The Pier Diner
"So you're seriously okay with Brax choosing Heath as his best man?" Kyle asks.
"Yes, he made the right choice. I had started freaking out over the best man duties as I know Brax doesn't want anything going wrong. I'm glad that pressure is now going to be on Heath, so I have nothing to worry about." Casey says. "But I thought we agreed we weren't here to talk about the wedding? That's all I've heard for the past however long it's been now."
"I don't get all of the wedding talk now I'm at Irene's, unless Bianca comes over. Her and Ricky went to their dress fittings the other day." Kyle says, then notices Casey's face. "Okay, no wedding talk!" He laughs.
"Did Lucas say how long he was going to be?" Casey asks.
"Nope, just that he was meeting Blake before they came here. Tyler might be with them, I don't know if Heath was getting him to cover a shift or not." Kyle says.
"Yeah, they sorted that this morning. Brax and Heath were going for their suit fittings." Casey says.
"Wedding talk?" Kyle smirks just as Lucas and Blake walk in. "Finally, you took your time!"
"Sorry, we got held up talking to Emily." Lucas says just as Kyle's girlfriend walks in to order coffee.
"Hey." Kyle smiles as he walks over to her.
"Hey stranger!" Emily smiles as she kisses him.
"Sorry, I've been busy at work and then helping Brax with stuff. I promise we can meet up soon, I know it's been a while since we properly hung out." Kyle says.
"Babe, it's fine. I know things are different right now." Emily says. "I've got some things for my course to sort out with my parents but I'm free this afternoon if you're free?"
"Yeah, I should be." Kyle nods as Irene hands her coffee over. "I'll get this."
"You're such a gentleman." Emily smiles as Kyle hands Irene some money.
"I'll see you this afternoon." Kyle smiles, kissing her again before heading back to his brothers and best mate.
"Hey Kyle, have you heard from Red recently?" Casey asks.
"No, not for a while. Why, haven't you either?" Kyle asks.
"The last text we had from him was to George saying he had met a girl and they were going to travel around Asia. No one has heard from him since and apparently his parent's hated this girl and didn't want him going. Paul reckons he's deliberately ignoring everyone because of what his parent's think." Blake says.
"That doesn't sound like Red." Kyle frowns. "Are you sure nothing more serious has happened?"
"Well Paul's girlfriend found this girl's Instagram and she's been posting pictures of her and Red around different tourist spots, so he's not dead." Blake says.
"Maybe he thinks he's found the girl of his dreams and wants to see where things go with her." Lucas says, turning to Casey. "How are things with you and Denny? We haven't seen her for a while."
"We're doing great and she said yes to being my girlfriend." Casey smiles. "She's still avoiding Tyler, so that's why she hasn't been around for a while. I was going to ask her to be my plus one for Brax's wedding, I just don't know how things will go considering Tyler will be there." He says.
"Well Emily is coming with me, so she can hang with Denny if she feels awkward being there." Kyle says.
"Yeah, I'll mention that to her. It will make her more comfortable knowing she won't just have me there." Casey nods. "Who's going to be your plus one, Lucas?"
"I hadn't thought of anyone. It's not like I've got a partner to take." Lucas says.
"You've not found anyone you like?" Casey asks.
"Nope." Lucas shakes his head, slyly glancing at Kyle.
"You know it doesn't have to be a partner, it can be anyone." Kyle says.
"Well why don't you come then, Blake?" Lucas suggests.
"I think that would be a great idea! It would make the afterparty more fun, and then you can be the sober one with me." Kyle says.
"Sure, sounds fun." Blake nods. "But why do I have to be sober?"
"Cause you wouldn't want your best mate feeling left out not being able to drink." Kyle says.
"Okay, I guess that's a good enough reason." Blake smirks. "Are you feeling better now?"
"I'm getting there. It helps having something to look forward to, I just can't believe how fast this wedding is coming around." Kyle says.
"I think panic is starting to set in, they just won't show it." Casey says.
"Yeah, I noticed that. I offered to help out more but Brax shut it down saying I don't need the stress. Although he is letting me and Lucas help Heath to plan the stag night." Kyle says.
"Oh yeah, what's happening so far?" Casey asks.
"Every idea Heath has had, we've had to shut down." Lucas says. "One of them included a lot of alcohol, and Brax made it clear that was a no. We're now thinking a weekend away somewhere, just us brothers. If we go out, I'll be sober with Kyle, as it would help having two of us getting you four back home safely." He smiles.
"That sounds like a plan. Where would we go though?"
"We hadn't got that far. Heath suggested Sydney, but apparently that's where the hen night is being held, so we've had to think of something else." Kyle says.
"Why don't you go to Brisbane?" Blake suggests. "That's where my brother had his stag night and there was so much to do. We've actually gone back a few times since to go to other clubs there. I think you'd all enjoy it."
"That's not a bad idea." Lucas says, glancing over at Kyle.
"Yeah, we should tell Heath and see what he thinks." Kyle nods.
Braxton House
"Are you sure the boys didn't need suits fitted?" Heath asks as he walks through the door with Brax.
"They said they all had suits and Ricky said it was just ours that would matter most. I'm not questioning anything said at the moment, she's panicking about the time frame left." Brax says.
"I don't blame her. The wedding is in a little over a week and you've not got a lot sorted." Heath says.
"Do not tell her that!" Brax firmly says. "We've got things sorted and a lot is confirmed. We've got a registrar booked, the church is booked, the maid of honour and best man is sorted. Things are going fine."
"What about the food?" Heath asks, getting glared at. "You don't want people starving do you?"
"Don't you mean you don't want to starve? And yes it's sorted. Irene said they'd be happy to do the food. I can get alcohol from Angelo's, so that saves us money as well." Brax says. "What about you and the boys, booked our honeymoon yet?"
"I'm working on it. There's been some disagreements but we're getting there." Heath says.
"What did I say about keeping this stress free for Kyle? He doesn't need-"
"Any stress or things that could cause him to stop taking his meds or attending counselling. I know Brax, I don't want that either and he isn't the one involved in the disagreements." Heath says.
"Who then?"
"You won't believe me, but it's Casey and Lucas." Heath smirks. "Lucas doesn't agree with some of Casey's ideas, and vice versa but as I said, we're working it out. You don't need to worry, Kyle is the one making sure you'll have a great time." He reassures.
"Do I need to intervene? Cause I'll talk to Ricky about postponing the honeymoon if I have to." Brax says.
"No, you don't need to do that. You can't tell them I've told you this, but this wasn't just your honeymoon. This was something for us to say thanks for everything you've done for us over the years. Lucas was the one who thought of it and we all agreed it was the best way to show our appreciation. So when you find out the details of where you're going, we don't want any complaints. I'm stepping up as the big brother and I've got Bianca now, you know she won't take any stick from us while you're gone." Heath says.
"I don't need it as a thanks. It's been my job to keep you all in line." Brax says.
"No it hasn't been. You're our big brother, it shouldn't have fallen on you to play parent. Just take this honeymoon and everything that comes with it without any arguments. It's happening whether you like it or not and you can finally enjoy alone time with Ricky and not have anything with us to sort out." Heath says.
"Well thanks I guess. Just don't let anything stupid be planned. We want a honeymoon that's calm, not boozed up." Brax says.
"Have some faith in us!" Heath laughs.