Page 22 of Wants and Needs
“Yes, well...” He trails off, and shakes his head.
“It really is,” I argue.
“It doesn’t feel like that to me.”
“Why not? What does it feel like to you?”
“Like it’s the only logical path for me.”
Again, he’s so matter of fact, I can’t even think about arguing further.
“So this party.” I wave a hand around. “Must be stressful for you, right?”
“Yes.” He nods emphatically, and again I have to force back a smile. “Even though I’ve known Wolf and Hawk all their lives because our parents were close—even after their father died—I’m not that close to them. And I do know Tristan, like I told you, but he’s a business associate, and I have no clue what to talk to him about when we’re not in that setting. Sterling is just...” He shakes his head with eyes wide open, and I think I get it.
“He’s bigger,” I guess. “Not literally, but his presence, his personality, all of it is big.”
“Yes.” Again he nods his head a few times, and this time his eyes tell me he’s surprised I get it. “It’s overwhelming.”
“And they all know you enough not to...” I take a moment to think of how to word it. “Crowd you,” I settle on.
“Exactly, but then, that damn birthday song and the cake and everyone crammed together.”
“I get it,” I say, trying to sound nonchalant, and I lean back on my hands as I cross my legs in front of me. “I mean, I don’t because I don’t have social anxiety and as far as I know I’m not Autistic,” I correct. “But I can imagine how, for you, it must be a difficult situation.”
“It’s also the fact that there are so many people I don’t know.CJ, even. It’s his birthday and I don’t know him, so why am I here? Why did he invite me? And my siblings?”
“Because you’re all important to Wolf, and Wolf is important to CJ.” I shrug and make it as simple as I can. “It’s not something you have to do for your own birthday party. I bet no one who knows you expects you to ever do anything other people do.”
He stays quiet a while, and now his lowered shoulders scream resignation.
I feel like that’s my fault, so I think fast.
“I know everyone at this party. Some only by name or reputation, but most people I’m close with because this is my family.” I nod down to the party central. “They’re the ones who have chosen me just like I chose them, so I can give you a... cheat sheet, if you will. I can tell you everyone’s basics, and that way, you can know them.”
What the hell am I talking about? That is so lame.
Like I said before, I have no idea what Liam goes through day-to-day, so who the fuck am I to tell him he’ll be more comfortable if I tell him a few facts about my friends.
His frown is fully back and I know he’s going to tell me to fuck off—maybe verbatim since he’s so direct—but he keeps on surprising me.
“In theory that could work,” he says thoughtfully. “I have no experience trying, though, so we’ll have to see.”
“What things have worked in the past?” I ask, grasping on to the chance to keep talking to him.
“My parents usually tell people to be straightforward with me, and to not hug me.”
I nod in understanding.
“I can tell them all that, sure, and I want you to know they’ll all respect it. If you tell them they need to express their emotions verbally, then they’ll do that too, and you won’t have to keep guessing all the time.”
He releases a big breath—it’s one of relief, I’m sure.
“All right.” He nods for me to go on, so I start easy.
“Right, so you know who Adam is, right?”
“Yes, Adam Darnell.”
