“That’s always been Tora. She’s never let Nate’s bullshit affect her. Well, maybe at first because she didn’t realize what was going on, but as the years went on, he would try harder and harder to get her attention and she would try harder and harder not to give it to him. It was actually kind of amusing. We all knew he was into her. It was clear as day to everyone except Tora. Kind of sad really,” he laughs.
“Anyway, eight years ago during their senior year of high school, these two were forced into a situation neither one of them were prepared for. Poor little Nate was beside himself. Didn’t know how to get a girl to notice him when she wasn’t interested in the car, muscles, or the ego.”
“Have you got a point here?” I question with my fingers laced through Tora’s.
“Shut up,” Jesse grins. “This is my big moment.”
I let out a breath and let him have it, but only because Tora’s way too interested in listening to Jesse’s recap of our story.
“So, these two were living across the hall from each other, and to be honest, it was awkward as fuck. They hated each other. Well, Nate acted as though he hated her. Tora on the other hand actually hated him. Like truly hated the guy. I felt sorry for the little guy. He had no chance in hell of turning things around. I swear, I’ve never heard the door to that spare bedroom being slammed so much in my life.”
“I’d catch Nate all the time staring after her. He’d make sure she was fed, he’d make sure she was happy, he’d make sure she had everything a seventeen year old girl could possibly need. It wasn’t long before things started to change,” he says. “Every night I would hear Nate’s door open and close before he would slip into Tora’s room, and I don’t need to tell you what happened there.”
“Tell me you’re lying?” mom calls from her table.
Jesse grins up at her and shakes his head. “Right under your nose,” he laughs before getting back to his story. “I absolutely loved having Tora stay with us as we got to find that friendship that we lost when we were kids, and for that, I will always be grateful. Having Tora in my life, and now as my sister, is a blessing. One I have never taken lightly. She has helped me pave the way for my own happiness and because of that, I’ve grown to love her in one of the purest forms. She’s not just my sister-in-law, but my family. She’s one of my best friends.”
Tora’s fingers squeeze mine and I look across at her to see tears welling in her eyes. ‘Thank you,’ she mouths at Jesse who winks back at her. They’ve always had a great friendship and it’s something I’ve always been proud of. There’s emotion shining brightly in both of their eyes and I can’t help but smile at them both.
Jesse recovers from the emotion and quickly pulls himself back together. “From here, their relationship developed. It was almost as though they had picked up right where they left off as kids, only this time it was stronger. They were falling in love and they became a force to be reckoned with. Nobody could tear them apart. No matter how hard people tried. They were solid and no matter what happened, as time went on, their love only grew, they were unstoppable.”
“Since they first got together, I always admired them as a couple. What they have, even back then has always been so pure. It’s what I always had hoped to find and was lucky enough to stumble across. So, for that, I want to thank you, guys.”
I nod at Jess. I can’t help but feel the love. That little turd is always surprising me, and just when I think he’s about to do one thing, he does the opposite.
“But…” he says, making my face fall. I should have known. “Some of you guys will remember my wedding where this fucker thought it was acceptable to have my head shoved up in his junk.”
“Hey,” Tora calls out. “Consider yourself lucky. Not just anyone is allowed to get up close and personal with his junk.”
“Then maybe you should have been the one to shove your head up there and rip the garter off with your teeth,” he fires back.
“With pleasure,” Tora laughs.
Jesse shakes his head. “I’ve been patiently waiting to get my revenge,” he tells us, “and now that time has finally come.”
With that, Maxen, Jackson, Puck, and Tyson step forward, creating a perfect circle around us, each with an unopened bottle of champagne, can of whipped cream, and confetti. Tora instantly starts pulling at the handcuffs. “No,” she squeals as the boys start shaking their champagne bottles. “I had nothing to do with it.”