt her.”

I nodded, unable to choke out any words. I didn’t know she was seeing someone. Or rather, that she never stopped seeing the guy from before.

It didn’t matter, though. Alvin was right. Ada had shitty taste in men. Mostly because she wanted me, and I was all kinds of wrong for her. Everyone knew it.

Which meant I needed to just stay away. It was the best thing I could do for her. Let her go on with her life with the perfect guy who wouldn’t hurt her and stay as far away from her as I could get. She said she was done with me. I needed to find a way to be done with her.